Curo News

Take a first step on the property ladder with Shared Ownership in Portishead

Wed, 25 May 2022 14:26:56 Z

Residents in Portishead and surrounding areas are invited to a free Shared Ownership information event on Saturday 28 May to find out more about the scheme and how to access it, ahead of properties at the town’s Harbour Crescent development being released for sale by housing association Curo.

The event will take place at the Somerset Hall (BS20 6AH) in Portishead, with residents encouraged to drop in any time from 10am until 1pm.

Curo Shared Ownership experts and independent mortgage advisors from Evolve Financial Solutions will be on hand to answer questions and discuss the specific circumstances of those interested in the scheme.

Shared Ownership is a part buy / part rent scheme that makes it possible for first time buyers and former homeowners to purchase a share in a property while renting the remaining share. This means buyers can enjoy the benefits of homeownership without the need to save up for a large deposit. With Shared Ownership, the monthly mortgage repayments, rent and service charge often add up to less than what would cost to rent a similar property on the open market.

Curo’s 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom Shared Ownership apartments at Harbour Crescent in Portishead will include allocated parking and are ideally located close to local amenities and the town’s beautiful Marina.

What? Free Shared Ownership information event

When? Saturday 28th May – drop in anytime between 10am – 1pm

Where? Somerset Hall, 11 The Precinct, Portishead BS20 6AH

To learn more about the event and our Harbour Crescent apartments, call our sales team on 0345 140 5050.

First residents move to Eaton Park in Yatton

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 13:14:14 Z

A retired couple who moved to North Somerset to be close to family are the first residents at Curo’s new Eaton Park development in Yatton.

Frances, 78, and David, 80, have lived in Taunton, Somerset most of their lives, but decided they wanted to be closer to their son, daughter and four grand-daughters in Yatton.

They are the first residents to move to Eaton Park, a new development of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom homes situated on the edge of the North Somerset village.

David says: “We didn’t really want to be travelling up and down the motorway all the time anymore – the motorway is no fun at all these days. Our children were delighted when they heard we wanted to move.”

Frances added: “One day earlier this year we called in to the sales suite at Eaton Park and we met our sales negotiator, Tracey. We decided then and there that we were going to buy this house and Tracey helped us choose everything, from our kitchen to flooring and tiles. Although it was off-plan it was easy for us to see it’s where we wanted to live.”

The couple, who have been married 59 years, moved to their new 3-bedroom semi-detached house at the end of June. The property has a spacious kitchen/diner and separate lounge on the ground floor, leading to a large garden through French doors. They also benefit from off-street parking and solar panels on the roof.

Frances says: “We have a really big garden which is brilliant because I love gardening. We’ve already started planting the border – I brought 30 cuttings from our old house to help establish our new garden. Our neighbours who have also moved in recently came over and commented about the garden and the progress we’ve made. We feel very lucky and can’t wait to really put our stamp on the outdoor space here.”

An added bonus for the couple was the stamp duty holiday which was initially scheduled to end in March but was extended by the government until the end of June. House buyers can still benefit from smaller tax breaks if they purchase a home until 30 September.

David says: “I must say that Curo were amazing – the sales negotiators, Tracey and Sharon and all the builders – they really did do their best to get us in by 30th June so that we could benefit from the stamp duty exemption.”

“We just love how low-maintenance our new-build home is, and that there’s so much natural light in all the rooms.”

The couple are looking forward to exploring the area over the next few months, as well as spending more time with the family.

Frances says: “Our children have told us about all the different walks – we explored Strawberry Line before, but they also recommended the fishing lakes at Kingston Seymour and other places we must go and see, and we’re really excited about discovering them.

“It’s lovely to have all the family living nearby, we’re really happy here.”

Eaton Park offers modern living in a beautiful rural setting, close to local amenities, including schools, Co-op, post office, pharmacy and pubs. The development will also deliver new open spaces with trees, shrubs, wildflower meadows and a children’s play area.

Prices at Eaton Park start at £239,995 for a two-bed coach house. Homes available to reserve right now have prices starting at £310,000 for a three-bedroom mid-terrace property.

For more information about the new homes visit our sales website, call 0345 140 5050 or pop in at the Marketing Suite on North End Road (BS49 4GH) open 7 days a week, 10am-5.30pm. Visitors can also experience the lifestyle offered by homes at Eaton Park by viewing the recently launched three-bedroom Avebury and four-bedroom Clifton show homes.

Curo launches two new show homes at popular Eaton Park development

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 12:32:52 Z

Avebury show home living room

Yatton’s new residential development, Eaton Park, will soon be opening the doors to a duo of show homes.

The three-bedroom Avebury and four-bedroom Clifton show homes are both launching at Eaton Park on Saturday 19 June, and house-hunters are invited to book viewings.

Showcasing the latest interior design, both show homes will offer buyers the opportunity to experience the lifestyle offered by homes at Eaton Park.

Curo Sales Negotiator for Eaton Park, Sharon Wood, says: “The Avebury show home has been finished to our high-quality standard specification while the Clifton features many of the upgrades on offer. This will help guide customers through our wide range of options and finishes and make it easy to choose exactly what suits their family and lifestyle.”

Upgrades showcased by the Clifton include granite worktops and ‘Platinum’ kitchen, integrated wardrobes to all bedrooms and a technology package with nest thermostats, wireless alarms and extra USB sockets.

The Clifton homes span 1,409sqft over two floors, featuring a spacious open plan kitchen/diner and family area with separate living room, as well as a study and WC on the ground floor. A master bedroom with ensuite, a family bathroom and three further bedrooms occupy the first floor.

The Avebury homes measure 931sqft, with an open plan kitchen/dining area and a large separate living room, as well as a WC and storage space on the ground floor. Upstairs there are three bedrooms, including a master with ensuite, and a family bathroom.

Prices at Eaton Park start at £269,995 for a two-bedroom end-of-terrace house. The three bedrooms detached Avebury house types start at £354,000 while the four-bedroom detached Clifton homes can be purchased from £459,995. Homes at Eaton Park are very popular, with the Avebury houses released for this year already sold out.

Avebury show home master bedroom and ensuite

All homes at Eaton Park offer generous gardens and off-street parking, with many also benefiting from a separate garage. Bathrooms have modern white sanitaryware and stylish ceramic wall tiling, whilst kitchens are complemented by top of the range appliances and sleek designs. Eaton Park will also deliver communal green spaces with tree and shrub planting, wildflower meadows and a children’s play area.

Avebury show home second and third bedrooms

Sharon says: “We look forward to welcoming visitors to our new show homes. To ensure social distancing, we’re booking viewings so if you’re interested please get in touch with the Curo sales team to arrange your visit and avoid disappointment. Our friendly team at Eaton Park can help you find your perfect home, whatever your requirements.”

Avebury show home open plan kitchen/dining area

Curo’s marketing suite and show homes at Eaton Park are open for appointments seven days a week from 10am to 5.30pm. To book a visit, contact Curo’s sales team on 0345 140 5050, email eatonpark@curo-group.co.uk or go to our sales website.

Making connections in North Somerset

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 16:00:58 Z

Over recent years we have expanded our award-winning independent lives services across the North Somerset area. Today, in North Somerset, Curo colleagues are:

delivering two social prescribing services through GPs,
working with unaccompanied asylum-seeking children,
providing supported housing for people facing homelessness,
offering 'step-down' accommodation for people ready to leave hospital but unable to return home, and
working with numerous community groups and organisations through our Community Connect service.

All these services have one thing in common. They all support local people and communities by working with their strengths.

At a glance: North Somerset Independent Lives services

Social Prescribing:

A social prescription offers the kind of help that doesn’t come in a tube or a bottle. Our Link Workers support GPs and their teams in surgeries to offer non-medical options to re-connect patients with their communities, and to help build resilience and support by connecting people to the things they enjoy. Referrals into this service do not need to be Curo residents. Curo's team of Link Workers provide social prescribing services to just over 96,000 patients.

We work with Mendip Vale Primary Care Network through GP surgeries in Clevedon, Weston-Super-Mare, Yatton, Langford and Congresbury.

And Gordano Valley Primary Care Network through GP surgeries in Portishead, Pill and Clevedon.

Click here to read more about the role we play in making a difference to people like Karen who told us, 'the service has been fantastic, especially during these difficult times'.

Community Connect:

Our Community Connect team also provides social prescribing across North Somerset, however referrals to this service do not need to come from a GP. Like our GP-linked social prescribing, people do not have to be Curo residents to be referred. The team works with groups in communities to find out what is happening and to link people with the activities and support that helps them feel connected to where they live. Our work in community settings mean we will meet people in groups and activities to find out more about you and the things they are passionate about. Our Community Connect Wellbeing Workers support more than 1,000 people a year in this way.

Temporary Accommodation services:

At any one time, we work with 36 people across North Somerset, with that number set to grow in the coming months. We work with people facing homelessness who are looking to find independent accommodation and need support to help them reconnect with their communities and find their home.

Independent Living Service:

This award-winning service helps people remain independent in their homes by providing the additional support and services they need as life changes. This support is built around the things that are important to our Independent Living Service customers. We sometimes find that once a person has had support from either of our free-to-access social prescribing services, they decide they want longer term support from someone who will get to know and trust them. Our Independent Living Service offers this.

If you'd like to know more about our work in North Somerset, or want to discuss how we can work together, contact Curo Service Manager Jack Bailey on Twitter @Jack_Curo or by emailing jack.bailey@curo-group.co.uk.

GP practice-based social prescribing scheme helps people improve wellbeing

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 07:00:00 Z

Pictured, L-R: Curo Senior Link Worker James Woods and Karen Davis

People across the South West are being supported to improve their wellbeing through social prescribing schemes run by GP practices. At Curo we're involved with two social prescribing schemes and today - National Social Prescribing Day - we're celebrating the people who have made improvements to their lives by taking part.

With a social prescription, patients are connected with Link Workers who support people who may be struggling with problems such as social isolation or anxiety by connecting them to services in the community which can help. Each patient who is referred typically has six sessions with the Link Worker who is able to spend more time with a patient than a GP would during an appointment.

James Woods is a Senior Link Worker at Gordano & Mendip Primary Care Network and employed by Curo who are commissioned by Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), to deliver the scheme locally. He and his team of two other Link Workers support patients across the network’s nine GP practices.

James, who has Cerebral Palsy, said being a Link Worker gives him the opportunity to support others.

He said: “I feel I have been fortunate in my life and this is a chance for me to give back to others. I use determination and tenacity to find ways around problems I face and I am able to share that with others who are struggling. I really love the job and being able to help people.”

Social prescribing recognises that our health and wellbeing are affected by a range of social, economic and environmental factors, and that the most effective prescriptions do not always come in the form of medication. Social prescribing starts with an assessment of the patient’s current situation and then the Link Worker can suggest services in the community which can help, ranging from counselling services to physical activity groups.

James said “It has been harder during the pandemic because some of the services that we would normally refer people to are not running. Also prior to the pandemic more than 70% of patients asked to see us in their homes or at the surgery. We still offer to do this but in the majority of cases we have been supporting people with phone appointments.

“Most of the people we are supporting need help with depression, anxiety and isolation and we are hoping that it won’t be long now until we will start to see people again in their own homes.”

Karen Davis, from Portishead, was referred to James last year as she was feeling very isolated and struggling with her mental health.

Karen said: “The service has been fantastic, especially during these difficult times. I really hit rock bottom but James helped me to get some things sorted out and this helped my mental health to improve. I would recommend the social prescribing scheme to anyone who is struggling.”

Find out more about the social prescribing service we provide in North Somerset.

Brownies name new roads at Yatton housing development

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 16:19:03 Z

Image above: 1st Yatton Brownies with Curo Sales Manager, Jodie Winter

Roads at Eaton Park, a new housing development of 154 homes in Yatton, have been named after the sixes from the local Brownie unit, following a competition organised by housing association and housebuilder Curo.

The winning names were chosen by Yatton Parish Council from a number of ideas proposed by local residents, which included suggestions inspired by Somerset’s wildlife and dialect, as well as foods and historic place names from the wider area.

Eaton Park’s main road will bear the name of the unit’s leader, ‘Barn Owl’ Road, while the smaller streets have been named after the sixes: ‘Fox’ Avenue, ‘Rabbit’ Close, ‘Hedgehog’ Way and ‘Squirrel’ Close.

Curo made a £200 donation to 1st Yatton Brownies to thank them for their help. The sixes will be using the money to hire a mobile climbing wall and have some fun after a year that has been largely lacking in exciting activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sue Willis, 1st Yatton Brownies Guider, says: “It’s wonderful that Curo have involved the local community in naming the roads at Eaton Park. We can’t believe we won, and we’d like to thank Curo for the generous donation; the girls are over the moon!

“We’re hoping that this will also help increase awareness of Girlguiding. 1st Yatton Brownies are part of Girlguiding UK, a female only organisation with sections for girls aged 5 to adults. We’re always keen to welcome new members, especially adults. We’re all volunteers and are always looking for more willing pairs of hands. Guiding is great fun and provides amazing opportunities to try new things both for girls and women. Anyone interested in joining can apply through our website.”

Jodie Winter, Curo Sales Manager, says: “We’d like to thank all local residents who have taken the time to send in their suggestions – we loved the contributions and it was a tough call for us and the Parish Council to choose the winners. Congratulations to 1st Yatton Brownies whose ideas were very warmly received by the ‘selection committee’.

“We’re proud to be working with the local community to deliver a beautiful new residential development at Eaton Park in Yatton. Our sales suite is now open seven days a week by appointment only and we encourage those interested in our stunning two-, three- and four-bedroom homes to give us a call on 0345 140 5050 or email eatonpark@curo-group.co.uk for more information.”

If you're interested in the new homes at Eaton Park, Yatton, head over to our sales website to find out more.

Work starts on new affordable homes in Weston-super-Mare

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 09:28:51 Z

Image above: (L-R) Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, Leader of North Somerset Council, Cllr Donald Davies, and Clayewater Homes Managing Director, Brian Webber, breaking ground at Curo's new affordable housing scheme in West Wick, Weston-super-Mare.

West of England housing association Curo have started construction works with contractor Clayewater Homes to deliver another 17 new affordable homes in Weston-super-Mare.

The three and four-bedroom homes will be built on two sites in West Wick, at Scot Elm Drive and Warelys Lane.

Curo are investing more than £4.6million in the new homes, along with just over £800,000 of government funding from Homes England and £305,000 grant funding from North Somerset Council. These investments will help keep rents significantly below the local market rent levels in perpetuity and will enable more local people to take a first step on the property ladder. This is the first time the Council have worked in partnership with Curo in this way and marks the beginning of a longer-term relationship between the two.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “Curo have committed to build 1,700 homes across the West of England over the next five years. Weston-super-Mare, like many other parts of the region, is in desperate need for additional good quality affordable housing for local people, so we’re really pleased to be playing our part in supporting the local authority in its ambitious plans to deliver the homes local people need.

“Building new homes is also good for the local economy, helping to provide jobs and ploughing money back into local supply chains. Over recent months, we’ve worked with North Somerset Council to help shape their economic recovery plan and we’re pleased to see that new housing will feature strongly at the centre of their strategy.”

Eleven of the new homes in West Wick will be sold through the part rent/part buy scheme, Shared Ownership, and the remainder six will be let at social rent through North Somerset Council’s choice-based lettings scheme. All of the homes will be fitted with solar panels on the roofs, benefitting future residents who will be able to enjoy lower electricity bills.

Cllr Donald Davies, Leader of North Somerset Council, says: “We’re pleased to support this scheme, which will deliver desperately needed new affordable homes in Weston-super-Mare, helping people on the Council’s housing waiting list, and those local residents who can’t afford to buy a home on the open market.

“These new homes will benefit the local community well into the future and we look forward to welcoming their residents with Curo next year. It’s vital that the Council and housing associations work together to address the housing crisis in our area, putting residents and the needs of the community first.”

The homes will be completed and ready to receive their new residents by November 2021.