We take a look at some exciting new homes in a very ambitious development.
With increasing numbers looking for a more balanced lifestyle, with more time for enjoying life, it is no wonder that developments bringing luxury and nature together are so popular. A good example of this trend is Fairfield Park, an imaginative project in Arlesey, Bedfordshire, near the Hertfordshire border. The scheme breathes new life into a former Grade II Victorian mental asylum and its 173 acres of grounds. The hospital was closed down in 1999 and became derelict, and is now the centre of a multi-million-pound scheme in which a consortium of builders will provide around 1,000 new homes.
The regeneration aspect of Fairfield Park is not its only attraction. Those who are tired of the thankless bustle of the city and keen to be part of a community have led the demand here; and this collection of homes is perfect for a lifestyle that makes room for the workaday world but also provides a contrasting experience that lets you recharge your batteries.
Fairfield Park, with all its natural beauty, also offers proximity to excellent transport links so residents really can have the best of both worlds. For commuters to London, Letchworth is a mile and a half away, from where regular trains run to King’s Cross (journey time approximately 35 minutes). There are also train links to Cambridge, Stevenage, Bedford and Luton. Meanwhile, motorists will be only two miles from the A1(M).
The new development is bringing about £4 million of investment to the local area, including a new lower school, the provision of a convenience store, a regular bus service and education contributions totalling £2.2 million. There will also be tennis courts, trim trails and play areas, in addition to the existing cricket and bowls amenities which have club membership facilities.
‘There is little doubt that Fairfield Park will be a great place to bring up your children,’ said project director Peter Sutton. ‘The whole design philosophy is to ensure that we create a strong sense of community.’
Educationally, the area is served well with pre-school, nursery, primary and secondary schools in Stotfold, Arlesey, Letchworth and Hitchin, as well as North Herts College, which offers further education opportunities. These nearby towns also offer a wealth of leisure, entertainment and shopping facilities, including cinemas, swimming pools, sports centres, golf courses, restaurants, bars and clubs. Transport-wise the area is lucky, with proximity to three mainline stations (Letchworth, Hitchin and Arlesey), which offer direct services into London King’s Cross and the North. And the major town of Stevenage, with its extensive transport links and leisure facilities, is within a 20-minute journey.
Bellway Homes is offering something special at Fairfield Park is Bellway Homes. Its Oakdene scheme presents 20 three-, four- and five-bedroom houses that offer not only wonderful indoor space but also ample opportunities to connect with nature. Set in mature parkland, the development has the advantage of offering plenty of space for everything from child’s play to ‘green exercise’, from quiet contemplation to brisk walks.
Cars are put in their place at Fairfield Park; necessary though they may be to modern living, a community is better served when the infrastructure of a community gives priority to cyclists and pedestrians. And this is exactly what has been done here; pedestrian walkways and a web of cycle paths throughout the mature parkland setting will enable residents to reach nearby Arlesey, Stotfold and Letchworth without the stress of being behind the wheel.
Chris Edginton, sales director of Bellway Northern Home Counties, says, ‘Oakdene has been designed to be in keeping with Fairfield Park and connect with the surrounding parkland area. The standard house design of modern living space will vary across the development with the use of reconstituted stone, generating a strong visual focus.’
Green policies are given more than lip service, Edginton points out. ‘Each house will have a water butt and water meter, compost bins, and bike storage facility, plus energy-efficient boilers and light fittings.’
Houses at Oakdene are priced from £330,000 for three bedrooms, £300,000 for four bedrooms and £400,000 for five bedrooms. All houses will have landscaped rear gardens. The marketing suite is open Thursday to Monday between 10am and 5pm. Call 01462 731580.
Twigden is another presence at Fairfield Park, and at its latest phase of development purchasers can choose from two-bedroom houses at £229,995, three-bedroom houses from £299,995, four-bedroom houses from £450,000 and five-bedroom houses from £525,000. The gatehouse show house has also just been released for sale, priced at £695,000; this includes carpets, curtains, light fittings, alarm system and beautifully landscaped gardens.
Additionally, one purchaser will be able to buy a six-bedroom Elizabeth house, an impressive three-storey home in a one-off design.
All of Twigden’s homes at Fairfield Park benefit from a high level of care and detail. And at this development which has been externally designed to replicate an urban Victorian landscaped, these homes give purchasers the choice between Victorian or contemporary interiors, according to house design.
Twigden’s show homes are open daily from 10am to 5pm, and a detailed scale modern enables prospective buyers to envisage how this attractive development will look on completion. For further information call the site sales team on 01462 684687.
Persimmon Homes is offering a variety of homes at Fairfield Park, including two-bedroom apartments, priced from £169,950, and three-, four- and five-bedroom houses. Three-bedroom houses start at £189,950, while four-bedrooms are priced from £307,500. Prices for five-bedroom houses are to be released soon.
The Persimmon sales office at Fairfield Park is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Call 0845 676 0189 to find out more.