WORK UNDERWAY ON STATE-OF-THE-ART’ HOLIDAY HOMES

MGM sells off-plan a quarter of the apartments in its latest showcase for eco-friendly development…

In the French Alps building work has started to create 66 brand new holiday apartments for sale in a French residence de tourisme described by developer MGM as state-of-the-art in terms of sustainability and fuel economy.’

Richard Deans in MGM’s London-based UK sales office says the development – Le Centaure at Flaine in the Haute-Savoie region – will embrace the principles of HQE (Haute Qualit� Environmental), the international construction industry’s high environmental quality standard which aims to integrate the principles of sustainable development defined at the 1992 Earth Summit.

Already a quarter of the properties have been sold off-plan, reports MGM which says the scheme marks a significant step in its commitment to reduce energy consumption.

Flaine – just one hour by road from Geneva Airport, or a six-hour drive from Calais – has gained a reputation as one of the most environmentally aware resorts in the French Alps.

Hailed as an architectural jewel’ when it opened in 1968, the resort is fully-pedestrianised. Pumps extract the heat occurring naturally below the ground to heat water supplies.

A feature of the resort is its open-air sculpture museum where works on display include La T�te de Femme by Pablo Picasso.

Summer in Flaine. On the left of the picture is Pablo Picasso’s La T�te de Femme by Pablo Picasso, one of the pieces on display in Flaine’s open-air sculpture museumImage � Havis

Externally, the architectural style of the new residence, designed by leading French architect Christian Hauvette of Paris, is modern to comply with strict local regulations. Energy-saving features include solar panels on the roof and reinforced exterior insulation. Maximum use of natural light is achieved with big south-facing windows and heat loss is reduced with small windows on the north side of the building.

The apartments at Le Centaure range size from 27 sq metre studios to 75 sq metre three-bedroom duplexes. They include apartments specially adapted for use by disabled occupiers. These apartments have larger floor areas in all rooms, especially the bathrooms and lavatories which have handrails.

Facilities include a 25m x 10m indoor swimming pool – and a smaller children’s pool – with dramatic views of a nearby mountain waterfall. There will be a sauna, jacuzzi, steam and fitness rooms, and a spa and beauty centre.

At this time of year Flaine is a magnet for families who enjoy walking and mountain biking as well as other outdoor activities ranging from tennis, archery and fitness classes to white water rafting and canyoning. At an altitude of 1,900 metres, the nearby Pierre Carr�e 18-hole golf course is one of the highest in Europe with panoramic mountain views from every tee.

When it opens for business at the start of the 2011 ski season, the ski-in, ski-out apartments at Le Centaure will be just 50 metres from the cable car lift to Les Grandes-Plati�res (2,200 metres).

Currently off-plan prices of the properties at Le Centaure start at €142,000 for a studio, rising to €418,000 for a three-bedroom duplex apartment. The prices, which include parking, cellar storage and a ski locker, exclude VAT waived under the leaseback scheme.

For more information about the properties available, call MGM on 0207 4940706, email [email protected] or website www.mgm-constructeur.com