For those who want to get away from it all, there are a number of excellent new build buys currently on the property market, finds Johnny Turner.
The South East of England offers some of the UK’s most beautiful countryside, with rolling green hills, woodland, farmland and gorgeous coastal areas. Those who choose to live outside the noisy, bustling world of work and commerce that exists in and around the capital are finding they get the benefit of both environments; they can dip in and out of workday strife while enjoying a peaceful, nature-filled environment as their home turf. This choice makes the countryside all the more blissful. After all, half of the enjoyment of nature is knowing you have chosen to be in it.
When it comes to selecting a home, today’s buyer has the choice of a number of sites throughout the South East that are not only surrounded by plenty of space outside but also offer excellent design and specification inside.
One amazing example of a development with space galore is Fairfield Park, on the Bedfordshire-Hertfordshire border, where a number of developers are converting a Victorian former hospital building and surrounding it with new build sections into a wide variety of home types, from one to six bedrooms.
PJ Livesey, the company currently refurbishing the hospital building, has already taken 14 reservations for apartments, even though work has only just begun on the project. Livesey is converting the building into a range of exclusive apartments and penthouses. Stamford Homes and Twigden are two of the developers working on the new build; they are now well advanced with their infrastructure and building work and both hope to open sales offices on site in April. The other house builders – David Wilson, Westbury, Persimmon and Bovis – plan to be on site by the summer or early autumn.
Located just two miles from junction 10 of the A1(M), Fairfield Park will provide 930 homes. The area around Fairfield Park will benefit from over £4 million in additional investment, including the building of a new lower school. Other facilities will include a community centre, provision for a shop and play facilities. Prices currently start at around £170,000. To find out more about this impressive development call the information line on 0845 120 6460 or visit fairfield-park.co.uk.
Appledore has recently launched its exclusive Oast Place development in Wadhurst, East Sussex. The specialist house builder has converted an original oast into an impressive village home – and has also created four new mews cottages, built in a sympathetic style.
According to Yvette Brotherton, sales and marketing director for Appledore, the launch of the mews cottages was a resounding success. ‘Many visitors registered serious interest and we have even had the first reservation,’ she says. ‘I would not expect the homes to be available for very long.’
The oast house itself has not yet been officially launched; however, there has been much interest in it already, Brotherton comments. All of the homes feature Appledore’s trademark quality of build and high level of specification, including fully fitted kitchens complete with designer appliances and fittings.
The location is also ideal. Situated just off Wadhurst High Street, the development will offer residents plenty of local amenities – but the stunning views over the surrounding countryside are the real draw. An excellent example of best-of-both-worlds country living.
For further information contact selling agent Humberts on 01892 782424 or Appledore Developments on 01732 469888.
KingsOak has unveiled the long-awaited Shaftsbury show home at Haddington Manor, its popular new Wendover development. The four/five-bedroom detached home, the first show home at the development, has already commanded a high level of viewer interest.
Haddington Manor is the skilful redevelopment of a former Ministry of Defence homes site and features a choice of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes grouped around a central grassed area. Wendover enjoys an attractive Chiltern Hills setting in the Buckinghamshire countryside but is also close to the major town of Aylesbury. The rural credentials of Haddington Manor are faultless, with its 33 miles of footpaths and bridleways providing the perfect setting for horse riding, cycling and exploring.
For those who need convenient access to London, easy rail links to Marylebone station and convenient road access (to the new A41 bypass, the B4009 and junction 18 of the M25) do the trick. Prices currently start from £199,995 for a two-bedroom apartment and from £284,995 for a three-bedroom mid-terrace town house. Phone the sales office, open Thursdays to Mondays from 10am to 5pm, on 01296 625736 or visit kingsoakhomes.com.
The recent recipient of the Hotproperty Regeneration Award for Houses is Bundish Hall Barns, City & Country’s excellent reinvention of a pair of 17th-century barns and a granary. These historic buildings, located in Fyfield, Essex, have been given a new lease of life as three beautiful residences – Appleby, Beaumaris and Carisbrooke. The conversion of these historic buildings has been achieved with utmost care, and specification is very high. Simple, lovely Shaker design informs the kitchens, while the latest in technology, including provision for a home computer network and satellite television, is included.
One of the barns comprises a stunning garden room with views over the moat, while the two other homes include flexible accommodation. One barn offers space that could be used as a games room or a nanny’s private suite, while the other provides a ‘leisure suite’ that offers a number of rooms and areas that could be transformed into guest accommodation with its own private bathroom, a games room or even a steam room.
The location of both these sites is ideal for residents who want a peaceful living location as well as access to the urban entertainments and business possibilities of London. Two miles away is the designated conservation area of Chipping Ongar, while Chelmsford and Brentwood are only 13 and eight miles away respectively. The homes are surrounded by acres of traditional arable farmland; indeed the site of Bundish Hall Barns, with its moat surrounding the entire development, is included in the Schedule of Ancient Monuments of National Importance.
The homes at Bundish Hall Barns are now available for sale, with a guide price of £875,000 to £1.49 million. For sales enquiries contact City & Country Group on 01279 817882. Also visit website cityandcountry.co.uk.
Charles Church is selling Pipers Gate, a select development of just three individually designed homes situated in the charming village of Great Kingshill in the heart of Buckinghamshire. Only one home remains for sale, a Missenden style home which includes full carpeting and is priced at £714,995.
Each home at Pipers Gate features the trademark knapped flint detail for which Charles Church has become well known, and has been designed to offer an impressive amount of family accommodation. There is the bonus of a large hobbies room on the second floor which is ideal for a host of uses, from work to enjoyment.
On the ground floor there is a variety of reception rooms, including drawing room, study and family room, as well as the kitchen/breakfast room and the dining area with rear-facing conservatory. On the first floor you’ll find three of the bedrooms, which have been designed as self-contained suites; the fourth bedroom is served by a separate family bathroom.
To get more information or make an appointment to view call the selling agent on 01494 863134 or visit the website at charles-church.co.uk.
Crest Nicholson offers its select Montague Park development in Shinfield, which is located close to some of the finest countryside in Berkshire – the perfect setting to allow residents both the quiet of the rural life and good connections to surrounding towns. For those who want to touch base with the ‘real world’ it is less than four miles from Reading and less than a mile and a half from junction 11 of the M4. And Earley station is only three and a half miles away.
Montague Park features a selection of individually designed two-, three- and four-bedroom homes in this peaceful residential area just off Church Lane. Prices start at £199,950 for a two-bedroom home. Find out more by calling the sales office on 0118 988 5704.
Millwood Designer Homes announces its forthcoming development Copperfields in Tunbridge Wells, a collection of six detached houses in three-, four- and five/seven-bedroom detached configurations. These include Millwood’s renowned Yeoman styles based on farmhouses from the 15th and 16th centuries. There is also a collection of one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as three- and four-bedroom townhouses.
All of the homes will benefit from the contrast of highly specified contemporary interiors and traditional exteriors. Located on Bayham Road at the southern end of Tunbridge Wells, Copperfields benefits from a prime setting, with some of the homes even backing onto farmland.
For further information on Copperfields contact Millwood Designer Homes on 01732 770991. Alternatively, visit the company’s website at mdh.uk.com.