Development Concept
Bailey Park
Adrian gowing’s Innovative Housing Strategy to Produce 300 Beautiful Homes
The development outlined in this non-technical presentation is the personal vision of the owner and developer who has grown up with first hand experience of living in a slum area of Manchester which was cleared and replaced by large Council Estates where home ownership was an impossible dream. His inspiration is drawn from the unlikely source of a Christmas film, It’s a Wonderful Life. George Bailey, the main character in the film was born in the slum area of Pottersville, akin to the slum area in Manchester. Pottersville, thanks to the work of George Bailey, was transformed into Bedford Falls, a thriving, happy and successful community where home ownership became a possibility rather than a dream.
Some 10 years ago Adrian wanted to find a way for people to escape from having to rent property because they could not find a way to gain a deposit to get on the home ownership ladder. The film sowed the seed and with the help of his friend Eric, a Planning Consultant, the first site at St Ninian’s Road, Carlisle was acquired. It is intended that this site will be the flagship for the concept with other schemes to be rolled out within the UK to allow people to fulfil their home ownership aspirations.
The first 7 acres of the 15.5acre site has received outline planning permission in 2022 and this will be the flagship scheme which he hopes the local council and central Government will fully endorse.
Adrian believes the vast majority of people share his aspirations to become a homeowner and It’s a Wonderful Life gave a clear message that having a positive attitude and making good your own way, everything is possible. However, to achieve that aim, Adrian, like George Bailey, wants to offer that helping hand by promoting the innovative scheme proposed at Bailey Park.
See the Inspiration Behind our Innovative Housing Scheme
The Scheme
The schemes advocated by the NPPF, involves a full range of house types and sizes on an entirely sustainable development picking up all the key points from the Government’s housing policies. Once each individual property is completed and ready for occupation, instead of being sold on the open market, it is rented to the occupier. The concept is that the tenant commits to rent that property for period of 2 years and at the end of that period, they can purchase the property at market value subject to certain positive criteria.
The Positive Criteria
Reliable Tenant
The rent has been paid on time during the 2 year period
Well Maintained
The property has been properly maintained
Community Member
The occupiers have been seen to be a positive asset to the community.
If those criteria are met, the last 12 months rent would be credited against the price of the property, effectively providing the deposit for the purchase of the property if they opted to do so.
The homes are not specifically aimed at the first time buyer nor intended to be part of an affordable housing scheme.The intent is to provide housing and a community that the occupier and the wider community will be proud of capturing the Bedford Falls living experience.