Go potty for canalside living

Anyone who fancies the idea of waterside living should take a look at a new development in Hanley, writes Colette Warbrook

S TOKE-ON-TRENT is certainly responsible for producing a fair few pots. But one piece of ware not closely associated with the Potteries is amphora, a two-handled vase of Greek or Roman origin.

However, in keeping with the city's close connection to the pottery industry, Amphora has been chosen as the name for a new development of homes in Hanley.

The 71-property site, in Eastwood Road, is being built by Keepmoat Homes, formerly Haslam Homes.

"I think the site was a pot bank before," says Karen Redfern, home sales executive.

Amphora overlooks the Caldon Canal and is part of Hanley's City Waterside scheme.

Keepmoat Homes has been working alongside English Heritage, Renew North Staffordshire and Urban Splash on the project.

"We started selling homes here a year ago, and we're now in the final phase, "says Karen.

"We have a mixture of two-bedroom apartments and three and four-bedroom homes, and we've sold 53, so we've got 18 to go."

There are eight Kensington apartments left, and prices for these start at £95,000.

The apartments are proving popular with first-time buyers.

"They make good starter homes," Karen says, "or a ground floor apartment would be good for an elderly couple who don't want any external maintenance, because they'd have the use of the communal garden areas without the work.

"And I also think these apartments would suit professional couples."

There is one Horsley coach house at the site, for which the price has yet to be released.

"The Horsley is a first-floor open-plan apartment," says Karen, "and it's located on top of three garages, one of which is its own.

"It has an open-plan living, dining kitchen area, two bedrooms and a bathroom.

"There is no garden, but it overlooks the communal garden area with views on to the canal."

Only one property is still available in the Ashby style, for around £120,000.

"This is a two-storey home," says Karen. "It has a hallway, cloakroom, a dining kitchen at the front and a lounge at the back with a patio door leading into the garden.

"And upstairs there are three bedrooms and a bathroom, while it also has a garage and a parking space."

Another three-bedroom property type is the Clarice, of which one is left.

"Prices for the Clarice start at £140,000," says Karen, "and they're in a fantastic position overlooking the canal.

"It's a split-level property, so from the front they look like a two-storey, while from the canal side they're three-storey.

"The lounge is on the lower ground floor and there are patio doors here leading onto the back terrace.

"On the ground floor is the hallway, study, cloakroom and a dining kitchen, and the dining area has a door with a balcony.

"And on the first floor are the three bedrooms and the bathroom."

Another property style at the site is the three-storey Somersby, which hasn't had its price released yet.

"There are only three of these," says Karen. "The ground floor has a hallway, family room, cloakroom and a dining kitchen with patio doors leading into the garden.

"The first floor has a lounge to the front and a master bedroom with an en suite to the back.

"And on the second floor are three further bedrooms and a bathroom."

The Somersby also has a garage and a parking space.

"This would definitely suit a family," says Karen, "because it's huge. It makes a fantastic family home." Meanwhile, the properties currently being used as a sales office and a showhome will also be put on the market at a later date. One of the beauties of Amphora is its proximity to the city centre.

"It's only a 10-minute walk from Hanley," says Karen, "and it's also close to the A500 and the M6.

"Waterside Primary School is nearby and there is a doctors' surgery across the road."

The Amphora development is in Eastwood Road, Hanley. The showhome and sales office is open Thursday to Monday 10am to 4.30pm. Call Keepmoat Homes on 01782 204337.