PHPD visits St Jude’s Meadow in Oxfordshire – Mactaggart & Mickel’s first English development in almost a century of building homes.
With a history in Scotland dating back to 1925, it is no surprise that luxury homebuilder Mactaggart & Mickel has a strong reputation north of the border. The company was recently awarded ‘five-star’ status for customer satisfaction by the Home Builders Federation (HBF)– for the seventh consecutive year – and, alongside a number of other accolades, it also has a collection of ‘Pride in the Job’ awards from the NHBC.
However, the fourth-generation housebuilder has now set its sights on England for further opportunities and is currently developing a number of sites in Oxfordshire.
Joanne Casey, Managing Director at Mactaggart & Mickel’s Homes England division, explained: “We are always thrilled to launch a new development to the public, but St Jude’s Meadow is a unique achievement of which we are extremely proud. The whole team at Mactaggart & Mickel have outdone themselves in preparing for our first development in England and the launch of St Jude’s Meadow is the culmination of a lot of hard work.”
The first of its English sites to bring homes to the market, St Jude’s Meadow is located in the rural Cotswold village of Milton-under-Wychwood. The site has 62 new homes planned, with 50% of the allocation for affordable housing being delivered with Cottsway Housing Association.
31 three- and five-bedroom homes across four different house designs – one of which was created for the St Jude’s Meadow development – are for market sale. The two show homes, the three-bedroom ‘The Wyatt’ and the five-bedroom ‘The Ferrey’, have recently thrown their doors open to prospective buyers.
Eye-catching interiors
The two show homes feature interiors by the internationally acclaimed Malcolm Duffin Design. Reputed for their distinctive designs, Malcolm Duffin is best known for its work with brands like Mulberry and Ralph Lauren.
For the show homes at St Jude’s Meadow the designer was keen to integrate modern sophistication with the traditional look of a home in the Cotswolds. Malcolm Duffin, Head of Design at Malcolm Duffin Design explained: “We wanted to step away from the traditional show home look and reflect how people really live, so we designed a new style – ‘Cotswold Cool’. It’s a contemporary take on the traditional Cotswold look for home buyers who want to mix luxury with a smart, sophisticated style.”
Whilst the exteriors of the new homes have been designed to reflect the local architectural style, constructed using reconstituted stone and natural slate, inside each of the new homes there is a more modern feel. Malcolm continued: “We have used bespoke furniture paired with hand-made curtains to create an eclectic look, suitable for modern country living.”
The show homes feature Laufen sanitaryware in the bathrooms – including the en-suites and WCs – together with ceramic Porcelanosa tiles and Hansgrohe taps to create a modern feel. Kitchens feature Blanco undermounted sinks together with Electrolux appliances and induction hobs – whilst the five-bedroom, ‘The Ferrey’ also has a Quooker boiling water tap and further utility room with additional storage space. Throughout the two show-homes, eye-catching wall coverings and colours are used to pique customer interest and provide for a memorable viewing.
Joanne Casey said: “Our customers in Scotland know that everyone at Mactaggart & Mickel takes pride in delivering each and every home that we build. We have been building luxury homes across Scotland since 1925 and are very much looking forward to sharing our vast experience with house hunters looking to settle in such a stunning English location.”
Early interest
At the time of our visit one home had already been snapped up and the housebuilder is now gradually releasing further homes to the market. Mactaggart & Mickel offer an ‘Early Bird Option’ to prospective buyers – an opportunity to secure their home free of charge on a flexible, no-obligation basis while the development is under construction.
Joanne Casey noted: “Now is the moment to visit the first beautifully designed Mactaggart & Mickel homes in England. The first few plots on site are now available for Early Bird Option, which allows house-hunters to secure their chosen home well in advance of their anticipated move-in date, giving the flexibility to arrange finances and / or sell their current property.”
Positive feedback
Joanne Casey, Managing Director at Mactaggart & Mickel Homes England, said: “We have already received a lot of really positive feedback from prospective customers who have visited the development. People have told us they have been amazed by the quality and attention to detail of the interior design.”
At St Jude’s, Meadow Mactaggart & Mickel is beginning a new chapter in its 94-year history, moving away from its Scottish roots is clearly a significant step. If longer-term interest (and sales) reflects the early comments received by the housebuilder at its first English site, further developments across England appear likely.
