First-time buyer numbers are back on the increase - but what does this previously elusive breed look like?

The recent housing market revival has brought with it the return of a species that had become frighteningly scarce - the first-time buyer.

The resurgence of this sector is highlighted in new research by Halifax, which found not only are first-time buyer numbers increasing, they are increasing at their fastest rate in more than a decade.

Using figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) as well as its own, Halifax’s report estimates there were 265,000 first-time buyers in the UK in 2013. This figure represents a jump of more than one-fifth (22 per cent) on 2012, and the strongest annual rise seen since 2001.

The report also revealed first-time buyers accounted for 44 per cent of house purchases made using a mortgage last year, up from 40 per cent in 2012.

This increase is significant - and not simply for those frustrated people whose dreams of buying their first home have been repeatedly quashed in recent years. First-time buyers are a vital piece of the whole housing market jigsaw.

Without them, housing market chains grind to a halt. People who want to take their second step up the housing ladder, perhaps because they’ve started a family and grown out of their existing property, become stuck from the lack of people willing or able to buy their “starter” home from them.

Halifax’s figures also show how ultra-low interest rates have helped to improve mortgage affordability for first-time buyers in recent years. The proportion of a first-time buyer’s disposable earnings spent on mortgage payments stood at 30% in the last three months of 2013, compared with a peak of 50% in the summer of 2007.

A string of Government schemes have given those aspiring to get on the property ladder a helping hand too. In October, a new phase was launched in the flagship Help to Buy scheme, which offers state-backed mortgages to people with deposits of just five per cent.

But critics of the scheme have argued that a lack of homes for sale amid rising demand from buyers has put an upward pressure on house prices, meaning buyers have to stretch their borrowing further to keep up with the price increases. Fears have also been raised about what will happen to borrowers when interest rates rise again and their mortgage payments go up.

As house prices rise, this also has a knock-on effect on stamp duty costs. Halifax found that while close to half (45 per cent) of all first-time buyer purchases in 2013 were below the £125,000 stamp duty threshold, a similar proportion (46 per cent) were priced at between £125,000 and £250,000, attracting the lowest stamp duty level of one per cent.

So, what are the characteristics of this new, exciting breed of first-time buyer?

According to Halifax’s findings, first-time buyers are getting older, despite the series of new schemes aimed at giving them a helping hand.

The average age of a first-time buyer is now 30 years old, up from 29 in 2011. In London, first-time buyers are typically aged 31 by the time they make it onto the property ladder.

The rising age of the first-time buyer is hardly surprising given another finding about the size of deposit this sector needs to scrape together. The report found that the average first-time buyer deposit in 2013 stood at £30,943 - marking an 11 per cent jump from just over £28,000 in 2012. What’s more, this figure is a huge leap of 77% from 2007, when the typical deposit put down by this sector was just under £17,500.

In London, first-time buyers put down an average deposit of £56,183 last year. This is more than three times the average first-time buyer deposit in the North East, at £15,862.

The findings also reveal the vital role that the “bank of Mum and Dad” has played in giving many aspiring first-time buyers a leg up. The CML estimated that two-thirds (65 per cent) of first-time buyers had some form of financial help in mid-2012, compared with just one third (31 per cent) in mid-2005.

What trends are emerging in the way we browse for homes?

As activity has returned to the housing market, property website Rightmove has seen some interesting consumer trends emerging.

It says that Tuesday lunch breaks between 12 noon and 1pm are the busiest times for people searching for properties on its site. This includes people actively house-hunting as well as those checking out asking and sold prices.

The busiest time for house-hunters using their mobile devices to browse is around 8pm on a Sunday. Searching for properties on mobiles now accounts for more than one third (37 per cent) of all page views to Rightmove.

The busiest day on Rightmove last year was on Tuesday, August 13, with over 36 million views on the site, while July was the busiest month.

The struggles of small businesses in recent years have been well documented but when facing economic hardship they make cutbacks.

But they also subconsciously stop selling. Savings are made by making cutbacks, which is understandable when money is not coming in.

But in my view, when companies decide to review and cutback on their marketing and advertising strategies, it is economic suicide to cutback on the only people capable of generating revenue for their company.

It is financially tough on the Fylde coast but despite what the economic status is, the world does not stop turning and people still need products and services.

So I feel I must share with you a positive success story that began at the height of the economic downturn.

Earlier this week, I again attended the quarterly business network meeting called “Wyred Up”.

This networking initiative was championed by the late Charles Yost of Wyre Council and Jane Littlewood from Rabbit Patch Design.

Its success and durability has been due to not only the management and support of Wyre Council, but mainly because of the attendance of local businesses, who descend upon the Wyred Up events in large numbers.

The people I meet at this and other networking events all share the same ethos of building relationships and selling themselves.

It does not matter whether business is generated directly at any business networking events across the Fylde Coast.

What matters is that you are building up trust and relationships with other businesses who could help you by referring you to friends and acquaintances.

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More than 200 people were caught drink driving in Lancashire during the police’s latest Christmas clampdown.

Officers carried out 17,400 tests throughout the month of December with 202 people, or 1.2 per cent, failing the test and 19 people, refusing to provide a specimen.

During the Christmas 2012 campaign, 18,964 tests were administered with 281 people, or 1.5 per cent, failing the test or refusing to provide a specimen.

In Western division - the area that covers Blackpool–2,144 people were breathalysed in December.

Of those 98.7 per cent passed the test and just 27 people failed or refused to provide a sample.

Chief Insp Debbie Howard (pictured) said: “It is pleasing to see the number of people drink driving has reduced.

“221 people is still too many though. We are not complacent and will continue to carry out regular enforcement.”

Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw, added: “People who choose to drink and drive are not only putting their own lives in serious danger, they are risking the lives of everyone around them.

“I saw first-hand in Blackpool the effort which goes into the drink drive operation.

“I am fully behind the Constabulary’s ongoing efforts to target those who put lives at risk on our roads.”

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A community group looking to set up a new arts centre in Fleetwood is calling for help from residents.

Fleetwood Plus Community Interest Company is fund-raising in the hope of buying Mount Methodist Church and launched a public survey to get people’s views.

Director George Greenall said: “We would like everyone in the town to help us secure the future of the building for community use.

“To assist with fund-raising we are undertaking a consultation survey with the local community to see what facilities and services people would like to see in the proposed centre.”

The Mount Road church closed in December and is being used by Emmanuel Church on a temporary basis until a six-month moratorium is lifted, meaning the building can be sold.

For more information and to complete the survey, visit {http://www.fleetwoodplus.co.uk|www.fleetwoodplus.co.uk|Click here to visit the website}.

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A man has walked free from court after punching a teenager in a booze-fuelled attack.

Christopher Dickson, 22, of London Road, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to assaulting the 15-year-old boy.

The teenage victim was walking along Talbot Road at 1am on December 29, when Dickson came up and asked if he had a cigarette.

The boy said he did not and Dickson punched him once in the face.

When interviewed by police Dickson said he had drunk seven cans of beer, seven Jagermeisters and three or four vodkas.

Blackpool magistrates sentenced him to two months in prison, suspended for 12 months, plus one year’s supervision and ordered him to pay compensation of £250 to his victim.

Dickson also agreed to an electronically monitored curfew for three months from 8pm to 6am.

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A trusted till operator stole from his workplace by cashing vouchers twice.

Adam Hawkins, 22, of Wentworth Drive, Thornton, pleaded guilty to fraud between May and August 2012.

Pam Smith, prosecuting, told Blackpool magistrates that Hawkins had worked at the Co-op in Thornton for two years and became a trusted worker, cashing up his own till and having access to the cash office.

The shop’s management was alerted by head office that there were discrepancies in the accounts.

Inquiries showed each time the discrepancies occurred Hawkins’s pin number was logged in.

Co-op customers with vouchers were either given the value of the voucher off their bill or the value in cash was given to them.

Hawkins had scanned the vouchers once for the customer and then again for himself, keeping the cash, which totalled £569. When confronted Hawkins resigned.

Imran Majid, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, had done something extremely foolish and he regretted it.

The police had been willing to give him a conditional caution which would have avoided a court appearance, but because Hawkins was not working then he would have been unable to pay back the compensation in the time span allowed for such a caution.

He was given an 18 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £569 compensation plus £85 costs.

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Teenagers saw first hand the devastation of a car crash during a safety day at their school.

Firefighters and paramedics visited Cardinal Allen Catholic High School for the event, cutting drama students, made up to look injured, from the mock wreckage to highlight driving dangers.

The youngsters also learned about the dangers of drink driving, about healthy living, first aid and self defence.

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Gary Lovatt, FSB Regional Chairman for Lancashire, this week questioned David Cameron on what more could be done to improve bank lending rates to small businesses at the inaugural FSB Policy Conference held in Westminster.

At a packed venue in Central London, Mr Cameron delivered a keynote address on a range of business issues, including the need to continue to cut regulation to encourage small business growth.

Mr Cameron then took questions from the assembled audience.

“This was a great opportunity for the FSB to really put down a marker for what small businesses need to lead economic growth in the UK,” said Mr Lovatt.

“My question focused on accessing finance and bank mis-selling of so-called Interest Rate Swaps, which we know companies in Lancashire have been subject to.”

He added: “Mr Cameron acknowledged that the banks needed to do more in both areas and confirmed that the issue was very much on his radar.”

Other notable attendees at the conference included Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, Shadow Business Minister Chuka Umunna, Minister for Skills and Enterprise Matthew Hancock and former Small Business Advisor to Barack Obama, Karen Mills.

Mr Lovatt added: “The Interest Rate Swaps were complex financial loans which should never have been sold to small businesses who trusted their lenders to advise them fairly on what would be best for their business, not best for the lender themselves.”

On red tape, a key factor of the FSB Conference, he said: “Mr Cameron’s pledge to reduce bureaucracy continues to be well received by businesses in Lancashire and lays a solid platform for economic growth for small businesses locally.”

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Blackpool’s teenagers are aiming high after meeting with employers, training and apprenticeship providers, sixth forms and colleges at the resort’s largest careers event.

Engineers from BAE Systems, a Formula Four car from Blackpool and The Fylde College and artists from Blackpool Sixth Form were all on hand to inspire youngsters.

More than 1,700 Year Nine pupils from the resort’s eight secondary schools, and Fleetwood High School, visited Blackpool Pleasure Beach this week for the three-day event.

Four teenagers from Unity Academy, on Warbreck Hill Drive, North Shore, told The Gazette about their hopes and dreams for the future after trying their hand at activities and learning about career paths.

Blake White, 14, has ambitions to be a games designer. He said: “Sometimes I do worry it might be hard to get into but I like a challenge.”

And 13-year-old Connor Willis has his eye on being a forensic scientist. He said: “Everyone has said it’s hard to get jobs so you need the qualifications and need to work hard.”

Friend Dionne Rooney, 14, wants to be a vet. “We were learning about what grades and exams you need to be able to get on in careers. It depends where you want to get a job.”

Blake added: “How do I feel about getting a job in Blackpool? Well, yes and no - some would take quite a while without qualifications but if it’s a simple job you can get those quickly.”

But Dionne added: “But if you get a job you like it’s fine.”

14-year-old Brittany Taylor hopes to be social worker, inspired to look after young people by a friend who is in foster care.

She said: “The news says it’s very difficult to get some jobs, depending on what you want to be. It kind of worries me, what’s to come.

“I’ve got an older brother and sister, they’re 22 and 20, and it’s been difficult for them to get jobs.

“For my job I learned it doesn’t really matter what GCSEs I take - I feel hopeful now.”

Students were able to test their reactions with the Army and RAF, practice CPR with NHS staff and try out new styles on models for hairdressing courses.

And apprentices were also shown as a valuable alternative to straight study.

“I’ve looked into training opportunities too today,” said Blake.

“Events like this actually do help.”

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The private sector has always been able to adapt and prepare for changes in good and bad times.

With the possible advent of a brand new energy industry being created here on the Fylde coast, it would be pro-active and forward thinking of the private sector to get together with people of differing backgrounds and professions - from small businesses, to academia and the charitable sector - to understand how the responsible extraction of natural gas from Lancashire’s shale can be used to create jobs and generate economic growth.

In recent years, I have been strongly advocating on local TV, radio and in the press that if all the environmental concerns are identified, mitigated and addressed to allow safe and responsible extraction of shale, then this will benefit businesses, create jobs and improve the local economy.

Today, details have been published of the newly-formed North West Energy Task Force, inviting people to challenge industry and policy makers to get behind Bowland shale.

Our efforts are supported by over 100 North West regional job and wealth creators.

I was recently invited to join and our role is to focus on the potential economic and business benefits.

In recent years, we have become concerned about the politicisation of the debate and the failure of media to focus on economic and business facts surrounding natural gas from Lancashire’s shale.

As job and wealth creators, we know what is needed to get our region’s economy moving forward.

That is why – in this increasingly competitive global economy – we support the efforts to develop natural gas from Lancashire’s shale.

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A police chase began after an officer spotted a man he knew was banned from driving at the wheel of a car.

Peter Bradley, 47, had been disqualified from driving in December last year.

He received a 17-month ban for drink driving. However, just a few weeks later he was driving again Blackpool magistrates heard.

Bradley, of Sheringham Way, Poulton, admitted driving while disqualified on January 8.

He also admitted driving without insurance, failing to stop when ordered to do so by police and trespassing on the railway.

John Abbott, prosecuting, told the court Bradley was driving a white Ford Fiesta at 11.20pm on Amounderness Way.

Police followed Bradley but he started to take evasive action. He sped through Poulton as the police car pursued him.

His car hit a wall and he then tried to get away on foot through a garden and onto a railway embankment.

He scrambled down that and crossed the tracks to Poulton station where he was caught by police.

Patrick Nelligan, defending, said: “There were not many people about at the time this took place.

My client has been going through a bad period in his life and he tried to evade police in a moment of panic.”

Bradley was given an eight week jail term, suspended for a year.

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Work is progressing on the refurbishment of Poulton’s Teanlowe Centre to provide a new Booths’ foodstore and a new look for the Market Place Mall.

The first phase of works, re-roofing of the Market Place Mall has been completed.

The current phase comprises diversion of services in Market Place by the utility companies which means the Market Place entrance will be closed until early March.

All the shops however will remain open throughout that period and the entrance will re-open in advance of the Easter trading period.

Refurbishment of the mall and an extension forward into Market Place of the former Clarks shoe shop will continue beyond Easter.

Towards the end of the refurbishment phase, preparation of new shops for Bodycare, Poulton Optical Centre and Homecare Walkabout will be carried out.

Once the new units are opened, demolition of the remainder of the Teanlowe Centre will take place, from August to early October 2014, with opening of the new Booths’ store in late Autumn 2015.

Graham Booth, Property Director for Booths said, “A new store in Poulton-le-Fylde has long been an aspiration for our company and we are delighted to now be making significant progress to deliver to our customers the facilities that they expect.”

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A man breached his bail when he rushed to his father’s side after he suffered a heart attack.

Anthony Watson, 36, of the caravan site, Angel Lane, Poulton, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a bail condition.

Pam Smith, prosecuting, said Watson had been bailed on the condition he reported four times to police.

On February 2, Watson handed himself in at the police station, having failed to previously report in.

Tim Vickers, defending, told magistrates: “His father had a heart attack and he rushed, without thinking, to Middlesborough where his father lives. 
“His father is now recovering well. As soon as possible my client handed himself in.”

Blackpool magistrates agreed to re-bail Watson.

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A young Fylde coast footballer is set to complete a remarkable recovery – after suffering a heart attack at the age of just 22.

Louis Shields, of Woodland Grove, Poulton, is expected to play his first competitive match for Poulton Town FC, on Saturday.

It comes after he suffered a cardiac arrest on August 22 which left him in a coma for five days.

Gym worker Louis underwent an operation to fix a problem with his heart at the Lancashire Cardiac Centre at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

But it was only thanks to the quick thinking of his girlfriend Kirsten Jones and mother Karen McAuley that Louis lived to tell the tale.

He says he has no recollection of what happened and 
only knows what he has been told by his family.

He said: “My girlfriend tells me she woke up because I was next to her having a fit of some kind.

“She was scared and ran for my mum’s help.

“When they both got back to me I was blue from my head to my chest.

“To them I was already dead.

“But my mum knows CPR and carried it out on me straight away while my girlfriend called the ambulance.

“They used the defibrillator on me and rushed me to hospital. I was in the intensive care unit an in a coma for five days. I don’t remember any of it.”

He added: “I don’t drink, smoke or take any kind of drugs, I like to keep fit and consider myself to be healthy.

“When I was told what had happened to me I could hardly believe it.

“You don’t think of this kind of thing happening to you when you’re young.”

Staff at the cardiac centre found Louis had an abnormal ‘electrical connection’ between the upper and lower chambers in the heart, which was capable of conduction at a very fast rate and this was the cause of his cardiac arrest.

Consultant Cardiologist Dr Shajil Chalil said: “I performed a keyhole intervention procedure through the right groin to cauterise the abnormal conduction channel.

“I am pleased to see him back to his normal self and wish him the very best for the future.”

Louis said he is amazed by the care provided by the team at the hospital.

He added: “The work done there is really unbelievable. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for everyone involved.

“From the intensive care staff to the people on the cardiac ward and the doctor that put right the condition that caused this in the first place, I can’t thank them enough.

“It all goes to show that you can’t take your health seriously enough.

“When you’re young you don’t expect to have a cardiac arrest, probably most young people don’t really know what that is.

“Yet it happened to me and now, thanks to the cardiac centre, I get my life back and can get back to training and playing football again.”

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A man has made his first appearance in court accused of committing sex attacks on three little girls aged between five and seven in Knott End.

Stephen Ireland, 59, of Kingfisher Way, pleaded not guilty to three offences of indecent assault on a child between January 1996 and January 1998.

Prosecutor Tracy Yates’s application that the case should be heard at crown court was not opposed.

Ireland was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on May 15 by District Judge Jim Clarke at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

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Tributes have been paid to a former councillor who championed the fight to get Fleetwood fishermen compensation when they lost the ability to fish off Iceland.

Mark Hamer, 84, died at Priory Court Nursing Home on February 1.

Fleetwood Fishermen’s Mission Pastor George Ayoma said: “Mark was instrumental in bringing compensation to fishermen. He was more than willing to do all he could and he helped track down records that fishermen needed to be able to claim.

“He was rather a special fellow.

“I am very sad to hear of his death but was delighted to see him in his care home at Christmas, singing carols and enjoying himself.”

Lionel Marr, chairman of the Jacinta Trust added: “One of the highlights of his life was doing an awful lot of work for fishermen and gaining the compensation for them that they so richly deserved.

“He was also a trustee of the Jacinta and he gave valuable assistance to us.”

Mr Hamer, a stalwart Conservative for some 60 years, and representing Warren Ward in the port on Wyre Council, shocked colleagues when he switched to Labour in 2011 after he was deselected.

He said at the time: “I considered the matter with great care and realised how little the Conservatives have done for Fleetwood and the fishing industry so I decided to join Labour.

“I am pleased to be active in politics again although, at my age, I won’t be able to make a big contribution. But I will do whatever I can for the town.”

Coun Peter Gibson, Leader of Wyre Council, said: “All his life Mark Hamer championed the town of Fleetwood and its residents. He was a great advocate for the fishing industry and fought hard for compensation for fishermen.

During his time as a Wyre councillor he was tenacious in promoting Fleetwood and did everything he could to improve services and facilities in the town. He will be sadly missed by all and Fleetwood has lost one of its most dedicated sons.”

Coun Penny Martin, leader of the opposition, added: “I would like to express the Labour group’s condolences to his family. He always worked hard for the people of Fleetwood.”

Mr Hamer leaves children Michael, Elizabeth and Caroline, and five grandchildren.

Mr Hamer’s funeral takes place at St Paul’s Church, Fleetwood, on February 13 at 12.15pm, followed by a service at Lytham Park Crematorium at 2pm.

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A man suffering from the cold was caught pushing a wheelie bin full of coal he had stolen.

James Falkingham who was stopped by police in the middle of the street at Cleveleys told police: “I robbed it because I was cold and had been spending a lot of money on electric.”

Falkingham, 45, of Coronation Road, Cleveleys, pleaded guilty to theft of six bags of coal valued at £56 from Anchorsholme Service Station.

He was given a 12 months conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs with £20 victims’ surcharge by District Judge Jim Clarke sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said a member of the public contacted police to say he had seen a man pushing an empty wheelie bin, who had then returned with a full bin on January 13 at 1.20am.

Police stopped Falkingham in the road near his home and saw the bin was full of coal.

Howard Green, defending, said his client had moved into a flat where the previous tenant had died of a drug overdose and the electricity meter had previously been by-passed.

Because of the previous meter by-passing Falkingham had had to pay more for his electric for some time.

He was drunk when he took the coal.

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A man has appeared in court charged with three allegations of rape.

John Dolan, 45, is charged with the offences which date back 28 years.

Dolan of South Promenade, Cleveleys, will have his case heard at Preston Crown Court.

He was committed to the higher court by Blackpool Magistrates and he will appear at crown court on May 15.

He was bailed on condition he has no contact with his alleged victim.

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Schoolchildren wielded swords, supervised of course, and donned helmets and shields as they learned about the battles of the Viking era.

The Year Four pupils visited Lancaster’s Maritime Museum for two workshops on the fierce Viking Age.

Led by ‘Vikings’ Erik and Linden the children learned about preparations for battles, handling weapons and armour similar to that used by the seafaring people raided and traded.

The children also learned about the softer side of the Vikings, experiencing what life was like in their settlements, which expanded across much of the Northern Hemisphere between the 8th and 11th Centuries.

Pupil Fred Boardman, said: “The chain mail was really heavy, most of us couldn’t lift it up, but I could. It was a great day.”

Back at the Broadway school children used the Vikings’ roots as explorers and settlers to inspire their science and technology classes, designing and building their own longships to sail and carry weights.

Holly Cumpsty said: “We all had a fantastic time, I would love to go again.”

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The reigning champions in the Young Engineers STEM Skills Challenge are hard at work ready for the second competition.

Teenagers from schools across the Fylde coast will be going head-to-head in the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) challenge, organised by The Gazette, Cuadrilla Resources and Centrica, and hosted by Blackpool and The Fylde College.

The inaugural challenge last year was won by Millfield Science and Performing Arts College, Thornton, netting them £10,000 to spend on STEM equipment. It has been used to buy state-of-the-art technology and set up a STEM club.

Youngsters were asked to design and build a balloon-powered buggy using just limited materials and their knowledge of the STEM subjects.

The buggies were then raced, with the one which travelled furthest within a set space declared the winner.

This year children will take part in a ‘blind challenge’, having no knowledge of the task ahead of the contest.

Up for grabs is a huge pot of money, £12,000 to be split between the winner and runner up, courtesy of Centrica and Cuadrilla Resources.

The main objective of the project is to encourage students to enjoy the challenge of problem solving while using science and mathematics and working as a team.

Millfield is now hotly anticipating the first heat, to be held at Blackpool and The Fylde College’s Bispham campus on Monday.

Science teacher Justine Azzopardi said: “The excitement is building at Millfield as the Young Engineers 2014 competition day draws nearer.

“As reigning champions, we know that we have a lot to live up to, so we have been busy working on our engineering and design skills, researching different aspects of engineering and trying to predict what the next challenge might be.

“We wish all of the other schools the best of luck.”

Pupil Ellie Fyall, 14, said: “Millfield’s STEM club has been busy preparing for the Young Engineers competition, carrying out force and design investigations and holding trials to decide who will be part of the team this year.”

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