Panorama on the doorstep - Broadsands, North Berwick
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Making the most of a beautiful location was key to the planning of a new development that has just completed in the seaside town of North Berwick. The company behind the 14 apartments, Broad Sands, on Fidra Road was formed by developers Jim Wilkie and Keith Murdoch, who are experienced in commercial projects.
This was to be their first residential development and they started on site with planning permission already in place for a block of 17 flats. Wilkie says that the first decision was to rearrange the interior to form fewer units, giving a luxury of space to each. “We researched the market, and knew that a site like this would appeal to downsizers, who wouldn’t be looking for small apartments, so making each larger was a good decision.”
Their planning seems to have paid off; in a difficult market, four of the apartments – the most expensive – have already sold and they now have a show flat completed to market the remainder.
The corner site, close to the Marine Hotel in the west of the town, has an open outlook to the West Links golf course and the sea. The apartments take advantage of the views, with all having doors to private terraces on the ground floor and balconies on the upper floors.
The target market has also been considered in the interior layouts, with flexible living spaces and sliding room dividers between kitchens and living spaces, to allow a choice of an open plan arrangement.
Wilkie says, “If you are downsizing from a larger house to an apartment, it is important to have a feeling of space. Storage was also a consideration. Not only do the apartments have fitted wardrobes and plenty of cupboard space inside, but each has a beach hut outside to provide space for golf clubs, bicycles or other equipment.
The interior finishes are of high quality with oak, granite and Bosch appliances in kitchens and utility rooms and bathroom and en suite fixtures and fittings by Porcelanosa. Heating is underfloor and there is a lift to all floors. Extra insulation has been used in the walls and floors for both energy retention and acoustic considerations.
The sizes of the remaining homes range from the third-floor two bedroom apartment 13 which measures 1,069 square feet with another 264 square feet terrace, priced at offers over £395,000, up to apartment three, on the ground floor, with three bedrooms, a floor area of 1,885 square feet with an extra 820 square feet of terrace priced at offers over £656,000.
The apartments are situated within a ten-minute walk of the popular golf course and are similarly well-placed for the town centre and the railway station, which opens it up to commuters to Edinburgh who could catch a train within ten minutes of leaving their front door on foot. It is also only 500 yards from the West Beach.
The building is set in landscaped gardens, with a gated entrance for security and allocated parking. So far, according to Jim Wilkie, interest has come from local downsizers, those working in the capital, and buyers who want a secure part-time home. “There has been a lot of interest from Scots returning from abroad or down south. North Berwick is remembered by many as a lovely holiday town and ideal for retirement or semi-retirement. The security afforded here also appeals to those who travel.”
He says of the sales successes, despite the economic conditions: “We knew that quality will always sell, and if you are offering a good product, there will be interest.”