THERE is a lot of media attention on a possible recession and falling house prices but despite this Bourne-based house builder, Larkfleet Group, is continuing to invest in local developments.

The Larkfleet Group is a company built on the solid foundations of years of experience in the construction industry.

It was established by former Allison Homes joint-managing directors Karl Hick and David Mee, who set out to offer high quality properties in the area with unrivalled service in planning, design and construction.

Since then it has enjoyed sustained growth and, having moved to new premises in Bourne three years ago, continued to forge close links with the communities it serves.

According to managing director Mr Hick, Larkfleet's success has all been down to its straight forward but effective philosophy.

"Our aim is quite simple – to deal with landowners and customers in a fair manner and to produce a quality value for money product," he said.

"We put great emphasis on the quality and the finish of each property, we choose our building materials carefully and we go to whatever lengths possible to minimise the impacts of every development on the natural environment."

Larkfleet also places emphasis on the local community and is using government cash to offer new homes at as little as half their normal price to help first time buyers in the area.

The company has been authorised to offer the Government's new MyChoiceHomeBuy scheme at its developments across the region.

Potential homebuyers can get an equity loan contribution from MyChoiceHomeBuy of anything up to 50 per cent of the value of the home.

The mortgage is paid off in the usual way with a small monthly fee payable on the MyChoiceHomeBuy share.

The MyChoiceHomeBuy share can be paid back in stages or, if the homeowner chooses, in one go. If the homeowner decides to sell the house before the MyChoiceHomeBuy share is paid off, the government will take a share of the money from the sale.

Mr Hick said: "The scheme will make new homes affordable for many more people in the area.

"It will assist hundreds of people to achieve the dream of owning their own new home and we will obviously also help in any way we can.

"At a time when house prices are lower than they have been for some time, paying perhaps as little as half the price makes it a great bargain.

"And from the point of view of house builders such as Larkfleet, if the scheme means we can continue to sell homes it also means we can continue to provide employment for our highly skilled craftsmen – so it is a real 'win-win' for everybody."

Larkfleet is offering the MyChoiceHomeBuy scheme on its developments at Friars Mews in Lincoln, The Meadows in Eye, Oakridge Park in Bourne and The Stable Yard in Oakham.

Larkfleet's strength in current market conditions comes from the fact that it is not totally dependent on housing sales.