8/6/2009 £3.5m of apartments sold in two weeks

A LUXURY apartment complex has confounded sceptics after eight of the properties worth around £3.5m sold in just two weeks

A C Liani Limited were involved from the beginning, producing the topographic land survey before the developer acquired the site, through the planning and design process, and being involved in the successful planning appeal procedure following the refusal of the initial planning application. Later in the building process A C Liani Limited produced an interior design scheme involving bespoke UK manufactured carpets and fibre optic public lighting together with a selection of tiles and sanitary ware imported specially from Spain.

MD of Metropolitan Homes, Martin Flowers, has never doubted the popularity of the site. He said: "We started building Braemore before the property slump, but when it hit we weren't concerned.

"There's always a market for quality and we have been confident that our apartments would sell; however, we're delighted to be in this position after just a fortnight — the feedback from viewers has been fantastic."

Braemore is a development of two and three-bedroom apartments, with prices starting at £299,950.

The two uppermost suites were originally offered at £1 million each, but these have now been redesigned to create four luxury penthouses - one only remains unsold, at £570,000. The sales breakdown to date is one two-bed at £310,000, four three-beds at an average price of £370,000, and three penthouses at £570,000.

Designed by Sheffield architects A C Liani, the two buildings feature stone mullioned windows, high ceilings and large windows to light the central hallways. The gated development comes with underground parking, lifts, CCTV security, a concierge and design features including solar power, noise insulation, smoke alarms and an automated ventilation and heat recovery system. Other luxury touches include integral wiring for audio and video, under-floor heating and oak doors.

 "We started building in May 2007 and there has been a lot of painstaking work and attention to detail to create the sort of homes that people want in an area like this," said Martin Flowers.

"Ecclesall has many beautiful period properties — we are maintaining that standard in the 21st century." The majority of buyers are local middle-aged couples, although one of the penthouses has been sold to a young couple returning to the UK from abroad with a child about to start at a local school.

"Most people are locals who were wanting to move out of large houses and have been waiting for apartments that would provide the quality living to which they are accustomed," says Martin.