The Esplanade, Bognor Regis

‘Showhome Hannah’ enters through a show-home front door of…

This week: Roffey Homes, The Esplanade, Bognor Regis

Bognor Regis was once a small fishing village where its first hotel was built on the seafront in the mid 1700’s.  Nowadays, it is a seaside resort with entertainment facilities including its own pier, the Alexandra Theatre, nightclubs, Butlins (a popular holiday destination for many) and restaurants and café bars.   Bognor Regis could do with a re-vamp and it just so happens that a regeneration programme is beginning to take shape with £500 million being pledged to this seaside resort; so be prepared for great and modern things.

There were no signs directing me towards the development, however it was hard to miss The Esplanade as I drove along Bognor seafront - but not for the normal “new homes” reason.  This development struck me because the designer stayed in-tune with the town’s historic surroundings and created a beautifully styled exterior.  Even though the exterior can take our imaginations to the past, the interior offers a modern and convenient way of living that we all crave for.  With 51 apartments built, sales have already progressed so be sure to get in quick.

I was greeted by a well-dressed sales consultant who allowed me to wander unaccompanied through the show apartment, plot 37.  I was amazed at the size of this two bedroom apartment and the amount of available space.  Large windows plus additional doors to a balcony offers natural light and fantastic undisrupted views to the sea. 

After viewing other new developments, I presumed that this space would fall short when entering the bedrooms.  Thankfully I was proved wrong.  A more than generous master bedroom unfolded, beaming character and again, great availability of natural light.  The bedroom was complimented by a very large en-suite that comprised a bath tub and shower cubicle to please any purchaser.  The second bedroom was again a fantastic size with fitted wardrobes and the layout designed to show that it could be utilised as a study as well.

Bognor has more entertainment than many initially believe.  Butlins is the main attraction within the town however more is on offer with department stores, regular open air markets, arcades, the theatre, the Picturedrome cinema, Hotham Park and the seafront.  The town has many events throughout the year which include festivals and the famous South East in Bloom competition and all of this is on the doorstep of the Roffey Homes’ development.

Even though there is a good choice of restaurants, cooking would never be a chore in this long, modern and spacious kitchen. I am ecstatic that the developer has realised the importance of accessible, large storage cupboards and that the kitchen needs to be easy to move around in without knocking elbows constantly. Adventurous cooking here we come!

With 105 years’ lease, Ground Rent of £225 for two bedroom apartments and £250 for three beds and Maintenance Charges from £1,211 for two beds and £1817 for three beds.

What you get for your money:
Prices from £210,000

Location, location, location:
Stone’s throw away from the beach, Butlins just a 2 minute walk, about one mile to Hotham Park, University of Chichester (Bognor site) close by, restaurants, bars, shopping and other entertainment facilities about a 5-10 minute walk away.

Best feature:
Private underground garages plus garages to the back of the development, parking spaces, under-floor heating, view of the sea and easy access to all amenities.

Worst feature:
No pets allowed

Contact the sales office: 01243-868682 (open Monday to Saturday 10-4)

• Location:                          9 of 10 (Easy access by roads and to amenities)
• Product:                           9 of 10
• Sales Negotiator service:    7 of 10 (went through specs after I viewed, didn’t feel pressured)
• Value for money:             Very good

Overall:  Built to a high spec, good location … 

Have you visited The Esplanade, Bognor?  Do you agree with our ‘Show-home Show-case’?  Post Your Comments.

Legal disclaimer: The impression expressed by “Show Home Hannah” is purely based on their genuine opinion and subjective experience on the specified development site visits. They are based on only as their opinion of what they have encountered and should not be read as a judgement of the business or the employees involved.

Everyone’s a winner?

Being a real tennis junkie, and following all the major championships throughout the year, I decided to have a quick look at the Wimbledon winners over the past 4 decades (and yes, Borg is still my favourite!) to see how property prices have risen since 1968. I don’t think the results at Wimbledon have had any effect on property prices, but the prize money has certainly increased.

I don’t have the confidence to predict the winners this year, but I’d love Federer to claim his 6^th title in a row (sorry Bjorn).

* http://www.wimbledonwinners.com/wimbledon_winners.html

** Source: http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing

Give us a (tax) break..!

New taxes, increasing fuel bills, increasing food bills, expensive transport … Is that all the government can come up with?

Well, they are also looking to reduce carbon dioxide emissions - “how will they do that?” you ask …  Increasing the fuel bills has certainly got many out of their cars but what about those still unwilling to? 

Arguments are that driving a car is still more convenient.  You can reach the exact (or near enough) destination, it is cheaper if you’re ferrying more than one person and trying to use public transport with bag loads of shopping is just uncomfortable.

How can we reduce the amount of people using their cars for short journeys? Could cheaper transport be an answer?  Is it that more seats are needed?  More frequent times?

Post your comments…