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savills.co.uk
Savills Oxford
256 Banbury Road, Summertown
Oxford, OX2 7DE
01865 339700
The year has seen its fair share of
highs and lows for sales of new
homes in Oxfordshire. This has
had an impact on the local prime
property market, which is now
led by ‘best in class’ properties in
both town and country.
We have seen most success for
apartments in Oxford with values
between £250,000 - £560,000.
Where over 50% of this type of
property were reserved off plan.
The demand for this type of
property is strong in Oxford with
investors, first time buyers and
professionals alike.
The surrounding villages of
Oxford have also performed well,
particularly new properties which
can benefit from the new Oxford
Parkway train station, with
access to London Marylebone in
under an hour.
Applicants more than ever look
for high quality specifications
and value for money when
purchasing a new home. A 10
year Buildmark warranty on the
property brings peace of mind to
buyers, but is no longer enough
to bring buyers in. Buyers will
consider the presentation of
the property and the entire site,
as well as effective kitchens,
bathrooms and appliances.
This coupled with quality
marketing, has meant that
new homes in Oxford have
performed well this year. We
are fortunate that buyers from
outside the area continually cite
Oxford as an attractive and safe
place to live or invest.
The residential team are also
pleased to report an increase
in buyers registering to look for
homes in Oxford, and the signs
for a healthy spring market in the
villages also look promising.
Particularly attractive 4 bedroom home built with cutting edge sustainable
technology by local developers
beautiful rural Oxfordshire setting
a select scheme of 10 homes facing a private green
Substantial 5 bedroom home in a popular North Oxfordshire village location
double aspect living room
large kitchen/family/garden room
excellent
road and rail connections for London by Vanderbilt Homes
Guide £695,000
A large and contemporary apartment in a prime location
2 double bedrooms
2 bathrooms
garden terrace
j
ust 2 miles from Oxford City Centre
1,410 sq ft plus separate store
Guide £540,000
An exclusive scheme of 5 custom build houses with the opportunity to
select your internal layout to suit your lifestyle
3-5 bedrooms
unique and
contemporary design
built with energy efficient materials
Guide £1.425 million - £1.725 million
Karen Mole from Savills
Oxford gives her review
of the local new homes
property market this year.
Properties built for Oxford dons
During the Victorian and early Edwardian periods, a number of
Oxford University colleges – particularly St John’s – built substantial
residences for dons.
These properties were mainly located between Woodstock Road and
Banbury Road, in central north Oxford. They tended to be late 19th-
century gothic in style, and built us ng red brick or the yell w stock
bricks typical of many period properties in the Oxford a a.
The broad, leafy streets of central north Oxford als a tracted wealthy
merchants and tradesmen in the city, who built large houses near those
of the dons.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
The dons’ houses, and merchants’ hous s from the ame peri d,
are popular because of their location within easy walking and cycling
distance of the city centre and clos o highly regarded prep schools,
such as the Dragon School and Summ fields.
Another attraction is the spacious and numerous rooms, which are
often located on three or four storeys. This provides purchasers with a
flexible layout to suit their lifestyles, enabling them to create features
such as a TV room, a home office or a mini gym.
BUYERS’ TIPS
As the col eges have begun to sell off their dons’ houses, so they
have come s ught-aft r properties for affluent local families and for
families moving to Oxford from London.
Sal are invariably quick, often without marketing, and are usually at
or in xcess f the guide price.
The residential agents at Savills Summertown office have expert
knowledge of the city d su rounding area. They also have a historic l
understanding of th distinctive properties that do much to d fine
different areas arou d Oxford and the UK.
Cont ct the Savills Summertown office for more details.
Intense rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge isn’t limited to academic achievement and the outcome of the
Boat Race. Their housing markets also compete.
Traditionally, Oxford has always boasted higher house prices but Cambridge has been narrowing the gap over recent
years and in 2014 the price difference between the two stood at just 2 per cent. Oxford still has the highest value
ward (see table) but Cambridge now has a higher annual price growth. How do the two housing markets measure up?
Oxford vs Cambridge:
the property markets go head to head
MEASURE
CAMBRIDGE
OXFORD
City
Population
122,700
150,200
University
University founded
1209
1096
University boat race wins
81
78
Nobel Prize laureates
78
26
Housing
Average sale value (12 months to Nov 14)
£409,000
£417,000
Highest value ward (12 months to Nov 14)
Newnham (£998,000)
North (£1,322,000)
Annual price growth (Nov 14)
15.7%
11.6%
Growth since 2007 peak (Nov 14)
27.5%
20.0%
Transactions (12 months to Nov 14)
1,904
1,795
£1m+ sales (12 months to Nov 14)
66
84
Net new homes added (2013/14)
1,300
70
Source: Land Registry, Savills Research, Census
So as Cambridge and Oxford battle it out on The Thames once again, which city wins when it comes to best
prop rties on the market? We’ll let you be t judge.
Contact the Savills Summertow office for more details.
