Construction has begun on Stanford Bridge, a new small gated residential development located in the picturesque village of Stanford in the Cape Overberg.
The first completed home at Stanford Bridge has already been sold, while a second is finished and awaiting a buyer. Pam Golding Properties is marketing the homes from R1.71 million to R2.166 million, inclusive of VAT and with no transfer duties applicable.
It is located about 15 minutes inland from Hermanus and is renowned for its well-preserved Victorian buildings and languid country lifestyle.
Pam Golding Properties (PGP) reports that its slow pace of life and scenic, secure surroundings ensure its appeal as a weekend and holiday destination, as well as a permanent home for a growing number of young families, retirees, artists and entrepreneurs.
PGP agent Jill Smith says Stanford Bridge will consist of 32 freehold homes, occupying a site of nearly six acres on the banks of the Klein River.
This space includes an existing small dam and mature gardens, which will be further enhanced with facilities such as a bowling green, club house and bird hide.
Access will be via a remote-controlled entrance gate, and buyers will have a choice of layouts and quality finishes, all designed within a Cape vernacular theme.
The homes are priced from R1.71 million to R2.166 million, inclusive of VAT and with no transfer duties applicable.
Stanford Bridge would also be well suited to early retirees or those downscaling after their families have left home, and especially to keen bird-watchers – Stanford is known as the birding capital of the Overberg and hosts regular events for ‘twitchers’, she says.
“The security of living in a controlled access estate means that weekend and holiday users will be able to lock up and go with peace of mind, and will not be burdened with heavy maintenance.”
According to Smith, Stanford offers a wealth of lifestyle opportunities for residents and weekenders to enjoy, from wining and dining at the nearby vineyards, to mountain-biking, kayaking and horse-riding, or simply sipping a craft beer in one of the quaint local pubs. Voted “Best Village” in the 2012 SA Destination Awards, it has an active local Conservation and Aesthetic Committee, which ensures that the unique nostalgic character of the village is not spoiled by unchecked development.
The first high school built at Bardale Village, which should be complete and ready for its first intake of students in January 2014.
The first completed home at Stanford Bridge has already been sold, while a second is finished and awaiting a buyer. Foundations are in progress for a further two homes, with more to follow thereafter.
Meanwhile, the first High School is nearly complete at Bardale Village development and will be ready for first intake in January 2014 and is expected to accommodate approximately 800 students.
Michael Bauer, managing director of IHPC, says this new building is modern with a well-designed aesthetic.
Following this development, it is anticipated that the Government will be building another new high school and two new primary schools as they have already purchased the land.
They have now surveyed the sites, which could mean that they are in their planning phases for those schools, he says.
Bauer points out that in addition to the primary and high schools, the new crèche facility (which will be run by a private operator) will also enrol its first intake of children in January 2014. They will be able to accommodate 140 children between the ages of two and grade R.
“The fact that the overall plan for an integrated estate at Bardale Village is now falling into place, bodes very well for property values.
“The safe, family orientated lifestyle that we have worked hard to create is now coming together and this will go towards increasing property values even further in the area,” he says.
For many parents living here, knowing that their children can walk to school and will be inside the security estate and back home within a matter of minutes, will make a huge difference and this will make Bardale Village homes even more popular, says Bauer.
Demand for homes should increase because of the schools being added to the infrastructure and, because this estate is geared towards family living, with homes ranging from two to four bedrooms, at prices from R455 000 to R745 000, families can find the space they need at affordable prices, notes Bauer.
“We have also found that banks have been approving more bonds recently and that there are more young professionals buying property at Bardale Village,” he says.
The family orientated lifestyle and the way that the buyers in the scheme have been controlled, have attributed to the success of the development.
At present the majority of the occupants are owners with only less than 25 percent owned by buy-to-let investors, he adds.
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