A GROUP of German “real estate” students recently visited Sunley and Environ's Lacuna development in Kings Hill, West Malling as part of a one week study trip to the UK.

This represented a chance for the students to see some of the most innovative housing in England.

The tour organiser, Anthony Catterwell, architect, said of Lacuna: "The optimal use of space, not only horizontally but also vertically, the interesting use of natural daylight to give the houses a refreshing atmosphere, as well as the hot tubs in the garden, were particular points of interest to us all. Our visit to Lacuna was one of the highlights of our study tour to England."

The group was made up of students and staff from the Directors Academy for Housing and Property Management (Fuhrungsakademie der Wohnungs und Immobilien Wirtschaft) in Bochum, Germany.

The college has links with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in the UK and offers courses for full and part-time students wishing to achieve management positions in the housing and property industry.

As part of their training, students are offered the opportunity to visit various estates such as the RICS, Driver Jonas, Artis Real Weatheralls, and Deutsche Hyp Bank where they are given an intensive insight into the British property management scheme. In addition, students visit various developments, both residential and commercial, such as Bluewater, the London Docklands and of course, Lacuna.

The first phase of homes at Lacuna, in the Kings Hill area of West Malling has all but sold out, with only a few plots now remaining. Time may be running out for prospective purchasers on this phase, but a second release of these homes is due in the new year.

The development is the creation of Sunley and Kent-based residential developer Environ Country Homes and has already won a number of awards for its groundbreaking design, including the Evening Standard's Best House of 2002 for the Ricard three storey, three bedroom house. According to Sunley, imaginative and attractive architecture is a key reason for Lacuna's tremendous success to date.

Lacuna offers a choice of two bedroom apartments and two, three and four bedroom homes, each offering the highest levels of specification.

Prices start from £185,000 for a two bedroom apartment. The marketing suite and show homes are open seven days a week from 10am-5pm.

For further information, phone 01732 840256 or you visit on www.lacuna.uk.com