Business development manager, Alice Dean, 29, was keen to get on the property ladder in her home county of Cheshire, but like many young professionals was struggling to save for a deposit.

Originally from Wilmslow, Alice had been renting a flat in Didsbury, and was resigned to renting long-term until she spotted Oak Gardens, a new Shared Ownership development of two-bedroom apartments in nearby Hale.

Homes were being sold through Plumlife from £68,250 for a 35 per cent share. The full price was from £195,000.

Alice said: “I went along to the show home as soon as it had launched, and loved it instantly. I didn’t know much about how Shared Ownership worked, so I chatted at length to the sales adviser about how the scheme works. “After number-crunching with an independent mortgage adviser I accessed through Plumlife, I realised I could comfortably afford to buy a 35 per cent share of one of the apartments. I secured a mortgage with the Halifax, and with my savings was able to put down a deposit of £8,000 – just over 10 per cent of my share.

“That left a mortgage of just over £60,000 – for which my monthly repayments are £260 a month. Rent to Plumlife on the 65 per cent I don’t own is £211 per calendar month, which includes the service charge.

“The total I now pay is £470 per calendar month – £50 a month less than I was paying for my flat in Didsbury. I love my new home. I’m near my family and friends and a short commute from where I work in Cheadle.

“Hale is a lovely village, and because of its desirability I’m confident my investment will hold its value and be easy to sell on when the time is right for me.”

The Oak development was built by award-winning Manchester-based developer Great Places Housing Group with Salford City Council.

The homes are part of extensive regeneration plans for the area, and the development has been nominated for a national award by First Time Buyer Magazine.

All the homes have been snapped up, but for information on other Shared Ownership developments in Greater Manchester, Lancashire or South Yorkshire contact Plumlife on 0161 447 5050 or visit plumlife.co.uk.