This month FTB goes on the hunt with Zoe Davey and John Higgins who are looking for a new home for themselves and their young son in a rural North West setting, within commuting distance of Manchester
What they wanted…
After many years of living in busy cities, most recently Manchester, we want to settle down in more peaceful surroundings and with a quieter pace of life. We have a two-year-old son and would like to move and settle in an area before he starts school. John also has a great new job that means he’s largely remote and only needs to travel to Manchester once a month. I’m self-employed and have always worked from home, so we’re not hugely restricted by location. We’re both really social and are used to making a fresh start in a new area. We’d like to stay within commuting distance of Manchester as we have friends and family there, but other than that we’re really interested in learning about new areas and ideas of places to live. We would like at least two bedrooms, some flexible living space that will allow for working from home, and a garden, too. We’d like to be close to schools, a town or village and have good links to busier areas for when we fancy a faster pace of life.”
What we found…
The Mersey Connection
Ledsham Garden Village, Ledsham, Cheshire – From £315,000
Located on the edges of Ellesmere Port, this landmark development is superbly located, with the rolling countryside and the River Mersey just minutes away, along with speedy commuter links to Chester and Liverpool. The properties range from three to five bedroom houses, with energy-efficient Eco-Electric features. Surrounded by 150 acres of green space and with amenities to include retail units, a community hall and a primary school, this new community is designed to flourish. From nearby Capenhurst station, trains to Manchester take around 90 minutes.
What they thought…
This development is really impressive, we love the three-storey houses with the balconies and integral garages. There’s plenty of room for the family to have space as our son grows and we work from home. We have always really liked this part of the country – there’s an amazing mix of landscapes, with both the Mersey and the River Dee providing lots of interesting areas to explore and no end of fresh, country walks. Chester and Liverpool are both amazing cities, so we really would never be short of ideas for outdoor pursuits.”
The Period Styling
Woodlands at Round Hill Gardens, Congleton, Cheshire – From £330,000
The historic town of Congleton is just minutes from this new collection of two to four bedroom homes created in period styling to complement their surroundings. The development is proving popular with families, with houses selling quickly. It’s surrounded by stunning Cheshire countryside, while Manchester and the stunning Peaks are easily accessible by car. The houses feature open-plan living spaces leading to private gardens, utility rooms, well-sized bedrooms and off-road parking. Future plans for the area include a new primary school and shopping facilities.
What they thought…
This really is quite a rural location, which we’re up for experiencing! The homes are lovely – even in the two bedroom houses there are separate kitchen and dining rooms, meaning it would always feel spacious – and we love that there’s a good-sized back garden. There are quite a lot of amenities in Congleton, while Stoke and Macclesfield are an easy drive. But we’d essentially be in the countryside, which is something we’ve wanted for so long. Manchester is under an hour by car, which is perfect for John’s work.”
The Best of Both
Stonecross Vale, Winsford, Cheshire – From £55,000 based on a 25% share
of the full market value of £220,000
These contemporary two, three and four bedroom homes sit in the thriving town of Winsford in the heart of Cheshire. Residents here have access to the wonderful cities of Chester, Liverpool, Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent. Winsford itself is well-equipped, while the picturesque countryside trails of Whitegate Way and majestic landscape of Delamere Forest lie close by. At home, the properties feature a large living/dining area and lounge, plus well-proportioned bedrooms and contemporary bathrooms – there’s plenty of space for modern families to live and grow.
What they thought…
This is another really interesting location. John and I absolutely love walking and trail running, and our son also adores being in the woods, so this would be a good choice of areas for us in that sense. There are some really good schools within easy walking distance, which is obviously super important to us. Of course, the homes themselves seem great – and the energy efficiency features are a really positive selling point as we’re very much into conserving energy where we can – as well as reducing our bills!“
The Welsh Wonder
Llys Y Coed, Wrexham, North Wales – From £249,995
This new collection of two to four bedroom family homes is positioned in peaceful Rhosrobin village, just a few miles from bustling Wrexham city centre. And with the magnificent Welsh mountains and picturesque lower Dee Valley in sight, it’s an ideal home for nature lovers. The urban area around Llys Y Coed boasts a range of independent shops, cafes and restaurants as well as several well-regarded schools. The houses feature bright, spacious living areas, a downstairs WC, hallway storage, and an en suite from the main bedroom.
What they thought…
The houses at Llys Y Coed are just lovely – we really appreciate the light and bright living areas and it would be great to have so much space for us all. This kind of home is such a far cry from our current flat, which seems to be feeling smaller by the day. This area, on the Welsh border, is super appealing to us. Wrexham has a great deal to offer families and we love that we’d be able to strike a great balance between access to city life and having all that Welsh and Cheshire countryside conveniently at our disposal.”
First choice!
The Rural Ideal
Montgomery Place, Market Drayton, Shropshire – From £172,500 Based on a 50% share of the full market value of £345,000
The medieval town of Market Drayton is the site of this charming new collection of family homes. This part of Shropshire brings all the best elements of English country living together, with quaint tearooms, woodlands, canal walks, theatres and markets close by. The houses here have been designed with modern life in mind: the spacious kitchen/dining areas open to a private garden, while the downstairs WC and utility room with storage provide extra space. Buyers have plenty of choice here. Homes can be bought at full price via Tilia Homes. Or, to make things more affordable, Shared Ownership is available from HSPG, through managing agent The SO Hub, part of LSL Land & New Homes. Buying a 50% share of The Ashleworth four bedroom home could cost as little at £1,407 a month for the mortgage, rent and service charge.**
sharetobuy.com/developments/6531
**Based on Share To Buy’s mortgage estimate, provided by Censeo Financial
What they thought…
We have travelled through Market Drayton a few times before and always thought it was a pretty place. This is a really exciting offering for us – not only because of the lovely location, but the Shared Ownership option means we could buy a four bedroom home here! We think this would be ideal in terms of our set up: with our working from home and our son still at home a few days a week, it means we can have plenty of space, as well as room for family to visit. This is an amazing area for families, with some great schooling options and lots of interesting cultural events throughout the year. Travel to Manchester is around 1.5 hours by car, and that’s absolutely fine for John. We’d be really delighted to put down roots here – and love that we’re still able to get to Stoke-on-Trent and Chester for a fix of city life!”
The next step
“We have fallen in love with the idea of living in Market Drayton and hope we can make it a reality. We have begun to complete the steps and checks with The SO Hub at LSL Land & New Homes and aim to take a few weekend visits there to have viewings and really explore the area.”
First Time Buyer is an exciting bi-monthly glossy which takes a stylish and comprehensive look at all the options available, setting them out in an entertaining and informative way, and helping potential customers navigate their way through what is often a daunting and complex process. We dispel the myths, reinforce the facts and arm the reader with the tools necessary to make their homeownership dreams a reality.
