  
|
Santiago Property, Santa MartaVila Jardins do Oceano, a BVI project near historic Cidade Velha.A British Virgin Islands company formed by Nick Carter-Brown a former finance director of Sambala who lives near Bath is putting up this development in the south of Santiago. It will be to the west of Cidade Velha, the charming little historic village and fortress 20km west of Praia. This means that it has been subject to special planning enquiries because of the historic nature of the site as the first European settlement in the tropics. Its Portuguese name Vila Jardins do Oceano means Gardens town on the ocean. So presumably there is a planting programme and the soil looks more capable of supporting plants than on many other developments. It is a more compact site than others on Santiago with no more than 50 individual villas planned. Each proposes a private swimming pool and a terrace or verandah with a pergola. They will plant grass between the buildings and the soil looks as though it might support lawns. Plots of 430 sqm are larger than many in the Cape Verdes. Its precise position is between the main road Sao Joao Baptista (St John the Baptist) and the cliff top at Santa Marta, according to its plan. This is a gentle slope that would give many of the villas fine views over the sea to the south. Prices are high at from £210,000 to £230,000 but mortgage finance is available for up to 90% of contract value - a first for the Cape Verdes. A bank guarantee from the Cape Verdean bank BCA is available for a small charge, which lodges funds in an escrow account which is still unusual in Cape Verdes. It has outline planning permission from the Camara in Ribiera Grande. Building work has commenced on site and the first villa may be ready during 2008. Generally Santiago property has proved slower to catch on than in Sal. But the company is hoping to improve one of the local beaches by importing white sand to spread over the surface. |