• Virginia Water, GU25, ranked 13^th highest value UK postcode (Zoopla, 2015)
• Average property price in Virginia Water at £1,211,271 (Zoopla, 2015)
• Kensington and Fulham lag behind GU25 in 14^th and 16^th place

Property owners in GU25 (Virginia Water, Surrey) have hit the jackpot once again being ranked one of the highest value areas for property outside London.

Extraordinary that this sleepy enclave, just 45 minutes outside of central London has beaten West Kensington, Paddington, Fulham and Chiswick – all areas of London that attract big money buyers.

Virginia Water resident and property expert, James Wyatt of Barton Wyatt has a view on these eye-watering figures released this week by Zoopla,

“As with all data it is a snapshot in time and it just so happens that there has been some big money changing hands on the property front around here recently. The number of units selling is comparatively small compared to London as a whole but the value of each property transaction has been very, very large.”

The next postcode down the list that was not within London itself was KT11 which includes the footballers’ havens of Cobham and Esher. This salubrious postcode saw the average property value changing hands at £1,021,435 according to Zoopla, in the last year.

It is Virginia Water however that wins the Surrey Pricing Award at a hefty £1,211,271 average property price and also boasting a 11.8% increase in a year.

This is great news for property owners in the area.  James Wyatt, who resides in one of the premier roads in the village and says,

“We are waiting in keen interest for the outcome of the General Election.  It is all well and good to be living in a wealthy area such as Virginia Water but if Labour get their way then the dreaded Mansion Tax is going to be felt very hard around here.

“Houses are selling like hot cakes in the price bracket up to £1.5 million but after that it is a lottery.  Certainly a few more lottery winners around here would be helpful to get the million pound plus market moving again.”

For example local developer Bridgewater New Homes Limited have just completed a delightful detached home within a one-acre plot on the Wentworth Estate.  Wyatt says:  “A year ago this house would have been snapped up very quickly – new homes were being fought over by international buyers. At £4.5 million it is extremely well priced on an estate where houses go for up to £30 million.”

With 5 weeks to go until the election, estate agents in the South East of England that are focused on the prime sector are holding their breath with anticipation.  A conservative win and life will continue as normal.  But if Labour wins then this will write a completely different story for the millionaire property owners and the real winners here will be the people that are cruising comfortably under the £2 million mansion tax threshold.

Wyatt says:

“There has never been an election that will decide our fate more than this one.  We found the changes in the stamp duty quite onerous but the mansion tax will be a whole different level of pain for many.  I have many elderly clients that have been quietly living out their days in Wentworth, they might live in large houses but they will shudder to pay these taxes and I worry what will be their outcome.”

Silverwood, Wentworth Surrey                                                £4,600,000

Silverwood is a uniquely designed brand new residence which has been constructed to an excellent standard to provide bright & airy, adaptable living and entertainment accommodation.

The property is situated in a tranquil location on the main island of Wentworth.

Five bedrooms, five bathrooms, entrance hall, cloakroom, five reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, annexe, cinema room, games room, triple garage, gardens of approximately one acre.

A brand new Georgian style home built by award winning Developer Bridgwater New Homes Ltd arranged over three floors and situated on Wentworth Estate in grounds of one acre.

For more details contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

Philip Hammond, local MP and Foreign Secretary was an esteemed guest of Surrey’s leading estate agency, Barton Wyatt last Friday.

March 20^th saw the Runnymede & Weybridge Enterprise Forum annual lunch take place in the graceful dining room at The Wentworth Club.   As a keen supporter of the enterprise, James Wyatt Partner of Barton Wyatt hosted tables and invited the two local international schools as his guests.

Wyatt comments:

“I am a staunch supporter of this group and indeed was Chairman a few years ago.  I believe this forum is an excellent way of getting local businesses together to encourage economic discussion and the effect of politics on our lives.  As Mr Hammond is the Foreign Secretary I thought that it would be tremendous to include our two local international schools – ACS Egham and TASIS – both of which have quite an impact on our patch of North Surrey.”

The two schools combined take in the region of 1500pupils who are mainly being educated on the International Baccalaureate and their being in the local area attracts a wealth of international families to the Virginia Water area.

James Wyatt continues:

“I believe without these two schools in our locality, Wentworth would be a very different patchwork to the rich diversity of cultures that it is today.  I love the mix of nationalities and cultures that we have on our doorstep.  It creates a terrific international environment and one that I am very glad my children are growing up in.

“It was with this in mind that I decided to include some sixth formers from TASIS and ACS Egham to join my tables. These youngsters will be our future and I hope that they will go back to their respective schools and talk freely to their peers about this experience.”

Philip Hammond, Member of Parliament for Runnymede & Weybridge and Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs attends all the meetings for the Enterprise Forum. He says:

“Personally, I greatly value the opportunity which the Forum gives me to discuss current issues and political developments with the local business community. All members of the Cabinet value the opportunity to hear the views and concerns of the business community – thus helping to ensure that we achieve our stated ambition – to be a business-friendly administration. I want to remain a champion of private sector-led growth within Government and I value my links with the local business community highly.”

For more information on the Enterprise Forum, the local schools or property please speak to James Wyatt at Barton Wyatt, 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

• Wearable tech for health and fitness is set to explode in 2015
• Research specialist say 6.7 million adults currently measure fitness using technology and that could double in 2015 (Kantar)
• 78% of property buyers in Virginia Water are after space for a home gymnasium (Barton Wyatt)

Zumba, Fitbit and TRX are all words that have become part of the daily dialect for many.  The UK’s ever changing vocabulary is including more words that have originated from the sports world as people become fixated with bettering their physique and improving their diet.

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) became the number one fitness trend in 2014 according to the annual survey conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).  It was perfect for busy people who wanted a fast and challenging workout that delivered results. The survey predicts it will rank second in 2015.

Taking the coveted number 1 spot this year will be body weight training according to the ACSM. A perfect work out which can be done in small spaces and uses your own body weight as a cantilever rendering expensive monthly gym memberships redundant.

Wearable technology has also become one of the latest fads on the fitness market.  Wristbands that measure calories, steps, heart beat and can also let you know if you had a good night sleep complete existing smartphone technology syncing your daily exercise and overall health. A recent study by market research group Kantar are projecting that the ‘wearable tech’ market in the UK could jump to 13.1 million users in 2015 (over double the current number at 6.7 million).

The launch of the Apple Watch will undoubtedly help to achieve this figure.  Apple Watch gives the wearer a complete picture of their all-day activity. The activity app show the daily progress and help motivate you to sit less, move more and get some exercise. It’s also an advanced sports watch, giving you real-time stats for a variety of the most popular workouts. Over time, Apple Watch learns the owner’s activity and fitness levels thus enabling it to suggest personalised goals. It even provides custom reminders to encourage you to achieve them.

Property guru and estate agent James Wyatt, Partner of Barton Wyatt in Surrey, is at the forefront of selling homes to buyers with health and fitness foremost in their minds, he comments,

“Having watched my friends and associates being lured into the wearable technology world, I find myself following! I have to admit I was tempted by this Apple watch but I have gone for the more affordable Fitbit to see how I do with that before weighing out for a pricey watch!”

“It appears that the average property purchaser in patch of Surrey is very keen on keeping healthy too.  Most of our buyers are after substantial family homes and they want the house to have or have the potential room for a multi-gym.  These gyms are not all flamboyant – some are small rooms with a handful of weights – others have lots of expensive equipment. One thing they virtually all have though is a large flat screen television linked to the internet!”

With the help of the internet and platforms such as YouTube it’s never been an easier time to get fit and remain motivated. The number of online workout videos and tech-platforms that can track your progress, offer advice and allow you to connect with your fitness pals is growing at an alarming rate.  Slipping into some Lycra and popping on a Jane Fonda VHS is a thing of the past – today you can download an Insanity Fast & Furious 20-Minute Workout and off you go!

James goes on to comment about how buyers’ needs have changed in recent years,

“30 years ago no one ever asked for a gym in their home, we had the odd request for a massage room or a swimming pool but it wasn’t common.  Today fibre optic broadband, wall to ceiling mirrors and in the most luxurious gyms – a sprung floor – have almost become as essential as a walk-in wardrobe.  The wonderful thing is that most ‘fitness’ rooms can be retro-introduced into a house.  It’s only a sports complex in the basement that needs heavy duty planning.”

Indeed Personal Trainers and private Pilates instructors are a highly sought after accessory in the depths of North Surrey.  Paying as much as £75 per hour for the luxury of a home trainer who will help to keep your motivation going to achieve the ultimate bendy body.

Wyatt laughs:

“It used to be essential to have a Range Rover and a pony – now the locals compete over the best Personal Trainers how many times a week you can fit in a Pilates class. I have to be honest I have tried it myself and I definitely feel more flexible after an hour!

“Many of the homes we sell have fully kitted gymnasiums, these are perfect for your PT session or just to de-stress after work – which is what I generally use it for.  Half an hour of breaking into a sweat and watching the news helps to take your mind off work.

“Some of our clients have gone the extra mile fitting instant iced water dispensers, wrap around mirrors, ballet bars and surround sound systems to their gyms. In the more extravagant homes around here you will find large underground swimming pools with Jacuzzi, steam rooms, saunas and even changing rooms!”

For those looking to complement their home fitness outdoors then Virginia water in North Surrey is the perfect place. The notable Wentworth Club, a timeless golfing haven, has welcomed numerous great sporting members over the years with the tennis courts, state of the art gymnasium and swimming hugely popular with local residents.

On the Market:

Below is a selection of properties on the market in North Surrey perfect for buyers looking for a sporting haven:

Wilton, Wentworth Estate, Virginia Water                         £4,950,000

A magnificent family home built to an exceptional specification and finish, superbly situated on an elevated site at the end of Woodlands Road East, a prestigious and sought after road within the

Wilton has been designed for a contemporary family lifestyle with a stunning kitchen/breakfast/family room area with doors opening onto the delightful gardens. The more formal ground floor reception rooms are of elegant proportions and enjoy tall ceilings and windows, light being a theme throughout the house.

There is also a large gymnasium on the ground floor which is air conditioned as is the master  bedroom and kitchen/family room. A link between the gymnasium and the main house has a secondary staircase giving access to the rear landing of the house as well as the staff flat over the large three car garage. The flat also has the ability to be completely independent with its own staircase and front door.

Upstairs over two floors is the enormous master bedroom suite, four further en-suite bedrooms and another two bedrooms which share a bathroom

The house enjoys a secluded garden facing east at the rear and amounts to approximately 0.75 of an acre in all.

Broomfield House, Windlesham                              £4,350,000

This magnificent family house features an incredible array of modern day living.  A CAT 5 integrated request audio system with speakers through out many rooms, in intercom facility throughout the house, security cameras and a state –of- the art Rako mood lighting system.

The accommodation comprises a fabulous kitchen which was featured in Beautiful Kitchens in May 2009 and utility room.  An impressive entrance hall with marbled flooring and chandelier leads to a further six reception rooms include a study and conservatory.  The master bedroom includes en-suite and dressing room, four further bedrooms (2 en-suite), a further family bathroom.

The recreation area includes a multi gym, a pool and jacuzzi.  There is a steam room and shower plus separate changing rooms.  A custom built bar area which has access onto a terrace via 10m fully retractable glass doors.

The property also includes a detached triple garage block with staff flat above.  The flat includes a private entrance, kitchen, living area, bedroom and bathroom.

Grounds extend to approximately 1.7 acres including a tennis court.

Crossland House, Virginia Water                                             £1,100,000, £1,495,000 AND £2,000,000

Currently Barton Wyatt have three homes available on Virginia Park.  Crossland House is a stunning Grade I listed centrepiece of Virginia Park which is a prestigious gated development with extensive communal leisure facilities.

For sales is a detached house built when the site was redeveloped and two large properties which are set within the main house.

The communal facilities in Virginia Park are extensive and include 24 hour manned security at the gate, a superb indoor swimming pool complex with hammer beam ceiling, a gym, converted sports hall chapel, tennis court and communal grounds.

For more details contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

Highly respected property professional, Partner at Barton Wyatt, the multi award-winning estate agency in Virginia Water and Surrey NAEA Chair, James Wyatt, reflects on the UK property market in 2014 and shares his predictions for the next 12 months:

“I’ve been fascinated by the exploits of the little Philae lander in recent weeks as it headed towards Comet 67P ten years after leaving Earth. The news that the spacecraft, which is the size of a washing machine, had landed was truly stratospheric. We then discovered that it bounced around a few times before settling on Comet 67P and ended up in a rather awkward position with a very uncertain future.

There is some hope that with the Rosetta spacecraft keeping a watchful eye over Philae as it circles overhead there may be good news to come. And when a ray of sunlight falls on the lander the future will start to look brighter.

The UK property market has had a rather similar experience this year with a few tremulous bounces along the way, a rather uncertain landing in many parts of the country, an uncomfortable, nervous government and then, with their ever watchful eye, the Bank of England observing the situation from above.

Never before have I seen a market which has twisted and changed through the year – a year that has seen so many significant world changes including Ebola, ISIS and a rapidly falling oil price.  In the UK, we have the unusual situation of decreasing inflation with a very fragile economic situation, despite the government’s pronouncements that our economy is the strongest in Europe.  This is factually true but with a weak economic outlook compared with the rest of Europe’s poor economic outlook that isn’t saying much.

Interest rates will remain at the historically low level of 0.5% throughout 2015 and the money markets are awash with cash to lend to property buyers.  Unfortunately, the mortgage market review earlier on this year overstepped the mark and whilst initially there was much back slapping that the MMR had cooled the market, it is now clear that the measures are actually choking the market.

On the horizon, we have a general election and this will be key to the property market in 2015.  A straightforward Conservative government will lead to a housing boom.  The prospect of five years of Tory policies would be a mouth-watering prospect to homeowners and property investors alike.

A Conservative / Lib Dem coalition would lead to more of the same as we have now whereas a dominant Labour government or a Labour / Lib Dem coalition would lead to rapidly declining house prices throughout the country and economic gloom.

The proposed mansion tax by the Lib Dems & Labour is largely a South East of England issue, where those parties have little to lose in terms of parliamentary seats and can therefore be taken simply to be a political gesture.

Would it happen? I very much doubt it – the cost of a full revaluation would be horrendous and perhaps unthinkable in these times of tightening belts.  Nevertheless, the talk of this tax is enough to create severe disquiet in this part of the country.

Agents throughout the Home Counties are seeing huge levels of enquiries, with numbers of people looking to buy double what they were a year ago or even six months ago and levels of stock are reasonably healthy too.  Many agents in the Home Counties are reporting good levels of business, unusual at this time of year and in many instances this is due to pent up demand and otherwise down to those wanting to lock into excellent mortgage deals to tide them through the next three to five years.

2015 is simply too hard to call – it ALL depends on the election, but given a Conservative government, it is not difficult to see double digit price growth in the Home Counties which might even continue on the same level into 2016, whereas London will continue its slowdown in price acceleration.

If there is a Labour government, all bets are off and price growth might in fact be negative.

So, who knows what will happen?  Keep an eye on little Philae – it may be a better indicator of the property market than any of us property professionals!”

For more details contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.  James can be found tweeting at @James_Wyatt. 

• Prime plot of land in North Surrey being fought over priced at just £250,000
• Land prices in the Virginia Water area have doubled in last decade (Barton Wyatt)
• Land prices in the South East grew by 11.2% in the year to Q1 2014 (Savills)

A building plothas gone on sale in the super prime North Surrey village of Virginia Water and it’s causing quite a stir. Located in the exclusive St Ann’s Park, this is the cheapest plot to be seen since the 1990’s reports appointed selling agent Barton Wyatt and is bucking all upwards land price trends seen in the area.

In this corner Surrey which is swamped with Royals, Hollywood A-listers, sportsmen and oligarchs this small but potentially rewarding piece of land is being sold by well-known property developers Octagon.

Octagon purchased the land back in 1998 during the creation of the 81 home St Ann’s Park gated community. Since then this small piece of surplus land has been lying dormant until now when Octagon have decided to place it on the open market and only for the relatively small sum of £250,000.

James Wyatt, Virginia Water resident and Partner of Barton Wyatt comments,

“It’s rather amusing really. We are used to selling multi-million pound homes and suddenly we’re being inundated with buyers vying for this £250,000 plot. It already has planning permission to build a two bedroom bungalow but my best guess is that the successful buyer will submit a further application to Waverley County Runnymede Borough Council to build something a little more substantial. I wouldn’t be surprised that after a period of time we won’t be selling just a plot but a 3 or 4 bedroom house!”

Barton Wyatt report that land prices in the vicinity have doubled in the past ten years. This is ahead of figures quoted by the UK Land Directory who suggested an eight-fold rise over the past 20 years; however Virginia Water, which encompasses the multi-millionaire playground of the Wentworth Estate, is always going to buck the trend.

Knight Frank has stated that the value of land suitable for development in England and Wales increased by 2% in the first half of 2014.  However they also revealed that in London, where pressure on land is at its greatest, land values recorded double-digit growth since the second quarter of 2013. In prime parts of London, development land went up by 18.9% while across Greater London prices rose by 14.2%.

Savills concur with this sentiment stating that strong demand for a limited pool of sites continues to drive land price growth.  National greenfield development land values, excluding London, increased by 7.5% in the year to March 2014. Urban land values grew by 6.4% over the same period.  Savills said that the South East’s continuing buoyancy in the housing market has driven greenfield land value growth across the region suggesting that prices grew by 11.2% in the year to Q1 2014.

So for any buyers who are looking for a fabulous development opportunity which is also the bargain of the century, talk to the sales team at Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000 or visit their website on www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

Leading Surrey Estate Agent, Barton Wyatt scoops Best Surrey Estate Agent in the highly acclaimed International Property Awards.  This is the ninth year running that Barton Wyatt have been awarded for being top of their game.

Gathered at the London Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel on Friday October 24^th and sponsored by Rolls-Royce and Gaggenau, the UK Property Awards attracted entries from hundreds of companies across the length and breadth of the UK. Winning entrants were presented with either a ‘Highly Commended’ or ’5-Star’ award.

Partner James Wyatt comments:

“This is the eighth year that we have been awarded 5 stars for being the Best Surrey Estate Agent.  We are extremely delighted to receive this award again and it makes all the hard work and effort that the team put in really rewarding. It is always motivating for the company and our staff to be recognised for their achievements over the last year.

Barton Wyatt also lifted a highly commended award for their newly redesigned website.

Wyatt says:

“Having a stand-out website is essential in estate agency today and implementing a new site takes a considerable amount of time and energy from a great number of people.  We were keen to give ourselves an entirely new, forward thinking look and this meant starting from scratch, making the site look fresh, more appealing and easier to use.  Being highly commended for the new site makes me feel that it was definitely a worthwhile exercise.”

The International Property Awards are open to residential and commercial property professionals from around the globe.  They celebrate the highest levels of achievement by companies operating in all sectors of the property and real estate industry. An International Property Award is a world-renowned mark of excellence.

For more information contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000, visit http://www.bartonwyatt.co.uk or drop in to speak to your award-winning local agents at The Estate Office, 2 Station Approach, Virginia Water, Surrey.

• Circa 40 homes being knocked down and replaced on the Wentworth Estate today
• Property prices in Wentworth & Virginia Water up 25% since 2008 (Barton Wyatt)
• Global millionaires to rise 53%, reaching 53.2 million by 2019 (Credit Suisse)

This £6,000,000 house – St Anthony – might look the epitome of classic luxury living in Surrey but sadly it no longer cuts the mustard.  The Georgian colonial house, built almost 100 years ago by W.G. Tarrant, was cutting edge in its time, designed by the son of renowned architect Sir Edward Lutyens. Both inside and out, the house is fascinating with a delightful balustrade balcony over grand columns and the gardens, designed by a leading landscape architect, truly outstanding.

Robert Lutyens was known as a moderniser and was greatly influenced by contemporary trends.  He famously collaborated with his father on Middleton Park for Lady Jersey, (the former Mrs Cary Grant and Chaplin’s muse as the blind flower girl in Limelight) and, under his influence, the house he designed for her was the first in England to have an en-suite bathroom in every bedroom.

Unsurprisingly his talents led him to the Wentworth Estate where W.G. Tarrant was busy crafting a cutting edge private estate for London gents.  Here they could escape the City at the weekend, play a spot of golf and all in the shadow of Windsor Castle and The Great Park where you might get the chance to spot a Royal.

Built in the 1930s, St Anthony would have been marketed as ‘timeless’ but the reality is, in today’s modern world, that there is no such thing as timeless when it comes to property. The house has remained in the same family for 45 years but with the ageing owners recently passing, the house has come onto the market with leading prime local estate agent, Barton Wyatt.

Partner of Barton Wyatt, James Wyatt comments on the prospects for St Anthony:

“The emotional side of me would like this grand old country home to remain as it is and get a massive internal makeover but the realistic part of me knows that this is unlikely to happen.  The renovation cost might be cheaper but a bulldozer and a rebuild will make the new owner, most likely a developer, a great deal more money if they play their cards right.”

The highly coveted land of the Wentworth Estate has around 800 houses dotted alongside the three world-class golf courses.  The entire estate covers over 1,750 acres of land and today there are approximately 40 plots where old style houses are being erased and replaced with new majestic mansions, likely to become homes for Kings, Queens and Oligarchs alike.

Wentworth however is heavily covenanted and this ensures no infilling can take place on what is locally known as ‘The Island’.  Plots that 20 years ago sold for £1m now go for £5m and the houses which sit upon them are being pulled down to make way for yet more brilliantly white, marble, almost castle-like homes that boast as many as 3,000 square meters.

These replacement houses will typically include amazing entertainment spaces, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, multi gyms, heated drives, huge underground parking areas, lavish en-suites, out of sight kitchens and the very, very best in luxury fittings.  No-one cuts corners when fitting out a home for a billionaire.

Wyatt comments:

“When you consider that a house of 3,000 square meters will be home to just a handful of people it can make your eyes water but it is a sign of the times for the super rich. House prices in Virginia Water and Wentworth have risen by 25% since the original crash in 2008 and my estimation is that they will continue to soar for quite some time.”

James mulls: “With statistics such as Credit Suisse revealing that the number of global millionaires is on the rise – they suggest that the figure is set to increase by 53% in the next 5 years – why wouldn’t you erase and replace? A multi-millionaire, British, Chinese, Middle Eastern or Russian, will want to buy it.  But I guarantee that by 2030 it will be dismantled again and become a project for another generation.”

For more information on St Anthony or other land plots available in Wentworth contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk