September 2024
You may have seen our sign while driving by Newlands Estate along the A66 at Braithwaite near Keswick, or perhaps you’ve caught us talking about it on social media. Maybe you’re on our mailing list or have registered your interest. If that’s the case, you might be wondering what "local occupancy" really means. In this part of our DeMyth series, we explain what local occupancy is and what it means for you.
What is Local Occupancy?
All homes at Newlands Estate are designated for local occupancy only. This means that anyone who wants to buy a home here must have a strong local connection to the area – we aren’t legally allowed to sell to buyers without that connection. This restriction is in place because of a formal Section 106 (S106) agreement, which forms part of our planning permission.
While this might sound limiting, it’s actually designed to benefit the local community. It ensures that local people can own homes in their area now and in the future. It also helps prevent these homes from being turned into second homes or holiday lets, preserving the character of the Lake District for future generations.
How Do You Qualify for Local Occupancy?
To qualify, you must have a connection to the “locally defined” area, which includes the following parishes of Above Derwent, all located within the Lake District National Park: Bassenthwaite, Bewaldeth and Snittlegarth, Blindbothel, Blindcrake, Borrowdale, Buttermere and Brackenthwaite, Caldbeck, Embleton, Ireby and Uldale, Keswick, Lorton, Loweswater, Mungrisdale, St Johns, Castlerigg and Wythburn, Setmurthy, Threlkeld, Underskiddaw, and Wythop.
To be eligible, you must also meet at least one of the following criteria:
We’ve aimed to simplify these requirements, but the S106 agreement does provide a more detailed, legal explanation.
Not Sure If You Qualify?
If you’re uncertain whether you meet the local occupancy criteria, please reach out to us. Sometimes, you may qualify even if it’s not immediately obvious, and we’re here to help guide you through the process. These opportunities don’t come around often, and we wouldn’t want you to miss out just because of some confusion over the details.
This development offers something unique: a characterful new build, thoughtfully designed to blend into the stunning Lakeland landscape. Each home is energy-efficient, requires little maintenance, and needs no renovation – an ideal investment and a rare chance to own a property in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. It really is something special.
Discounted Sales Opportunities
What’s more, some of the homes at Newlands Estate are available as discounted sales, meaning you might be able to own one at just 60% of the market value. We believe many local people will qualify for these homes, and we’re delighted to contribute this opportunity to the community. Look out for our next DeMyth blog post, where we’ll explain the discounted sales criteria in more detail.
Register Your Interest
If you’re interested in our Newlands Estate development, you can register your interest by filling in the form at the bottom of our webpage; here. Once registered, you’ll receive priority access to brochures, pricing, and availability ahead of the public launch. We expect to begin contacting those who have registered their interest very soon, likely within the month of October. So, keep an eye on your inbox and follow us on social media for updates.