A new Daniel Gath development at Strensall provides a superb mix of stylish light and bright modern homes, says Brian Page.

“THAT,” says Daniel Gath, pointing to a pile of rubble and debris, “used to be a detached bungalow.”

Hard to imagine, now, looking at the mound of crushed brick and stone that it was once someone’s home.

But then new will grow from the old – and the site on which the bungalow once stood will soon provide bright modern homes for eight families.

But if you are thinking they must be – like the old bungalow – crushed into a tight spot, then think again… “This was a very big plot,” says Daniel. “As well as the bungalow there was quite a bit of land – and outbuildings as well. We had land to work with.”

As I discover, as Daniel and company sales manager Alison Seaman walk me around the work in progress at the site, The Laurels, in Brecks Lane, Strensall.

The garden plots to each of the houses, for instance, look reasonable-sized; in the easy-to-maintain category certainly, but with space enough for modern day living.

And it’s modern living which will be the key to this small-but-perfectly-formed development – each of the eight houses will be contemporary, comfortable homes with the added extras that make all the difference, including en-suite bathrooms, big kitchen/dining rooms and ground floor cloakrooms.

There will be a range of different house styles, from detached houses with garages to three-bedroom semis which are ideal for busy professionals or as high-spec starter homes from first-time buyers.

It is the kind of eclectic mix for which Daniel Gath Homes have become well-known – the Yorkbased company now has a reputation for building small but select and individual developments, providing good-quality homes at competitive prices.

“I think the pricing is important,”

says Daniel. “You want to move houses, not having them sitting there.”

If previous projects are anything to go by, then The Laurels will be a popular spot. The Daniel Gath development at Sunnyside, Wigginton, was released to the market in January this year, Alison says – and all nine plots have either been sold or reserved.

So what is on offer at The Laurels?

Well, location for a start – the development is handily-placed in what will be a cul-de-sac collection at the top end of Strensall, nestling in among existing contemporary homes.

And then there are the houses themselves – four different styles, something for everyone, as it were, beginning with a pair of linkdetached houses to the front of the cul-de-sac.

The Bedale, the biggest of the homes on offer, has a bright, fresh modern look with a hallway off which runs a lounge to the front and a kitchen dining room to the back – with French doors opening from the dining area into the garden.

Upstairs, the master bedroom has an en-suite shower room and there are three further bedrooms and a house bathroom.

Interestingly, if buyers get in early enough in the build process, they will be able to make some adjustments to the plans – creating a bigger third bedroom rather than having four bedrooms, for instance.

The same applies to the Middleham style home which mirrors the layout of the Bedale, but with slightly smaller rooms.

Both of these detached homes have garages included in the asking prices of £279,995 and £249,995 respectively.

There’s a nice, light and airy look to the next home up, too. There will be four Spode style semi-detached homes here, set up in two pairs. The layout provides a lounge to the front, a kitchen dining room and cloakroom/utility to the back.

Upstairs there are three bedrooms (master with en-suite shower room) and a house bathroom.

Prices for the Spode style range from £189,995 to £199,995 (and as a mark of how popular this development may prove, one was been reserved before footings were in place).

The other style here is the Hepton, a potential target for first-time buyers or those looking to move up to a modern three-bed home. The two Heptons will have a large living room with dining area, a kitchen and cloakroom, with three bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs. They are both priced at £184,995.

These two, incidentally, are nicely set-back in the development close to where that pile of rubble which was once a bungalow now sits.

And that rubble won’t be going to waste. It will be crushed further and recycled, providing foundation material for driveways and pathway.

New life from old, indeed...

* To express an interest in the Laurels, or to find out more about the development, contact marketing agents Stephensons (01904 625533).