New homes: New Forge Court in Haxby (From York Press)

New homes: New Forge Court in Haxby

10:54am Thursday 24th May 2012

Brian Page admires the contrasting styles of two superb Hogg the Builder homes at Haxby.

THERE’S a magic moment as we are taking the tour of a Hogg house in New Forge Court in Haxby when I realise just how far housebuilding has moved into the modern world.

We are in the master bedroom looking at the en-suite when there is a click and the shower suddenly bursts into life. There is a giggle from behind as I jump three feet into the air...

“Now that’s a luxurious touch,” says Julie Norton, laughing. “You can be lying in bed and turn the shower on with this remote control. It’ll be lovely and warm by the time you get into it.”

Julie, Hogg’s marketing and sales co-ordinator and the company’s director of operations Ian Robinson are here to show me around the last two homes remaining of five originally for sale at the New Forge Court collection.

And while the remote-controlled shower might seem a small thing, it does illustrate why the Hogg team are so proud of these homes.

The attention to every little detail is amazing, from multiple TV, satellite and phone sockets and centrally-controlled surround sound throughout the house, to underfloor heating, to upgraded kitchen and bathroom fittings to smart built-in wardrobes as standard.

“We are really pleased with these houses,”

Ian says. “There is a very high spec on all of them and we’ve added a lot of upgrades – they are high-quality homes.”

Of course they are. Hogg built them. The two remaining houses are, however, a fascinating pair in their own right. Similar in style of layout and room sizes, they nevertheless make a fascinating contrast.

The first of the two, Blacksmith Cottage, a Farndale-style, is dressed in a more traditional presentation, with solid wood flooring, overhead beams, a huge inglenook fireplace in the lounge and teak style facing to the windows and internal doors.

The second, Farmer’s Lodge, a Linthorpe style, has been created and presented in a much more contemporary style, with highwhite gloss finishing to the windows, walls and skirting boards, and with a modern (noninglenook) fireplace to the main lounge.

Which you prefer depends entirely on taste – but either of these superb properties would make an ideal family home.

Let’s give you a quick walk through of what’s on offer, starting with Blacksmith Cottage. The highlights here include a brilliant kitchen and family room with the latter in a bay extending out to a patio area and the garden beyond.

There is a separate dining room with French doors out the garden and a formal sitting room to the front.

Upstairs, the master bedroom has a range of fitted wardrobes and an en-suite (with that brilliant remote-controlled shower). There is a further bedroom with an en-suite shower room and two more bedrooms, one front and one back, and a smart house bathroom. There is a nice touch on the spacious landing, too, where there is an open study/sitting area under a beamed and trussed ceiling.

Next door, Farmer’s Lodge offers a very similar layout but without dormer windowed rooms to the upstairs. Again, you have dining and sitting rooms and a kitchen and family area (interestingly in our view, and it is just an impression, the high-white colours seem to make this area bigger in this house – even though they are actually the same size).

Again, of the four bedrooms upstairs two have en-suite shower rooms. The two properties are both in a super spot, at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac tucked away on the rural edge of Haxby and in a mature area where the back gardens are shaded and made private by tall, towering silver birch trees... oh, and as well as those gardens they both have double garages.

Both the houses are priced at £499,950 – and Hogg will pay the stamp duty if you can complete before the end of June.

• You can see the houses for yourself this weekend when New Forge Court holds “Jubilee celebration” open viewing days on Saturday and Sunday, from 10am-5pm. As well as nibbles and refreshments, they are also promising a surprise extra offer for interested buyers!