A new development in Somerset West in the Western Cape has prices ranging from R1.21 million to R1.55 million, on a plot and plan basis.
An artist’s impression of one of the homes at Somerset Country Estate. Buyers can choose from one of 10 design options, offering either three- or four-bedroomed homes, all having double garages with direct access. Prices R1.21 million to R1.55 million, on a plot and plan basis.
The Somerset Country Estate is a gated village located within the greater Heritage Park development and has 44 opportunities to purchase in the current phase.The estate is an ideal home for those just starting out in the property market, or scaling down from larger homes, according to Pam Golding Properties (PGP).
Heritage Park occupies 200ha of land in the foothills of the Helderberg Mountain Range, between the N2 highway and Old Sir Lowry’s Pass Road. The site was once a farm known as ‘Die Bos’, which was granted to the Morkel family in 1718. It has remained in the family’s hands ever since, and five generations later, Morkel descendants still occupy the farm’s old Cape Dutch homestead.
PGP’s area manager for Somerset West, Linda Killick, says it was their vision, brought to life by Asrin Property Developers, which laid the seeds for the development of Heritage Park in 2005.
The aim was to create a secure community with its own homes, schools, shops, parks and places of worship, she says, where neighbours could live in harmony and safety, enjoying a rural lifestyle on the fringes of the city.
Killick says that vision is a long way towards realisation, as Heritage Park is now more than 50 percent developed, and includes several residential communities, an office park, church, parks and a private school.
The existing woodlands and mountain streams were retained during the development process, and as a result, the estate resonates with the song of abundant birdlife, she says.
“A 2km network of walking and jogging trails allows residents to exercise in safety while drinking in the magnificent views, which extend from mountain to ocean.”
A completed home in Somerset Country Estate. The gated village is located within the greater Heritage Park development in Somerset West, in the foothills of the Helderberg Mountain Range.
Somerset Country Estate will ultimately comprise 206 homes, located within their own private perimeter. This means that residents enjoy the peace of mind of a triple layer of security – their own private boundary walls, the estate’s electrified perimeter fence, and the greater protected perimeter encircling the entire Heritage Park area. There are only two access points into Somerset Country Estate, one reserved for residents and the other for both residents and visitors.
Stands range in size from 400 square metres to 672 square metres, with most homes offering at least 150 square metres of living space. The architect-designed homes are surrounded by a landscaped greenbelt, and are intended to offer an easy, low-maintenance, lock-up-and-go lifestyle. Around 50 homes have already been built, with others under construction or building about to start.
Buyers can choose from one of 10 design options, offering either three or four bedroom homes, all having two bathrooms and double garages with direct access. The overriding design theme is a modern Tuscan aesthetic, with charcoal roof tiles and neutral earth-tone wall colours. The use of cladding and natural stone is encouraged, and the homes all have full-length sliding doors leading onto their patios and terraces.
Finishes include ceramic floor tiles in all living areas, and granite kitchen counters. A review committee approves all plans to ensure a cohesive character for the estate, and to preserve the harmony of the built environment with its natural surroundings. Buyers can interpret the design guidelines to suit their own personal needs and taste, and have two years from date of transfer to complete the construction of their homes.
Levies are currently set at approximately R800 per month.
PGP’s MD for the Boland and Overberg regions, Annien Borg, says the pricing is extremely competitive for Somerset West, especially given the high levels of security on offer, and the convenient central location.
The estate has easy access to the N2 highway for those who work in other areas or need to commute into Cape Town, she says. “The University of Stellenbosch is just 15 minutes away, while Cape Town International Airport can be reached within half an hour.”
The magnificent beaches of Gordon’s Bay and Strand are also close by, as well as the Vergelegen Medi-Clinic, a number of leading golf courses, and the Somerset Mall with its extensive shopping and recreational facilities, she says.
The cherry on top for families with children is the presence of an on-site private school, the Helderberg International School, which offers co-ed classes from pre-school through to matric, as well as extensive sporting and cultural facilities, says Borg.
Learners work towards their Cambridge-endorsed A-levels, giving them a springboard to work and study anywhere in the world, she says.
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