WATES Homes is creating family homes and apartments at Invicta Park, St Mary’s Platt.

It is a new four-acre rural retreat with its own common land and views across open countryside.

The first six houses to be released are all large detached five-bedroom houses.

They are individually designed and feature Kentish architectural touches.

The mellow stock brick, clay tiled and timbered gabled exteriors conceal a string of modern conveniences such as underfloor heating in the large eat-in kitchens and bathrooms, American-style appliances with country house entertaining capacity, dressing rooms for the master suites, a computer or media room. There are also inglenook fireplaces, log stores and walk-in larders.

Separate utility rooms and double garages are additional attractions. The price guide is £850,000.

Other homes under construction at Invicta Park include a courtyard of townhouses and highly original apartments behind a “mansion house” facade.

For more information call FPD Savills on 01732 789 700.

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SUBSIDENCE may be a shrinking problem, according to the latest statistics from the Association of British Insurers, but when it’s your home that’s threatening to collapse the problem can seem more than a little alarming, says Halifax.

Subsidence happens when the foundations of your home shrink. Its incidence rises in the summer as foundations, which were wet during the winter dry out and contract. This causes uneven pressure on the frame of your house meaning cracks appear.

But a case of subsidence isn’t the end of the world. Anyone with comprehensive buildings insurance, who doesn’t have an exclusion for subsidence will have their home fixed.

Howard Posner, general manager, Halifax General Insurance, said: “Unlike Lisa and Mark in EastEnders, most homeowners won’t be forced to stay with their in-laws while their home is repaired.

“Decent buildings insurance will cover the cost of alternative accommodation while their home is repaired - it can be a lengthy process but it’s also very fixable.”

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UK HOUSE prices rose by 0.2 per cent in August (seasonally adjusted) following a rise of 1.8 per cent in July.

This is according to the Halifax House Price Index.

The annual rate of house price inflation in the UK is now 18.8 per cent, compared to 20.8 per cent in July.

Housing transactions stayed at 132,000 in July, but remain around 10 per cent higher year-on-year.

The ratio of house prices to average earnings has risen to 4.2 around 0.6 higher than in the same period last year.

Average earnings have failed to keep pace with house prices over the last 12 months but the ratio remains well below the record peak of five.