Top Farm, Nuneaton

• Primary Schools: Nuneaton has several well-regarded primary schools, both public and private. Some prominent ones include St. Nicolas CofE Academy, Weddington Primary School, and Chetwynd Junior School. These schools cater to children from ages 4 to 11, providing foundational education.
• Secondary Schools: For students aged 11 to 16, Nuneaton offers a number of secondary schools, including Hartshill School, Etone College, and The George Eliot School. Many of these schools offer GCSEs and a range of vocational courses. Some also have sixth forms, offering A-levels and advanced vocational qualifications.

• Nuneaton Railway Station: Located on the West Coast Main Line, Nuneaton’s railway station is a major hub in the area. It provides direct services to key destinations, including:
  • London Euston (approx. 1 hour) via Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway
  • Birmingham New Street (approx. 30 minutes)
  • Coventry (approx. 20 minutes)
  • Leicester (approx. 20 minutes)
  • Stoke-on-Trent and Crewe with links to the north of England
• CrossCountry Services: Connect Nuneaton to regional destinations, including Peterborough and Stansted Airport.
• East Midlands Railway: Offers connections to Leicester and East Midlands destinations, enhancing links to the north and east.

Bus Services

• Local Bus Services: Stagecoach Midlands and Arriva Midlands provide a network of local bus routes across Nuneaton and surrounding areas. Frequent services connect residential areas to the town center, shopping destinations, schools, and other essential stops.
• Regional Bus Links: Buses also connect Nuneaton to nearby towns and cities, including Coventry, Hinckley, and Bedworth. The number 48 bus, for example, provides a regular service between Nuneaton, Coventry, and Leicester.

 Road Links

• A5 Road: The A5 runs along the northern edge of Nuneaton and provides an essential link to Tamworth, Hinckley, and the M42 motorway, facilitating access to Birmingham and the Midlands.
• M6 Motorway: The M6 is located just a short drive from Nuneaton, providing fast routes to Birmingham, Coventry, and the North West.
• M69 Motorway: This motorway links Nuneaton with Leicester and the M1, enabling further connectivity to the Midlands and South Yorkshire.
• A444 Road: Connects Nuneaton to Coventry in the south and the M6, offering a quick route for commuters heading toward the West Midlands.

Shopping and Retail

• Ropewalk Shopping Centre: The main shopping mall in Nuneaton, Ropewalk has a variety of popular high-street stores, including H&M, TK Maxx, and New Look, along with cafes and eateries.
• Abbeygate Shopping Centre: Another shopping destination with a mix of retail shops, cafes, and services.
• Nuneaton Market: Held every Wednesday and Saturday, the market is known for fresh produce, clothing, home goods, and a range of local products.
• Local High Streets: The town center offers many independent shops, specialty stores, and services, creating a diverse shopping experience.

 Healthcare Facilities

• George Eliot Hospital: The main hospital serving Nuneaton and nearby areas, providing a wide range of services including A&E, maternity care, and specialized treatments.
• GP Surgeries and Health Clinics: Nuneaton has a number of general practitioners and health centers located across the town, such as Camp Hill Health Centre, Riversley Park Centre, and Stockingford Medical Centre.
• Pharmacies: Well Pharmacy, Boots, and several independent pharmacies are conveniently located around the town.

Most buyers who can’t afford to buy a home outright can apply to buy through shared ownership.

We may also be able to help if you need to move because of a relationship breakdown or if your work requires you to live in an area outside your price range.

In order to buy through the Shared Ownership scheme, you must be able to demonstrate that you can afford and sustain home ownership. If you proceed with Shared Ownership you will be required to undertake an affordability assessment.

You must meet our adverse credit policy, if you have a history of adverse credit you are unlikely to be accepted depending on individual circumstances.

Shared owners still have to pay many of the usual costs involved in buying a home.

Reservation fee

We will ask you for a £250 deposit to reserve your chosen home. When the sale goes through we put this towards your purchase payments. However, we cannot refund it if the sale does not go through.

Mortgage deposit and fees

Most mortgage lenders will ask for a 5% or 10% deposit towards the price of the share you want to buy. They are also likely to charge a valuation fee and administration fees.

Legal fees

Solicitors’ charges can vary so it is best to get a few estimates. You will also have to pay Land Registry and local search fees, and may have to pay stamp duty depending on the value of the property.

After you've moved in

You also need to budget for the ongoing costs of owning a home.

Mortgage repayments

You will have to make monthly mortgage repayments to your lender. Depending upon the type of mortgage you have, these repayments may vary as interest rates change.

Rent

You pay a subsidised monthly rent to us on the share of your home which we own. The amount is reviewed on the 1st April each year.

Service charges

You will have to pay a small charge if your home has any facilities or communal areas which we maintain, such as shared entrance halls, lighting and grounds. Your service charge will also include your buildings insurance and your management fee.

Household bills

These include your council tax and utility bills for water, gas and electricity.

Repairs

We will arrange for any defects on new-build homes to be repaired during a set time period. After that time has elapsed, you will be responsible for arranging and paying for all repairs to your home.

Home contents insurance

We provide buildings insurance with the cost of your service charge but this does not cover your belongings. We strongly recommend you arrange your own home contents insurance.

Much will depend on your other financial commitments and what property/share you want to buy. We don't want you to be overstretched, so we need to be sure that you can afford to pay your mortgage and rent. We look at each application individually and will advise you on your options.

Shared ownership schemes are backed by government funding to help people on smaller incomes. So you will not qualify for most shared ownership schemes if your household income is less than £10,000 or more than £80,000 a year.

On the property listings for some of our shared ownership homes, you will see that we state a local connection to the area is required.

This generally applies in rural areas and small villages where land has been made available specifically for affordable housing to meet the needs of local people, rather than for private development.

These are known as ‘rural exception sites’ or 'protected areas' and are controlled by ‘Section 106 Agreements’. They aim to help local people and families afford homes in the area where they grew up.

The local connection criteria can vary between different developments, but is usually based on the following:

applicant was born in the area and has lived there for a number of years

applicant has permanently lived in the area for a number of years

applicant used to live in the area for a number of years but had to move away because of the lack of affordable housing

applicant has been permanently employed in the area for a number of years

The number of years is usually between 2 and 5, although this differs by local authority

Usually priority is given to applicants with a local connection to the parish. If there are still properties remaining, allocation will be opened up to surrounding parishes and then to the whole of the local authority area. This ensures that the homes are occupied by residents as local to the area as possible.

If you want to find out more about the local connection criteria for a particular development, or check if you qualify, please email sales@platformhg.com

Yes you can, once you have moved into your Shared Ownership property, providing you can afford it, you are able to buy more of your home through the process of Staircasing.