Developer activity

The latest locally planned housing target for the borough, based on 2011 annual household growth projections, is 701 net additional dwellings per year. In recent years the new dwellings delivered have been significantly below this level, with under 200 delivered in both 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Although predicting a sharp increase in development, the council’s own housing projections also demonstrate that the target will not be met, with an average of 400 dwellings delivered over the next five years.

Regarding the specific areas of Sunningdale & Windsor, property developments that are expected to be delivering units in the years up to 2017 are smaller sites, with the bulk of the larger sites in the borough located in the relatively more affordable market of Maidenhead. Overall, we do not expect supply in Sunningdale & Windsor to increase relative to demand in the coming years.

Catching up the capital

The majority of development in Sunningdale & Windsor can be classed as 'Prime' property, therefore we can turn to the Savills prime regional forecast to get an idea of the outlook for new developments in the area. Sunningdale & Windsor is located in the Inner Commute zone, where price growth in recent years has been minimal due to a marked slowdown in the numbers of people moving out from London.

This trend is expected to reverse as buyers look to 'cash-in' on the surge in values across areas such as Central, West and South West London. As a result, the prices of prime property in the Inner Commute zone are anticipated to increase at a faster rate than those in the capital, resulting in an expected overall growth of 25.1% by the end of 2018.

In the mainstream property markets this difference is anticipated to be even greater, with prices in London and the South East expected to grow by 24.4% and 31.9% respectively over the same period.

The market in 2014

■ Although it is not possible to make a direct prediction on how the market in 2014 will impact on prime new build properties in Sunningdale & Windsor, it is broadly likely that they will follow a similar trend. Indeed, there are additional reasons to be optimistic about growth prospects.

■ Many purchases in the area are equity driven, so the expected tightening of mortgage lending criteria and possible increase in rates should have a minimal effect on transaction levels.

■ Typical price points for luxury apartments are currently around the £1 to £1.5 million level, below the mooted threshold for a possible 'mansion tax' – so any political interference in the housing market in the run up to the General Election should again have little effect.

Taken from
Spotlight: Sunningdale & Windsor Residential Development Sales