A BASINGSTOKE development has been recognised for helping first-time buyers.

Chapel Gate, in Kingsclere Road, was ‘highly commended’ in the Best New Development in the South category at the First Time Buyer Awards 2018.

The Barratt Homes and VIVID project received the prize from Jonnie Irwin, star of A Place in the Sun, at an awards show in London in April.

In it’s ninth year, the awards celebrate the lengths that have gone to help first time buyers get on the property ladder. A panel of industry experts judged the first round, and then the winners were decided by an online vote from the readers.

Editor of First Time Buyer Magazine, Lynda Clark, said: “This was our most successful awards event yet, with more entries than ever before. Competition was definitely fierce, so it is a great achievement for Chapel Gate to be recognised as ‘Highly Commended’ in the ‘Best New Development in the South category.’

“Especially in a very competitive market place, Barratt Homes and VIVID should be proud of their achievement in helping first time buyers get onto the property ladder.”

Chapel Gate will feature a collection of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments and houses. First-time buyers can use either the Help to Buy scheme or shared ownership schemes to by a property at the development.

Lynnette St Quintin, sales director for Barratt Southern Counties, said: “We are delighted to have received this recognition at our Chapel Gate development in Basingstoke. Together with VIVID, we have worked extremely hard to give first time buyers a helping hand onto the property ladder at this fantastic development and hope that we can continue to make homeownership possible for many more.”

Mike Shepherd, director of new business and development for VIVID, added: “We are pleased to be awarded ‘Highly Commended’ for Chapel Gate. Our joint venture with Barratt Homes is part of an exciting new development that will deliver much-needed new homes, facilities and a thriving community in Basingstoke. Our shared ownership opportunities at the development are a brilliant way to make home ownership a reality for people as a much lower deposit is needed than with a standard mortgage.”

For more information about Chapel Gate, go to barratthomes.co.uk.