VIMTO Gardens, the first residential scheme in the Salford Central English Cities Fund patch, has launched in a flurry of purple and pink.
As is the way they had a rush of interest when they opened for business with three sales in five minutes.
There’s no actual show apartment yet so you have to imagine the real thing from the sales office on Chapel Street where there is a mock up kitchen and bathroom and lots of floor plans.
There is a timeline of Salford events too which know-it-all Confidential editor Jonathan Schofield could find no fault with. If you get chance admire the fab light fitting made of concrete cast Vimto bottles by an artist based in nearby arts studios and venue, Islington Mill.
I had my doubts about the Vimto Gardens name initially but its jolly and a lot more memorable than the nuovos and the nomas and the altos, plus it gives them a chance to hand out all sorts of Vimto goodies for buyers to lose their teeth on - and of course fill the place with pink and purple appliances. Dolly P would love it.
Vimto Gardens - Vicky Marsden and Hollie Reynolds
In the kitchen the splash back is lozenges of white and after some debate around mocha and cream we decided the units are a sort of pale grey. You get all the white goods goodies including a microwave and washer/dryer.
Bathrooms have double showers and wall hung sanitary ware.
The brand manager from Vimto, originally manufactured just down the road, apparently had to give everything the once over but they must be delighted with the Vegas style neon shining out above the sales office.
The actual development of 14 townhouses and 83 apartments is taking shape next door and the first will be ready to be lived in by September with the bulk by the end of the year.
Muse say there has been huge online interest in this development, not least because of its proximity to Manchester City Centre - it’s a five minute walk from Spinningfields.
As is the way they had a rush of interest when they opened for business with three sales in five minutes, one to a girl who lives in The Royal nearby and was determined to get a top floor two bed with a balcony looking towards the city – Manchester city that is.
Another to an investor in Hong Kong and a two bed apartment which faces the courtyard and has its own private garden.
In all they got nine away in the first weekend – three of those through Help to Buy which is available on all units.
Manchester skyline from the top floor at Vimto Gardens
So how does the pricing and value stack up compared to Muse’s other scheme Islington Wharf and Lend Lease’s Potato Wharf – both a similar distance from the city centre.
At Vimto starting price is £117,000 for a 538sqft one bed in the converted Bell Tower portion of the scheme or £119,950 for 499sq ft on the 4th floor in the new build.
At Islington Wharf Mews you can also buy a one bed at £119,950 but it’s on the first floor and you get 47sq ft less.
IWM mews town houses with garages and terraces overlooking the canal are £299,950 and an impressive 1206 sq ft.
At Vimto you can get 1165 sq ft of space and three beds and this time a roof top garden, parking but no garage for £225,000. You do get a natty cycle store though.
IWM should be completing later this year and there are already plans to start a second phase to be built on site opposite currently an open air car park.
Over at Potato Wharf a one bed is going to set you back £122,500 and it’s a tight 394sq ft. There are bigger one beds but prices will nudge towards £150,000. Parking at £12,500, is only available with the two beds and there are no town houses. First people will not be moving in here until spring next year and they are hoping to get Help to Buy when they are six months away from completion.
Vimto Gardens Development
