A local family has got a first foothold on the property ladder at Cameron Homes’ The Laurels development, situated in the village their two children go to school – Brailsford in Derbyshire.
The Baldwins: Louise – 32; Matt – 36; Piers – 8; and Jenson 6; had enjoyed renting in Brailsford for 10 years, before moving in with Matt’s mum – six miles away in Mickelover – to save for a deposit. After 18 months of saving, they were the first to reserve a three-bedroom semi-detached house at The Laurels, off Luke Lane in the small, historic Derbyshire Dales village. The spacious and leafy development by the five-star HBF housebuilder features 33 family homes and bungalows, together with a new pond to establish more habitats for wildlife.
Louise Baldwin, age 32, said: “I’d never thought we’d be able to move into a brand new home in our first choice village. We rented in Brailsford for 10 years and during that time we got married and had Piers and Jenson. We have made so many happy memories here and know lots of people in the village. When we moved away in 2023 to save for a house deposit, we were always hoping to move back, so we kept the boys in the local primary school.
“By taking out a 95% mortgage with Nationwide, we could afford the 5% deposit for our three-bedroom house as soon as Cameron Homes released it for sale last June. The Laurels is a cul-de-sac development and there are only two Birch houses, which gives us the three bedrooms we need at a price we could afford. When we looked at the numbers, it was such a clear-cut decision and we didn’t want to miss out.
“Now we’ve moved in, we absolutely love having an ensuite off our bedroom, and bedrooms of similar sizes for the boys. We are so thrilled to be living in such a high quality home within the village that we’ve always wanted to live in. While the mortgage repayments are more than we were previously paying in rent, the utility bills are half the cost! The modern construction makes this house so energy efficient and the 10 year NHBC guarantee gives us peace of mind.”
Matt works for Rolls Royce, while Louise runs her own hairdressing salon in the south Derbyshire village of Willington. The Baldwins put down a £14,250 deposit for their £285,000 three-bedroom home. Their 95% 25-year mortgage with Nationwide is on a fixed rate of 4.8% for two years. Monthly mortgage payments are £1,200. Gas and electricity is £110 per month.
The Laurels is one of Cameron Homes’ fastest-selling developments. The £9.2m scheme is 70% sold - ahead of the build schedule. Prices for the two-; three-; and four-bedroom semi-detached and detached family houses range from £270,000 to £475,000, with tailored incentives available.
The new development is located opposite Brailsford C of E Primary School and a two minute drive to the local coffee shop, GP surgery, and scenic country paths and fields. The National Trust’s Kedleston Hall is a five-mile drive, while Derby city centre and train station are eight miles away. The next selection of homes will become available to move into from April, with the whole development due to complete before the end of 2026.
Serving members of the Armed Forces and key workers are entitled to a 5% deposit contribution, up to the value of £15,000 at The Laurels. The discount is available to all those working in health and social care, education and childcare professionals; public transport workers and those providing key public services.
The scheme design includes green buffer zones to protect existing on-site ecology and retain and enhance local wildlife corridors. Cameron Homes’ design approach reflects the traditional dwellings found locally, featuring pitched roofs, overhanging eaves and casement windows. Car parking is provided on plot, via driveways and garaging.
The homes at The Laurels are designed to a high EPC rating, ensuring future residents can significantly lower their carbon footprint and benefit from energy savings. Smart Hive thermostats, electric vehicle car chargers, and solar PV panels are all installed as standard, with the option to upgrade to battery storage to maximise renewable energy usage. The stylish fitted kitchens feature integrated Bosch or Electrolux appliances. Bathrooms, en-suites and cloakrooms have contemporary white sanitaryware, with Porcelanosa floor and wall tiles.
Established in 1994, Cameron Homes is currently delivering over 200 homes across 11 live developments and has a pipeline of future sites expected to deliver circa 1,000 new homes.
