Episode Information Property Ladder: Northampton

Date Published:

16/06/2008

In this week's edition Sarah has a fiery encounter with two sets of more experienced developers, both hoping to make a whopping £100,000 profit. Sarah has plenty of help to offer, but are our couples too proud to listen?

Former Surgery In Bristol Beach

Friends Simon Reed and Dave Richards have bought a former doctor's surgery to convert into 3 luxury apartments.They also want a big return. They have experience of smaller projects but nothing on this scale. Despite that, they're confident they can stomach any problems this place throws at them.

On the ground floor the confusing mix of treatment rooms will be lost and the space divided into two three-bed garden flats.

Upstairs will be stripped out to create a 3 bedroom maisonette. The kitchen will open out onto a large roof terrace and by developing into the loft space they will create an impressive master bedroom suite. However, the roof terrace will require planning permission and it's by no means certain they'll get it. But if they don't this whole project could go up in flames...

Former Massage Parlour In Northampton

Mark Bedritch and Kate Moravesky are also making the leap up and taking on their biggest challenge to date. For the last two and half years they've been renovating two and three bed Victorian terraces. Now they're aiming higher - and how. They've bought a former massage parlour and want to convert it into 4 luxury flats.

This property would be a challenge to any developer. It's actually two buildings joined together, stuck on a sharp corner and with a complicated layout.

They plan to carry out the conversion in just 6 months, but that will be a real push.

Mark and Kate want to target the luxury flat market and think the best way to do it is to knock down one of these two buildings and in its place build a 3 storey extension. Inside they'll create four upmarket flats: A luxury two-bed penthouse with a terrace on the top floor; a studio flat and a one-bed on the first floor. The fourth flat will be spread over the ground floor and basement.

It all sounds extraordinarily complicated and I wonder if knocking down a whole building and embarking on a huge new build extension is the right approach.