Duane, Chief Engineer of a luxury 57-metre, 1,000 tonne private yacht, currently moored in Monaco, was first to buy at Lace Market Square - he snapped up the 1,012 square foot three-bedroom apartment before it even went on sale.

Duane, 38, said: "It was the location that attracted me to Lace Market Square. I spend eight months a year travelling around the world, but Nottingham is my home and I am fascinated with the idea of living in a historic area such as the Lace Market. Living out of town on the ring road simply doesn't appeal to me.

"I think that now is such an exciting time to buy property in the Lace Market - in a few years time when the Pod, an adjacent development, and Lace Market Square are finished - the Lace Market area will be something quite spectacular; and I like to think that this can only contribute to a sound long term investment. Also, with city centre parking becoming increasingly more restricted over the next few years - the secure underground parking offered makes the apartment an even more attractive proposition.

2/ANCHORS AWAY! SAILOR IS FIRST TO BUY AT LACE MARKET SQUARE

"I think that the apartments are going to be fantastic when they are completed - and I am looking forward to seeing how the public space develops as well. I think that as long as it is well-managed, the central piazza could become one of Nottingham's hidden treasures.

"As soon as I heard about Lace Market Square I went to Savills to see if I could buy the penthouse. Being at sea so much, I'd missed out on an opportunity to buy a penthouse in the Lace Market once before. I wasn't going to let that happen again and bought the apartment before it was even released. The penthouse is quite unique, was reasonably priced, and my personal belief is that it will prove to be a great place to live, in addition to being a sound long term investment.

Lace Market Square, designed by architects Franklin Ellis, comprises 46 high-quality apartments, retail space and secure underground parking. At the centre of the scheme is an 11,000 square foot public square designed by Nottingham-based art and landscape design company Wolfgang and Heron. 39 apartments remain, with prices ranging from £125,000 for a one-bedroom one bathroom apartment to £160,000-£195,000 for the remaining two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments.

The development is now well underway, and the apartments are due to be completed in 2007.

The scheme's architects, Franklin Ellis, are well known for their work on other high profile city developments such as the Paul Smith shop in Nottingham and retail and residential developments at Castlewharf, Stoney Street and Sneinton Market.

3/ANCHORS AWAY! SAILOR IS FIRST TO BUY AT LACE MARKET SQUARE

Gail Richardson, Head of New Homes at Savills, commented: "There was a substantial amount of interest in the apartments as soon as we started marketing - despite the degree of competition. This development is quite unique as it is both right in the centre of the Lace Market and overlooking what we expect will be a stunning continental piazza."

www.lacemarketsquare.co.uk

ENDS

For further PR information contact Eden PR on 0115 852 4717, fax 0115 950 9175 or contact Kathryn Harrison, Kathryn@edenpr.co.uk