Every week we tell you about the events being held at new homes developments across the UK over the next seven days, as well as recent news you may have missed. Find out about the launch of the very latest developments, the unveiling of new show homes, open days and much more.

South East

Ward Homes - Thursday 14 November, from 5.00pm to 8.00pm - Preview evening for Blossom Bank, a new development of properties in Cannon Lane, Tonbridge, Kent. The event takes place at Wood & Pilcher at 38 High Street, Tonbridge ahead of the official launch. Reservations will include carpet, £1,000 towards legal fees and a gold removals package.

Taylor Wimpey - Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 November, from 10.00am to 5.00pm - Part Exchange weekend at Kingsmere, a development of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom houses in Bicester, Oxfordshire priced from £225,000 to over £450,000.

Taylor Wimpey - Friday 15 November, from 3.00pm to 8.00pm - A chance to air your views on proposals for approximately 100 new homes proposed for Stone Cross, East Sussex. The public consultation takes place at the Red Lion pub on Lion Hill, Stone Cross.

Midlands

Bellway Homes - Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 November, from 10.30am to 5.00pm - Help to Buy weekend at The Pastures, New Woodside, Telford, Shropshire, TF7 5HR. The show home and sales office will be open for buyers to find out more about the properties available with the government-backed scheme.

North West

Redrow Homes - Thursday 14 November, from 11.30am to 7.00pm - The housebuilder re-launches its show home at Oakwood Park, Ormskirk, Lancashire, with a festive makeover. See the Christmas-themed, professionally decorated ‘Cambridge' four-bedroom home and enjoy some mince pies and mulled wine while you learn about the selection of properties available from £259,995.

Redrow Homes - Thursday 14 November, from 11.30am to 7.00pm - The housebuilder hosts a Christmas-themed, evening with mince pies and mulled wine for buyers at Lytham Quays, Lytham, Lancashire, to learn about the selection of properties available from £119,950 and see the show home, which has been given a Christmas makeover.

Redrow Homes - Thursday 14 November, from 11.30am to 7.00pm - The housebuilder re-launches its show home at Sandy Lane, Buckshaw Village, Lancashire, with a festive makeover. See the Christmas-themed, professionally decorated ‘Balmoral' four-bedroom home and enjoy some mince pies and mulled wine while you learn about the selection of properties available from £339,995.

Redrow Homes - Thursday 14 November, from 11.30am to 7.00pm - The housebuilder re-launches its show home at Birch Grange, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, with a festive makeover. See the Christmas-themed, professionally decorated ‘Oxford' four-bedroom detached home and enjoy some mince pies and mulled wine while you learn about the selection of properties available from £174,995.

London

Savills - Saturday 16 November, from 11.00am to 4.00pm - Launch of London Square, Fulham, SW6, a collection of luxury three- to five-bedroom townhouses set around a landscaped garden square. Each home benefits from private garden and secure underground parking for two cars. Prices from £2.6m.

Scotland

Barratt Homes - Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 November, from 10.30am to 5.30pm - Help to Buy events at three developments in East Scotland: Oakfield Gait in Dalgety Bay; Bluebell Meadows in Dunfermline; and City Haven in Newhaven Road, Edinburgh.

Barratt Homes - Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 November, from 10.30am to 5.30pm - Launch of a new development called The Kilns in Burdiehouse, five miles south of Edinburgh. The scheme with comprise a mix of two-bedroom apartments and three- and four-bedroom houses. Help to Buy (Scotland) will be available.

You may have missed...

London E14 - Telford Homes - Now open, Parkside Quarter, a collection of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments close to Mudchute Park, with prices from £270,000.

Kearsley, Greater Manchester - Morris Homes - New show home now open at Brookview Place, a four-bedroom ‘Malham. Prices at the scheme start at £172,750 with Help to Buy.

A couple are celebrating the purchase of their own brand new home in East Sussex - all thanks to a helping hand from the government's new Help to Buy shared equity scheme.

With the cost of renting increasing, Stephen Baird and his partner Michael Williams had started to lose hope that they would ever save a big enough deposit to escape the rental rut and get a foot on the property ladder. But when they learned of Help to Buy, they realised their homeowning dream could become a reality much sooner than they had believed.

Now the couple have bought and moved into a brand new house at Taylor Wimpey's The Grange development in Hailsham, which incorporates a range of three- and four-bedroom homes priced from £220,000 upwards.

"We would never have been able to buy this house without Help to Buy," explains Stephen, 48, a computer system designer. "We only had a 5% deposit and we saved hard for that. Renting is wasted money and the monthly payments on this house work out cheaper for us than rent. We are still pinching ourselves. It is a fantastic house and the finish is lovely."

Previously living in a rented three-bedroom house in Hove, Stephen and Michael, 47, who works for the NHS, used Help to Buy to purchase their three-bedroom ‘Holly' house at The Grange. The scheme enables eligible first-time buyers and existing homeowners to secure a new-build house for 80% of its full price including a 5% deposit. The remaining 20% is provided in the form of a government-backed equity loan, interest-free for five years. There is no salary cap for homebuyers taking advantage of the scheme.

Set in 76 acres of farmland on the western edge of historic Hailsham, just over a mile from the town centre's shops and amenities, The Grange has beautiful Sussex countryside and walks right on its doorstep. For commuters, the A22 offers quick links to Eastbourne and the M25, while three miles away Polegate Station offers regular services to London Victoria, Ashford International, Brighton and Eastbourne.

Now settling into their new home, Stephen says: "We loved the style of the house and the fact that it's quiet. We used to live right on the seafront and the seagulls were so noisy! Our new home is just the right size and in the right location, and it was ready to move into, which was ideal.

"The development itself is also very nice. The landscaping and the way it has been developed is great and we have a nice green area near us. There is nothing about it that doesn't have a positive."

The Scottish Government's Help to Buy (Scotland) initiative is available to both first-time buyers and those looking to move further up the property ladder in new homes valued up to £400,000. Under the scheme people wishing to purchase a new-build home in Scotland are able to borrow up to 20% of the property's value as an equity loan that can be paid back at any time. Participating housebuilders have a host of properties priced between £250,000 and £300,000 across the country.

Royal Mearns is a Persimmon Homes development of three-, four- and five-bedroom family properties starting from £279,995. Available homes at the Newton Mearns site include the ‘Leith' house type, which boasts a spacious lounge, kitchen/dining area, master bedroom with en suite, three further bedrooms, a family bathroom, downstairs WC, utility room and integral garage.

Located in Portlethen, Stewart Milne Homes'Causey Wells development offers a variety of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes. The semi-detached ‘Carlton' house type is priced from £282,995 and has a light, airy feel to it. Downstairs the living room leads through to the kitchen and dining area, which has French doors to the rear garden. A cloakroom and utility room are neatly tucked away through a separate door. The upper floor comprises a master bedroom with en suite, three further bedrooms and a family bathroom. A garage completes the home.

A selection of four- and five-bedroom properties is available at Reiver Grange, a Charles Church development in the historical town of Bathgate, West Lothian. Prices here range from £259,995 to £295,995 and benefits include formal lounges, open-plan kitchen, dining and family areas, studies, garages and multiple en suites.

The popular Milton of Leys area of Inverness is the setting for Highland Housing Alliance's Braes of Balvonie development. Homes currently on the market here include ‘The Corner House'; a three-bedroom property that is priced at £295,000 and includes a work unit.

Robertson Homes has a range of three-, four- and five-bedroom properties on the market at its Brannock Park development in New Stevenston. The scheme is perfectly planned out for families with play areas and open spaces incorporated into the design. £275,995 will buy the ‘Ivory Grand II', which has a formal lounge, dining room, kitchen and garden room as well as en-suite facilities to three of the four bedrooms.

With a wide range of local amenities and conveniently placed for the city centre, Bellway Homes' Marches development in Stepps is an ideal choice for those looking to find a new home in Glasgow. The four-bedroom detached ‘Newcastle' villa costs £284,995 and includes a formal lounge as well as an open-plan kitchen and family room. Corner windows to the dining room and master bedroom make an interesting feature.

Buyers looking for semi-rural retreat should check out Lomond Group's Castlegait development in the village of Glamis in Angus. Available properties include the Royal Balmoral. This five-bedroom home is priced from £283,000 and has the option of adding a sunroom and a garage. Solar panelling is also available on selected plots.

Berkeley Group has taken the coveted Housebuilder of the Year title at the 'Oscars' of the housebuilding industry, the What House? Awards 2013.

The Group took the crown at the Awards Gala Luncheon, held in front of a sell-out audience of 1,500 of the industry's most senior figures at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Friday 15 November.

The Group also won Best Large Housebuilder and awards in the Best Lanscape Design, Best Brownfield Development and Best Mixed-Use Development categories.

Other notable winners include CALA Homes, Housebuilder of the Year in 2012 and retaining its Best Medium Housebuilder title in 2013, and Antler Homes, which also retained its Best Small Housebuilder award.

The What House? Awards judges said about t Berkeley Group: "The [company] wins the biggest prize in British housebuilding for its exceptional all-round achievements across the price range, but, crucially, also for going beyond just the homes to deliver new, sustainable communities, as well as giving something back. It is as commercially successful as it is sustainable, with rising revenues and profits. Berkeley measures its impact far beyond bricks and mortar. Berkeley, under chairman Tony Pidgley and managing director Rob Perrins, sees the social fabric of a community as the true legacy, the long-term barometer of a business and its contribution to the environment. Congratulations to everyone at Berkeley on winning the industry's most prestigious award."

The winners of the What House? Awards 2013 in full are:

Housebuilder of the Year

Berkeley Group

Best Large Housebuilder, sponsored by Zoopla Property Group

Gold: Berkeley Group
Silver: Redrow Homes
Bronze (joint): Bloor Homes and Linden Homes

Best Medium Housebuilder, sponsored by Roca

Gold: CALA Homes
Silver: Mount Anvil
Bronze (joint): Churchill Retirement Living and Banner Homes

Best Small Housebuilder, sponsorer by Electrolux

Gold: Antler Homes
Silver: City & Country Group
Bronze (joint): London Square and Audley Retirement

Sustainable Developer of the Year, sponsored by Johnson Tiles

Gold: Hastoe Housing Association
Silver: Linden Homes
Bronze: Miller Homes

Housing Association of the Year, sponsored by Insinkerator

Gold: A2Dominion Group
Silver: Affinity Sutton
Bronze (joint): Hastoe Housing Association and Sovereign Housing Association

Best Starter Home, sponsored by Aylesworth Fleming

Gold: Sovereign Living, Beechfields View, Torquay, Devon
Silver (joint): Notting Hill Housing, Heywood, Stanmore, London HA7 and Swan New Homes, Dimensions, Chelmsford, Essex
Bronze: Compendium Living, Mill Brook, Liverpool

Best House, sponsored by Vogue Interiors

Gold: Skanska Residential Development, ‘House Type 7', Seven Acres, Trumpington, Cambridge
Silver (joint): Countryside Properties, ‘The Villa', Kings Park, Harold Wood, Essex and St James, Number 3, Lime Grove Mews, London W12
Bronze (joint): Mount Anvil, Townhouse, The Loxfords, 85 Highbury Park, London N5 and Antler Property C.I., ‘Roseberry House', Queen's Rise, Windsor, Berkshire

Best Apartment Scheme, sponsored by Virgin Media

Gold: City & Country Group, The Galleries, Brentwood, Essex
Silver (joint): First Base, VIVO, Stepney, London E1 and London Square Developments, Leonard Street, Shoreditch, London EC2
Bronze: Newcourt Residential, Number One Oxshott, Oxshott, Surrey

Best Luxury House, sponsored by Laufen

Gold: Stanborough Developments, ‘La Pinède', Branksome Park, Poole, Dorset
Silver (joint): Regal Homes, ‘Lansdowne House', Hampstead, London NW3 and Octagon, Hampton Lodge, Bray, Berkshire
Bronze: Huntsmere, Armstrong Farm, Alderley Edge, Cheshire

Best Renovation, sponsored by Zoopla Property Group

Gold: Michael Wilson Restorations, Albury Park Mansion, Albury, Guildford, Surrey
Silver: Ben Bailey Homes, Chevin Park, Menston, Leeds
Bronze: City & Country Group, `The Chapel' at The Galleries, Brentwood, Essex

Best Development, sponsored by spicerhaart land & new homes

Gold: CALA Homes, Trinity Park, Edinburgh
Silver: David Wilson Homes, Derwenthorpe, Osbaldwick, York, North Yorkshire
Bronze (joint): Russell Homes, The Waterfront, Rhosneigr, Anglesey and David Wilson Homes, De Lacy Court, Castle Donington, Leicestershire

Best Partnership Scheme, sponsored by Aldermore

Gold: Kier Partnership Homes, Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust, Birmingham City Council and the Homes & Communities Agency, Balaam Wood, Birmingham
Silver (joint): Willmott Dixon, Notting Hill Housing, Merton Council and the Homes & Communities Agency, Brenley Park, Mitcham, Surrey and Crest Nicholson, the Homes & Communities Agency, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Curo and E.ON, Bath Riverside, Bath
Bronze (joint): Mar City Homes, Accord Group and LoCal Homes, Richards Street, Darlaston, Wallsall, West Midlands and English Cities Fund and the London Borough of Newham, Vermilion, Canning Town, London E16

Best Luxury Development, sponsored by Nolte Kitchens

Gold (joint): Antler Property C.I., Queen's Rise, Windsor, Berkshire and Newcourt Residential, Number One Oxshott, Oxshott, Surrey
Silver (joint): Haxted Estates, 328 Sandbanks Road, Poole, Dorset and Wyatt Homes, Harbour Ridge, Sandbanks, Poole, Dorset
Bronze: Dandara, Oakhill Grange, Aberdeen

Best Mixed-Use Development, sponsored by Mainstay

Gold: Berkeley Group, Royal Arsenal Riverside, Woolwich, London SE18
Silver: Standard Life Investments, Parkway, Newbury, Berkshire
Bronze: Knightstone Housing, J3, Easton, Bristol

Best Sustainable Development, sponsored by Powerday

Gold: Linden Homes, Affinity Sutton and the Homes & Communities Agency, Graylingwell Park, Chichester, West Sussex
Silver: Origin Housing, The Move, South Hampstead, London NW8
Bronze: Skanska, Seven Acres, Trumpington, Cambridge

Best Retirement Development, sponsored by House to Home

Gold: Audley Retirement, Inglewood, Kintbury, Berkshire
Silver: Countryside Properties, Cliveden Village, Taplow, Buckinghamshire
Bronze (joint): Banner Homes, Glebelands, Wokingham, Berkshire and Churchill Retirement Living, Gifford Lodge, Twickenham, Surrey

Best Brownfield Development, sponsored by Show House magazine

Gold: Berkeley Group, Kidbrooke Village, Greenwich, London SE3
Silver (joint): Linden Homes, Graylingwell Park, Chichester, West Sussex and Bloor Homes, Fortescue Fields, Norton St Philip, Somerset
Bronze: Lovell, The Way, Beswick, Manchester

Best Interior Design, sponsored by Silestone by Cosentino

Gold: Mount Anvil, The Orchard, Clerkenwell, London EC1
Silver: BMB Investments, Trafalgar One, London SW1
Bronze: Audley Retirement, Inglewwood, Hungerford, Berkshire

Best Exterior Design, sponsored by Premier Guarantee

Gold: Redrow Homes,`Linley House' at Stretton Green, Chester, Cheshire
Silver: Bloor Homes, Fortescue Fields, Norton St Philip, Somerset
Bronze: Wyatt Homes, Harbour Ridge, Sandbanks, Poole, Dorset

Best Landscape Design, sponsored by Zoopla Property Group

Gold: Berkeley Group, Kidbrooke Village, Greenwich, London SE3
Silver: Michael Wilson Restorations, Albury Park Mansion, Albury, Guildford, Surrey
Bronze: Newcourt Residential, Number One Oxshott, Oxshott, Surrey

Ethan Ebanks-Landell celebrated his full League debut for Wolves by scoring the only goal of the game and sending the Molineux men to the top of the League One table.

But it was never easy for Kenny Jackett's side, who were pushed all the way by bottom placed Notts County.

Kevin McDonald returned from injury and Ebanks-Land ell played at right-back with Samuel Ricketts away on international duty and Jack Price, who was unwell, missing from the team that took on Oldham in the FA Cup.

Over 2,500 Wolves supporters were congregated in the Jimmy Sirrel Stand alongside the pitch as County kicked-off on a cloudy but dry afternoon.

Inside the first minute home keeper Bartosz Bialkowski was quickly off his line to save at Jake Cassidy's feet as the Welsh striker tried to connect with James Henry's flick.

County replied with an Alan Sheehan corner that was headed clear by Bakary Sako.

Cassidy tested Bialkowski with a low effort from just outside the area but the Polish keeper dived to save with relative ease.

Sako volleyed wide from 25-yards before Sheehan and Henry were given a lecture by the referee after the Molineux winger reacted strongly to a scything tackle from the defender.

The Magpies were close to taking the lead in the 19th minute after Ebanks-Land ell had fouled Jamal Campbell-Ryce to the left of the Wolves box.

Sheehan's free-kick was headed towards goal by Manny Smith and Richard Stearman cleared from in front of the line. The ball bounced back to Smith and this time his close range shot was deflected over the bar by Stearman.

Danny Batth, who was captaining the side in Ricketts absence, was booked for leaning on Callum McGregor as the County man ran through. Sheehan's free-kick bounced clear off the defensive wall.

It took a well-timed tackle from Batth to deny McGregor a clear shot at goal shortly afterwards.

Bialkowski pawed away a curling effort from Cassidy that looked destined for the net and then David Davis went into the book for a challenge on Gary Liddle that left both players in need of treatment.

Henry tried his luck from distance but again Bialkowski managed to palm clear and just before the break a low shot from Sako was deflected into the keeper's arms.

Half-Time: Notts County 0 Wolves 0

Leigh Griffiths was an interval replacement for Davis but the first goal attempt of the new half fell to Campbell-Ryce whose curled shot drifted narrowly wide of the far post.

For Wolves, Sako picked out Cassidy whose shot was deflected over the bar by Sheehan. Then Griffiths looked odds on to open the scoring after Henry had broken clear and slipped the ball to the unmarked Scot who hammered in a low shot that was superbly saved by Bialkowski.

Three yellow cards followed in an eight minute spell although for the first of them, the travelling supporters were justifiably howling for a red as McGregor, as last man, was pulled up for a challenge on Henry who was otherwise clean through.

Marcus Haber, for tripping Griffiths, and Kieron Freeman, for obstructing Sako, followed McGregor into the book.

Cassidy saw his angled drive saved by Bialkowski after good work from Griffiths and Henry, but the keeper was finally beaten in the 76th minute. Smith and Sako tussled for the ball near the left-hand corner post and when the County man was penalised, Henry lifted the free-kick into the middle.

The ball was flicked on by the head of Stearman and, when it dropped in the heart of a crowded goalmouth, Ebanks-Landell was there to sweep home a left-foot shot (pictured).

Both sides made changes for the closing stages with George Elokobi for Henry, and after McGregor had fired wide for the home team, Björn Sigurdarson for Cassidy.

With his first touch the Icelandic striker struck the base of the post after he had chased down Griffiths's through ball

Substitute Yoann Arquin and then Mark Fotheringham shot wide as County went in search of a point saver, but Wolves held out for the three points that took them to the top.

Full-Time: Notts County 0 Wolves 1

Notts County: Biakowski, Sheehan, Liddle (capt), Smith, McGregor (Bell 90), Haber, Labadie, Murray (Arquin 82), Campbell-Ryce (Howarth 82), Fotheringham, Freeman.

Unused subs: Spiess, Showunmi, Hollis, Holt.

Bookings: McGregor (58 - foul), Haber (65 - foul), Freeman (66 - obstruction).

Wolves: Ikeme, Ebanks-Landell, Golbourne, Davis (Griffiths 45), Batth (capt), Stearman, Henry (Elokobi 82), Edwards, Cassidy (Sigurdarson 85), McDonald, Sako.

Unused subs: Flatt, Evans, Jacobs, Foley.

Bookings: Batth (22 - foul), Davis (33 - foul).

Referee: D. Webb.

Attendance: 7,520.

Marc Da Silva takes his regular look at the affordable new homes market across the UK with the latest news on affordable housing schemes in London, Pwllheli, Devon, Cheshire, Edinburgh and Northumberland.

New affordable homes in London

The Greater London Authority (GLA) has told the London Assembly's housing committee that meeting the target for the Mayor of London's Affordable Homes Programme will be "challenging". The GLA said that, to meet the target of building 55,000 affordable homes by March 2015, another 5,000 new-build homes will need to be started in the next four-and-a-half months. The GLA had stated in June that around 9,000 new-builds would be needed by the autumn to meet the target, however, only 3,000 starts been confirmed by the end of September.

Affordable homes in Pwllheli

A major shortage in the affordable homes has prompted a Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd to announce plans to develop its own new homes for the first time. The housing association plans to develop a selection of affordable homes in Pwllheli to help meet growing demand for low-cost properties in the area, especially in parts of Dwyfor which has one of the highest proportion of holiday homes across England and Wales.

Affordable new homes in Plymouth

A collection of 10 affordable homes will be built on land in the centre of Rattery near Plymouth as part of a 12-home scheme being built in the South Hams under the Village Housing Initiative.

Affordable homes in Cheshire

Sanctuary Group is developing a mix of 20 affordable homes in a £2.2m scheme in Station Road in Ince, just north of Chester, which is being part funded by the Homes and Communities Agency. The development will include five two-bedroom and 15 three-bedroom houses, due for completion in August 2014.

New affordable homes in Edinburgh

The Quartermile, a large affordable housing project in Edinburgh, has been completed. The scheme, which includes 174 affordable homes, is being delivered as part of the City of Edinburgh Council's affordable housing policy.

Affordable new homes in Northumberland

Two Castles Housing Association has welcomed residents into their new homes after work completed on a £1.7m affordable homes scheme for local people in Bellingham, Northumberland. The development, known as Bridgeford View, has delivered a selection of 13 two-, three- and four-bedroom homes to rent for people with a connection to the village or the local area.

Our weekly series of interviews with senior figures in the new homes industry continues with Marc Da Silva putting the questions to David Pollock, managing director of London estate agents Greene & Co.

What regions do you cover? All London postcodes, with a focus on residential developments and investments, dedicated to land, sales and acquisitions.

What are housing market conditions currently like in those areas? With the government's Help to Buy policy extending further this autumn, sentiment in the market is certainly positive and this growing demand is not being met with supply. This imbalance is creating a lot of competition for every property and fuelling price growth across the capital. As a result, we are seeing sensibly priced property selling within the first two weeks of coming to the market and buyers returning to off-plan purchases.

What types of property is your firm selling? We have a lot of first-time buyers and second-steppers coming to us and therefore we have a wide range of exclusive luxury new apartments and family homes. The developments are strategically located in close proximity to good transport links, good schools and local amenities, hence, appealing to young professionals and families looking to either enter the property market or move up the ladder respectively.

How much does a new home offered by Greene & Co typically cost to buy? A typical newly built two-bedroom apartment in a central London location will cost an average of £700,000. There are new-build apartments available from £400,000 in the capital while larger new-build homes can cost from £900,000 to £2m.

Why should more buyers consider buying a new-build home as opposed to older property? In such a competitive market where gazumping and sealed bids are becoming increasingly common, new homes are a preferred option for many as there are no chains, significantly simplifying the buying process and ensuring a quick and less stressful transaction.

Developers are also creating increasingly cosmopolitan and stylish developments across London boasting a range of outside spaces from roof terraces to balconies and raised gardens. They often have energy-efficient features and maximise the amount of incoming natural light.

New homes also offer buyers high levels of specification and convenience, such as concierges, secure fridge storage for food deliveries, secure bike storage and gyms.

Is it worth buying property during the off-plan stage of construction? Absolutely! Off-plan buyers often get the opportunity to customise their property and tailor it to their own personal taste which is a huge incentive. It means buyers don't have the hassle or expense of having to move into a property and then redecorate. Instead they can move into a home that is functional and livable immediately.

What is Greene & Co's USP? Greene & Co.'s new homes expertise is second to none. With the likes of Harry Handelsman from Manhattan Lofts Corporation and John Hitchcox from Yoo involved in our new home projects, we understand the market - we know what buyers want when it comes to chic urban living.

Greene & Co. also have offices on the high street across London. We know what is happening on the ground and what local buyers are looking to purchase in their specific location which makes us the experts of choice.

Which of the developments Greene & Co is currently selling do you think stands the best chance of winning a What House? Award? That's a tough question! We have an incredible range of new developments in the capital and each offer something different and cater for a variety of tastes and lifestyles.

At a push, my winning vote would go to The Yard in Clerkenwell which is due for completion early next year. The apartments have been finished to a very high standard and are in a prime central London location, conveniently located close to Farringdon, Angel, Holborn, Russell Square and Chancery Lane. The future Crossrail services and subsequent regeneration make this development especially appealing as an investment.

The government needs to step up its efforts to develop more new homes in order to meet soaring demand for residential properties in this country, according to a leading think tank.

With demand for housing set to continue growing, the Policy Exchange estimates that in the region of 1.5m new homes, or 300,000 units each year, need to be developed from 2015 to 2020, to help meet rising demand for housing. Such a move would also help to plug the growing supply-demand imbalance, which is pushing property prices higher and beyond reach of many would-be property purchasers.

Aside from making it easier for housebuilders to develop much needed new homes, including affordable housing, the think tank is also calling on the government to not introduce any further taxes on property in this country in order to make it easier for people to own a home.

According to the researchers, council tax charges, inheritance tax, stamp duty and capital gains levies have pushed UK tax charges to more than double the average throughout the OECD, making them the highest property taxes in the developed world.

"The evidence shows where excess credit and under-supply exist, taxation or subsidy can only have a limited impact," said Alex Morton, head of housing, planning and urban policy at Policy Exchange. "That is why policymakers should ignore calls for a new round of property taxes, and instead commit to spreading the benefits of homeownership and stabilising the UK economy by building at least 1.5m new homes over the course of the next Parliament.

"This means serious reform of the planning system and creating new ways to deliver housing."

While many mortgage products attract product or arrangement fees in return for a lower interest rate, lenders have a range of deals with no fees to assist first-time buyers, though interest rates will be generally slightly higher.

First-time buyer deals with no fee include a four-year fixed-rate mortgage from TSB at 3.34% at 95% loan-to-value (LTV), restricted to existing TSB customers. Nationwide is offering a two-year fixed-rate deal, also at 95% LTV with an initial rate of 4.46% for mortgages up to £350,000, while NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland will lend first-time buyers up to £570,000 at 4.99% fixed for three years. Paying back any of these mortgages within the fixed rate period will incur early repayment charges (ERCs) of up to 3% of the value of the outstanding loan.

For those with larger deposits, HSBC is offering a three-year fixed-rate mortgage to first-time buyers on 70% LTV loans up to £1m at 2.49%. No fee is payable, and ERCs are 1% of the balance repaid for the fixed term. Santander has a 70% LTV two-year fixed-rate deal at 2.59%, with no fees and 3% ERCs on loans up to £550,000, while a similar deal from NatWest is available at 2.69%, although the interest rate after the fixed period, currently 4%, is cheaper than Santander's current reverting rate of 4.74%.

For homeowners looking to remortgage for the first time, TSB is offering £500 cashback to its current account holders or customers choosing to open a current account alongside their new TSB mortgage, as long as at least £1,000 per month is credited to their TSB current account. TSB's two-year fixed-rate deals at 60% LTV include 1.79% on loans between £150,000 and £1m with a product fee of £1,995 or 2.09% on loans from £5,000 to £1m with a £995 product fee, and a 2.49% two-year fixed rate for loans between £5,000 and £149,999 with no fees and free valuation and standard legal fees. ERCs are payable on all three products during the fixed-rate period, and loans must start by 28 February 2014. A similar mortgage is available from TBS up to 85% LTV at 3.94% on loans from £5,000 to £1 million with no product fee.

A number of other lenders are offering two-year fixed-rate mortgages for those looking to remortgage. The ‘2 Year Fixed Special' from HSBC offers a two-year rate of 1.49% on loans up to £500,000 at 60% LTV with a £1,999 booking fee. Borrowers can pay up to 20% above their normal monthly payment without penalty.

The Post Office is offering a two-year fixed-rate of 1.63% for customers looking to remortgage at up to 60% LTV with a fee of £1,995, or 2.49% with no fees on loans up to £1m. For those with only a 10% deposit, the Post Office is offering 90% LTV fixed-rate loans at 3.99% fixed for two years with an arrangement fee of £1,495, 4.45% for a four-year fixed rate with a fee of £995 or 4.99% five-year fixed rate with no arrangement fee.

Yorkshire Building Society is offering a two-year fixed rate deal for remortgagers for loans of 65% LTV at 1.99% with a product fee of £845, or 2.19% with a reduced fee of £345, while similar deals for loans up to 75% LTV are currently 2.04% with a fee of £845 or 2.44% with a fee of £345.

Click here to find out more about how Whathouse.co.uk can help you find the right mortgage.

Some property purchasers will be relieved to see data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last week showing that residential property prices have fallen slightly across the UK over the past month.

Somewhat surprisingly, the ONS house price index fell from 186 in October to 184.9 in November.

Last month, the ONS reported that prices were at their highest since records began in 1968. While this may be great for some homeowners, especially those thinking of selling their property, rising property prices are concerning for many prospective homebuyers, especially first-time purchasers, struggling to raise the finance required to purchase property.

But while the month-on-month price pause may alleviate the pressure on some buyers, the reality is that with housing market conditions rapidly improving, supported by low interest rates and the government's Help to Buy scheme, the recent price decline is likely to be a blip in an otherwise strong housing market which is expected to see prices continue to grow.

"Flat house prices in September reported by the Office for National Statistics will likely do little to ease concerns that we could be headed for a new housing market bubble," said Howard Archer, the chief UK economist of IHS Global Insight.

The ONS figures reveal that annual inflation rose from 3.7% in August to 3.8% in September.
Across the UK regions, prices rose by 4.2% in England and 1.4% in Wales. However, prices fell by 1.1% in Scotland, and 1.5% in Northern Ireland.

Despite the sluggish nature of the property market in some parts of the UK, there are signs that conditions are improving as the housing boom in London starts to ripple out to other parts of the UK.

"Property prices have been sky-rocketing in London for many months, but we are now seeing price growth ripple out from London and the South East to the majority of regions," said Stuart Law, CEO of Assetz. "However, we have not yet reached ‘bubble' prices. Part of the evidence for this is that buy-to-let investors are still able to achieve very good gross yields on their investments of around 7%-8%."

He added: "Just before the 2007 market peak, average yields were around 5% as property price growth was far greater than rises in rents. Investors at that point were speculating solely on continuing price growth and happy to accept cash losses on rental income after running costs."

Also reflecting on the latest UK housing market statistics, Peter Williams, executive director of the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA), commented: "Although the ONS release shows continuing regional discrepancies, with London outpacing the next best performing region by more than half, positive annual house price growth is now evident in most of England and Wales, although not yet in Scotland and Northern Ireland."

Being within easy commuting distance of Stirling, Edinburgh and Glasgow and with plenty of open spaces, parks and well-respected schools means Forth Valley has lots to offer growing families. Buyers looking to find a new home in the Falkirk area should set aside ample time for house-hunting as there are so many development show homes to get round.

Situated in the village of Stoneywood near Denny, Ogilvie Homes'Stoneybrae development comprises a collection of two-, three- and four -bedroom properties in a variety of styles. Prices here start from £115,000 for a two-bedroom cottage flat with separate lounge and kitchen, private garden and private parking. The site is only 20 minutes away from the centre of both Falkirk and Stirling and families will find a selection of primary and secondary schools nearby.

Ballinkeir Place is a Barratt Homes development of three- and four-bedroom family homes in the popular Kilsyth Road area of Longcroft. The semi-rural location is close to woodland walks and two reservoirs and the village offers a range of local amenities. The ‘Dunrobin' house type costs £168,995 and includes a formal lounge, open-plan kitchen and dining area, downstairs WC, master bedroom with en suite, two further bedrooms and a family bathroom.

Charles Church has a selection of four- and five-bedroom detached family homes at the second phase of its Carron Brae development in Falkirk. Available properties include the ‘Stockbridge', a five-bedroom villa costing £249,950. Benefits include a spacious lounge, formal dining room and garage. There is also en suite to the master bedroom as well as a Jack & Jill en suite to bedrooms two and three.

A collection of four- and five-bedroom detached villas is offered at CALA Homes'Kinnaird Grove development in Larbert. The scheme forms part of Kinnaird Village; an established residential area with local facilities including a new primary school, play park and recreational areas.

Only four properties currently remain on the market here so potential buyers should act quickly to avoid disappointment. The ‘Ranald' house type is priced from £449,000 and boasts a lounge with doors leading to the garden, a dining room, open-plan kitchen and family area, cloakroom, study and garage. Three of the five bedrooms have en suite facilities and there is also a family bathroom.

Just two properties are still available at The Meadows, a David Wilson Homes development in Maddiston. Commuters will find the train station nearby as well as excellent links to the main motorway networks. Both homes for sale are of the ‘Blair' house type, which costs £199,995 and features an open-plan kitchen/family/dining room as well as a formal lounge, utility room, master bedroom with en suite, three further bedrooms, a family bathroom and a garage.

From developments in lively seaside resorts such as Scarborough and Whitby to new homes in quieter villages such as Brotton, the North Yorks coast offers a superb choice of new developments for buyers house-hunting in the region.

Scarborough area

Scarborough is the largest seaside resort on Yorkshire's coastline, sometimes referred to as "the Brighton of the north", with heaps of tourist attractions, lovely beaches, and a lively cultural scene. With a population of more than 50,000, the town is served by four major roads, and a railway station with services from York, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Hull. It has a busy shopping centre, numerous sports clubs and several schools as well as a higher education institution - the University of Hull, Scarborough Campus.

New developments nearby include Barratt Homes'Springhill Meadows in the pretty coastal village of Cayton, four miles from the heart of Scarborough. Incorporating three- and four-bedroom homes in a quiet spot, it is ideal for families who want to live close to the beach with plenty of other outdoor pursuits nearby. Cayton also has several schools and other local amenities nearby, and is located right on the edge of the North Yorkshire National Park.

Another development there is West Garth from David Wilson Homes, incorporating 28 two- and three-bedroom bungalows priced from £182,995 - ideal for first time buyers and those looking to downsize by the coast.

Whitby area

With its winding cobbled streets, atmospheric abbey, bustling fishing harbour and lovely beach, Whitby is an appealing town with a lively atmosphere. Kebbell Homes has created Caedmon's Prospect just a short walk from the heart of town, ideal for those who want a central location. It is made up of 48 modern one- and two-bedroom apartments priced from £129,950, all with pleasant views, and most with a private outside space and secure parking space beneath the building.

Developer Union Mill (Whitby) Ltd has 24 individually-designed one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments at Union Mill, offering superb views across Whitby. Whitby Civic Society was so impressed with the completed building design that they gave Union Mill the prestigious 'Award for Design Excellence'. Following a successful first phase, the second phase has now been released, including duplex loft apartments with roof terraces.

Yuill Homes has a few homes remaining at The Old Creamery in Whitby, which incorporates two- to four-bedroom homes just a short stroll from the heart of town. Available with the Government's Help to Buy shared equity scheme, a first time buyer package is available which also includes free carpets, washer/dryer, oven and hob, fridge freezer, and £1,000 of Ikea vouchers.

Brotton area

About 16 miles north of Whitby towards Middlesbrough, Taylor Wimpey has a collection of new homes at Hunley Manor in the village of Brotton, priced from £169,950 - £204,950. Less than three miles from the resort of Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Brotton itself has two primary schools and a secondary school, making it a popular choice amongst families. Set in the heart of the village, Hunley Manor offers easy access to local amenities and transport links to larger towns nearby. Residents can reach Whitby or Middlesbrough by car in around 30 minutes, while Saltburn-by-the-Sea's station offers services to Middlesbrough in 25 minutes and Darlington in an hour.

One of the undesirable effects of falling mortgage rates in the UK has been the gradual eroding of savings rates. Savers have found the returns on their accounts slashed over recent months and it's now tough to find an account that will even keep pace with inflation.

So, isn't it time you put your savings to better use? The Independent reports that just one in ten people are currently reaping the benefit of offsetting their savings against their mortgage. An offset mortgage can help you improve your savings returns and save you thousands of pounds in interest.

We look at the main advantages of offset mortgages and why you shouldn't assume they are complicated or unsuitable for you.

Get a better rate on your savings and more flexibility

"An offset mortgage is efficient way to cut the cost of your mortgage and it's surprising that more people aren't taking advantage of the deals available," says Keith Osborne, editor of Whathouse.co.uk. "With savings accounts being so low, offset mortgages provide a great opportunity to put your cash deposits to better use."

One main benefit of an offset mortgage is that you don't pay any tax on your savings interest and the rate you receive is the same as your mortgage rate. Rather than interest being credited to your account, you reduce the amount of interest that you're paying on your borrowing.

The Independent says that "with interest rates on instant access and 1 year savings accounts struggling to hit 2%, for many people, there's far more to be gained by offsetting your nest egg against your mortgage balance, which in many cases is being charged at nearer 4%".

Offset mortgages also offer a great deal of flexibility. You always retain access to the savings that are linked to your mortgage and so you can deposit and withdraw funds as and when you need to.

Why you shouldn't assume an offset mortgage is not for you

"Many people assume that offset mortgages are complicated or that you need to be a maths genius to work out how to use one," adds Osborne. "However, they are actually much more straightforward than many people believe and you can normally manage your account online. Applications on your lender's website will let you see how paying an additional monthly amount of offsetting your savings can reduce your mortgage term and reduce the amount of interest that you pay."

You may have to shop around for an offset deal as not all banks and building societies offer this type of product. However, if you're looking for a way to make more of your savings - especially with interest rates being so low - they are a great option.

Click here to find out more about how Whathouse.co.uk can help you find the right mortgage.

Professional Flat jockey George Baker has enjoyed a quick and easy house move to Chilton Dene in Didcot thanks to a part exchange scheme from Bovis Homes.

'Home Exchange' enabled 30-year-old George and his fiancée Nicola to complete the house buying process far more quickly than they had imagined - and without disruption to George's busy career as a professional jockey.

Keen to find a new home in Didcot, the couple soon came across the ideally situated Chilton Dene development from Bovis, located 60 miles west of London, 25 minutes from Oxford, and close to the M4. With excellent transport links close by, the couple immediately saw the development's potential as the perfect base for George's hectic career, travelling to racecourses across the country.

"I'm so busy with my career that I simply don't have a lot of spare time on my hands," says George. "As a Flat jockey I travel a lot with work and I know that moving house can be a lengthy and stressful process. But Bovis Homes and their Home Exchange scheme ensured that the move was straightforward from start to finish."

Once George and Nicola discovered that they could also avoid estate agent fees and stressful property chains by taking advantage of the Home Exchange scheme, their minds were made up. George was able to secure a brand new home at Chilton Dene, while Bovis Homes bought his existing property.

"It couldn't have been easier; Bovis Homes arranged for two local estate agents to value my flat and then they made us a really good offer," explains George. "The sales team made the move happen as quickly as possible and we were able to forget about agent fees and property chains and focus on the development and our brand new home.
The couple have already settled into their new three-storey, three-bedroom townhouse and are looking forward to their new future there.

"Chilton is a wonderful place to live and there is a real community feel about the place."

There's a lot you can learn about the latest interior trends from a show home, whether you're in the market for a new-build home or not. In this article we highlight some of the very best show homes currently available to view across the UK, to inspire you to re-create the professional look in your own home - or even to start looking for a new home to use as your canvas!

You may prefer understated elegance or have a yearning for an eye-catching splash of colour - the work of these interiors experts is sure to give you plenty to think about for your own home.

CALA Homes - kitchen at Fairmilehead, Edinburgh

Countryside Properties - living room at Kings Park, Harold Wood, Essex

Barratt Homes - bathroom at Gladstone Place, Blakedown, Worcestershire

Morris Homes - kitchen at Brookview Place, Kearsley, Greater Manchester

Mactaggart & Mickel Homes - nursery at Meadow Belles, Mauchline, East Ayrshire

The market town of Cirencester in east Gloucestershire is the largest town in the Cotswold District, and it serves as a major centre for the surrounding villages - providing amenities, shops, education and employment.

Residents there also enjoy excellent road links with Gloucester, Cheltenham, Oxford, Swindon, Chippenham, Bath, Bristol and Stroud, amongst other destinations, as well as trains from nearby Kemble to Swindon, Gloucester and London Paddington.

For families, the Cirencester area offers several primary schools and two secondary schools, as well as an independent school. And house-hunters of all budgets will find a good choice of new homes there.

Affordable homes through shared ownership

Just a handful of one- and two-bedroom apartments are now for sale at Bromford Homes'Fortuna development, situated just over a mile from Cirencester's town centre, priced from £31,250 (25% share) through a shared ownership scheme. Forming part of a brand new community which incorporates public open spaces and informal parkland, Fortuna is also built in natural, cream-coloured local stone.

Starter and family homes

New What House? Housebuilder of the Year, Berkeley Homes has a wide selection of beautiful new homes at Aspen Place and Chestnut Place, both part of its award-winning Kingshill Meadow on the fringes of Cirencester. The housebuilder received an award from Gloucestershire's Campaign to Protect Rural England for the planning, design and development of Kingshill Meadow, which incorporates stylish two-, three- and four-bedroom homes priced from £325,000. Built in the honey-coloured stone associated with the Cotswolds, their traditional exteriors blend in well with their surroundings, while the interiors are distinctly contemporary. Set in parkland and incorporating allotments, hedgerows and historic water meadows, this development has proved popular - with more than 80% of properties already sold at Chestnut Place.

Executive homes

About four miles from the centre of Cirencester in the beautiful, well-kept village of South Cerney, Redrow's Cerney On The Water development includes a mix of three-, four- and five-bedroom executive homes priced from £161,697. Blending traditional exteriors with contemporary interiors, the homes are close to a good set of local amenities including a Post Office, pubs, a dental surgery, a take away, a pharmacy and a newsagent. The location also offers easy access to the M4, and it is surrounded by stunning Cotswold countryside for those who enjoy spending time outdoors. Next to the development, the Cotswold Water Park offers a whole host of sports and leisure activities.

Spitfire has created nine prestigious three- and four-bedroom contemporary townhouses in the heart of Cirencester at The Forum. Situated within easy walking distance of all the town's best shops and venues, The Forum is ideal for those who want to live in a very central location. As an example, Plot 2 is a spacious four-bedroom home spread over three storeys, priced at £375,000. Its four bedrooms include two en-suite doubles, with a balcony off the master suite. The price also includes carpets, curtains, low-maintenance gardens, and parking behind a security-gated entrance.

Every week we'll tell you about the events being held at new homes developments across the UK over the next seven days, as well as recent news you may have missed. Find out about the launch of the very latest developments, the unveiling of new show homes, open days and much more.

South East

Hillreed Homes - Launching mid-November, Hall Place, located off Church Road in Hoath, near Canterbury, Kent. The small development will comprise just three four-bedroom detached homes priced from £515,000 to £580,000, with Help to Buy and Part Exchange available.

David Wilson Homes - Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 November - Special offer weekend at De Lacy Fields, Chesterton, Oxfordshire, where buyers who reserve a property over the two days will get free flooring for their home. Prices for the three-, four- and five-bedroom homes start at £315,000, with Part Exchange and Help to Buy available on selected plots.

Taylor Wimpey - Saturday 23 November, from 10.00am to 5.00pm - Official launch of Longford Park in Bodicote near Banbury, Oxfordshire, a collection of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom properties . Prices and detailed plans for the development will be unveiled at the launch event. Help to Buy will be available at the scheme.

South West

Elan Homes - Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 November, from 10.00am to 5.00pm - Launch weekend for a new show home at Somer Mews in Bath, Somerset. The four-bedroom house has been decorated by Andrew Henry Interiors. Prices at the development start at £214,995.

London

Berkeley Homes - Thursday 21 November, from 6.00pm to 9.00pm - Special launch event for Goodmans Fields in London E1. Prices start at £499,950 for the mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments situated in 2.3 acres of landscaped grounds within walking distance of The City.

Midlands

Barratt Homes - Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 November - Special offer weekend at developments in and around Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, where buyers can reserve a home for just £1 and get free flooring on their new home. The events take place at Churchill Park in Scotia Road, Burslem, Gloster Gate in Albemarle Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Pipers View, Woodville Road, Stoke.

Barratt Homes - Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 November - Special offer weekend at developments in and around the West Midlands region, where buyers can reserve a home for just £1 and get free flooring on their new home. The events take place at Barrows Place in Bloomfield Road, Tipton, West Midlands, Saxon Rise in Queen Elizabeth Road, Nuneaton, Warwickshire and at Icon in Lythalls Lane, Coventry.

David Wilson Homes - Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 November - Special offer weekend at two developments in Coventry: Copsewood in Brindle Avenue and Meriden Gate in Maxstoke Lane, where buyers who reserve a property over the two days will get free flooring for their home. Prices start at £435,000 for a four-bedroom home.

North West

Redrow Homes - Saturday 23 November, from 11.00am to 4.00pm - Help to Buy event Whitehill Meadows on the Fylde Coast between Blackpool and Lytham St Annes. A chance to speak to the Redrow team and some mortgage experts about the government-backed scheme. Prices at the development start at £189,995.

Scotland

Barratt Homes - Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 November, from 10.30am to 5.30pm - The launch of Barratt@Eskbank, a new development of 86 new homes near the River Esk, south of Edinburgh. The sales centre will be open to take reservations and the team will be on site to explain the Help to Buy (Scotland) assistance scheme.

You may have missed...

Sunninghill, Berkshire - Millgate - Now open, the show home at Holland Place, a luxury development of just three executive homes, where prices start at £3.9m.

Gornal, West Midlands - David Wilson Homes - A new show home is now open at Brecon View on Holloway Street, a three-bedroom ‘Archford' house type.

Offenham, Worcestershire - David Wilson Homes - A new show home is now open at The Larches, a four-bedroom ‘Hurst' house type.

Birmingham - Crest Nicholson - The first view home has opened at Park Central for the new phase of townhouses released at the city centre development.

Colindale, London - Genesis - Now available, a collection of 308 properties at Zenith House that have been built to Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, meeting high eco standards. Properties can be bought on an outright sale or shared ownership basis.

Harlow, Essex - Kier Homes - Now open, Arbour Mews, a development of just nine four- and five-bedroom homes priced from £474,995. Help to Buy and Part Exchange are available.

Billingshurst, West Sussex - Charles Church Developments - Now open, a development of 14 two-, three- and four-bedroom properties called Imperium Gate.

Desford, Leicestershire - Bellway - Now open, a sales cabin at The Paddocks in Hunts Lane, selling 81 four- and five-bedroom homes starting at £252,495.

After meeting online a decade ago, united by their mutual love of travel and the theatre, a couple in Woking are now looking forward to a culture-filled retirement together after buying a new home at Churchill Retirement Living's Beaufort Lodge.

When Maggie Munro ventured onto the internet seeking friendship and company for theatre trips after losing her husband, she had no idea she would meet her future partner. Don Munro, also widowed, contacted Maggie saying that he was a Friend of the local Woking theatre, and would welcome her company on his regular visits there.

"We emailed one another for a while and then met for a drink - and discovered not only that we got on well, but that both our sons had been together in the Marines as well as the Falklands, and knew each other!" explains Maggie.

Since then they have travelled all over the world together, with Don repeatedly popping the question each year on their respective birthdays - before Maggie finally said yes, and they got married 18 months ago. Once they had tied the knot, they felt it was time to look for their own place to live.

House-hunting in Woking, they soon found and fell in love with Beaufort Lodge, signing up for a two-bedroom apartment there. Designed to make life easier for those in their retirement years, this development of 46 one- and two-bedroom retirement apartments is conveniently situated on the edge of Woking's town centre.

The specification includes accessibility features such as illuminated light switches and easy-turn lever taps, as well as security features such as the 24-hour Careline support system, intruder alarm system and camera entry system. This gives Don and Maggie the peace of mind to go off travelling for long periods, safe in the knowledge that their property is secure and well looked-after while they are away. When they are back at home, they get involved with social activities at Beaufort Lodge, while the development's convenient location means they can also stroll into Woking town centre for theatre trips, shopping and meals out.

Maggie says: "The station is five minutes away, a wonderful service, less than half an hour to Waterloo, making day trips to London really easy. Also all the buses leave from there and there is a bus to Heathrow, so we have everything on our door stop and we don't use our car nearly so much.

"We have such fun together, we laugh a lot, are very active and consider ourselves fortunate to have not only met one another but to have found such a lovely home together too."

According to the Prime Minister, over 2,000 homebuyers have accessed the government's flagship ‘Help to Buy 2' mortgage scheme in the first month. With the scheme coming into operation three months early, David Cameron has reported that there has been a strong take-up for the scheme and its first-time buyers that are the main beneficiaries.

With many lenders still not signed up to the scheme the government hopes that the initiative will help many thousands of homebuyers in 2014.

The government rolled out the second stage of its Help to Buy initiative three months ahead of schedule in an attempt to help borrowers with a small deposit gain access to high loan-to-value mortgages. According to the Prime Minister, over 2,000 buyers used the scheme in October. In a statement, David Cameron said that most of the applicants for the government scheme were young, had a roughly average household income and were buying their first home.

"Owning a home is about more than four walls to sleep at night. It's about independence, self-reliance, moving on and moving up," Cameron said. "Above all, it's about aspiration. Help to Buy is helping people realise the dream of homeownership - and it's a key part of my plan for Britain."

A total of 2,384 applications had been received from the two participating banks, the government backed RBS and HBOS. RBS, which owns NatWest, said 73% of its 1,080 mortgages through the scheme were for first-time buyers. It reported that the average amount its customers wanted to borrow was £159,000 and the average price of the home they wanted to buy was £167,565.

Reuters reports that if all of the applications are finally approved, the bank will be lending £171.6m under the programme.

Halifax, owned by Lloyds Banking Group, said it had received 1,309 mortgage applications from homebuyers across the UK who have found a property to purchase. The bank reported that the applications were for mortgages worth a total of £194m.

"These are majority young first-time buyers who, without Help to Buy, wouldn't have been able to consider a mortgage or buy a home," said Lloyd Cochrane, head of mortgages at NatWest and RBS.

Keith Osborne, editor of Whathouse.co.uk said: "The government will be pleased by the take up of the scheme with over 2,000 applications in the first month alone. When more and more lenders sign up to Help to Buy and the choice of mortgage options increases I expect a substantial rise in demand for these products."

Click here to find out more about how Whathouse.co.uk can help you find the right mortgage.

This week. Marc Da Silva continues our ongoing series of interviews with senior figures in the new homes industry by catching up with Lauren Nicholson, head of marketing at Family Mosaic.

What regions do you cover? Family Mosaic has seven offices covering London and Essex, making us one of the largest housing providers in the capital. As a housing association, we build and provide new homes to buy through shared ownership, otherwise known as part-buy/part-rent, where the buyers can purchase a share of their home and pay rent on the remaining share. We have helped over 220 people onto the property ladder through Shared Ownership in financial year 2012-13 and 106 to date. Family Mosaic currently has 18 shared ownership developments in London, including our flagship scheme, Park View in Southwark, which offers a range of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.

What are housing market conditions currently like in those areas? London remains a competitive market, and with the average house price in London increasing by closer to 10% over the last year, many buyers in the capital are turning to shared ownership to find an affordable route to homeownership.

What impact is Help to Buy having on the market?Help to Buy has reportedly added to housing demand, which may boost the market and encourage further housebuilding. As a provider of affordable housing we are in support of other products that give Londoners the opportunity to get on the property ladder, but are also aware of the negative effect that high demand and limited supply of housing can have on property prices.

What types of properties is your firm selling? Through shared ownership, Family Mosaic offers a wide variety of newbuild and resale homes, from one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments to maisonettes and townhouses.

How much does a new home by Family Mosaic typically cost to buy? When buying a home through shared ownership, buyers can purchase between a 30% and 75% share of their property, whilst paying rent on the remainder. On average based on all developments we have sold in the last year our prices were £255,599 for a one-bedroom unit, which would equate to £76,680 for a 30% share. The average two-bedroom property cost £312,070, which would equate to £93,621 for a 30% share. The mortgage calculation is based on a 95% repayment loan over 25 years at an interest rate of 5.69%. Rent percentage interest is 2%. But this figure is a guide only. You must get advice from a qualified advisor.

Why should more buyers consider buying a new-build home as opposed to older property? Buying a new-build home means that you will have a home that no one else has lived in, buying new can save you all the stress and delays usually associated with moving, like upward chains. Family Mosaic's new homes are safe and secure, thoughtfully designed with modern living in mind, including new integrated appliances, open-plan space and luxurious bathrooms with attractive ceramic tiling and carefully selected brassware. Featuring secure double glazed windows, fire resistant materials and smoke alarms, new homes are often much safer than old. Often Built to Code Level 4, our new homes are more eco-friendly with better insulation, so you may save money on your utility bills. Our buyers receive support from our new homes team who are committed to our homeowners for a year after the sale has been completed

Is it worth buying property during the off-plan stage of construction? Normally, when completion is some time off, in a rising market, buyers are securing an asset at today's value with a deposit in the hope it will be worth more when completing. Buying off-plan also presents the buyers with the choice of buying best units in the development.

What is Family Mosaic's USP? Family Mosaic has an exceptional track record in delivering high-quality, large scale developments across London and the South East. Our 50 years of experience in property development covering new homes, contemporary urban apartments, family homes and innovative shared ownership and social housing schemes sets us apart as a highly informed developer at the leading edge of our industry. Working in close partnership with architects, designers and builders, attention to detail and quality of materials, fit and finish are integral to our approach. We consider every aspect of a development to ensure that we create desirable and functional spaces for living. Our exceptional track record in sustainability is central to all of our projects. We are proud to have delivered one of the first Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5 schemes in London.

Which of the developments Family Mosaic is currently developing do you think stands the best chance of winning a What House? Award? I believe Lime Wharf in Hackney could be in with a chance with winning Best Development; it is a mixed-tenure scheme providing affordable shared ownership apartments as well as apartments for private sale. Built on Regents Canal, Lime Wharf seamlessly blends chic east London style with the calm of waterside living, in what is one of London's most vibrant conservation areas. The development comprises three blocks finished in pale grey zinc cladding, which ‘float' above the ground floor commercial workshop and studio spaces below. All apartments have large balconies, overlooking landscaped internal courtyard gardens, or the canal itself.