After 41 years living in the family home where they raised their children, Buckinghamshire couple Colin and Jackie Pettit were looking for a new property where they could be just as happy.
They found what they were looking for at award-winning Linden Homes’ Exemplar Park collection in Aylesbury – which is just down the road from where their daughter, Leanne, lives in another part of the wider Berryfields development.
Berryfields – of which Exemplar Park is proving one of the most popular neighbourhoods – boasts employment opportunities, a food store and 10 other smaller shops, plus three new schools, one of which will be a state-of-the-art academy.
The Pettits’ old house in Holmer Green, near High Wycombe was a two-bedroom property built in 1957. Since arriving at Exemplar Park in May, however, they have been enjoying their brand new three/four-bedroom end-of-terrace townhouse with the benefits of Linden Homes’ customary high quality, low maintenance and high energy efficiency.
“I am so pleased we did it,” said Jackie. “For us, what settled it were the cantilever doors at the back of the house and the large kitchen-diner. We just fell in love with it. I like everything about it; it’s not just one particular thing.”
From their old home, Colin (67) and Jackie (66) had looked after their mothers, but after they both died the retired couple decided it was time for pastures new and started their search.
Jackie explained further: “My neighbour of 39 years moved before we left and it broke my heart because we were so, so close. She moved to Kent but we didn’t want to go there so we looked around for somewhere we liked.
“We actually had our names down with another company at Berryfields and also looked at another company’s homes – but when we came to Linden Homes it was just spot on. I’m really glad we are with them.
“We have looked in this area before but when we came here we saw it was brand new and lovely. We came over here and met Andrew and Tina, the sales executives, and I thought, ‘Good – I like this place’.
“Colin used to be a carpenter so he knew what to look for and what not to look for. The person he used to work for did big houses so he knows about it. I was very impressed with the standard.”
Jackie added: “Aylesbury is a smashing town – especially as you get older. It’s a five-minute walk to the station and we only have to walk across the road to catch a bus. We have lovely people around us here and you only have to go a little way and you have open countryside.”
Aylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire and boasts boutique shops, cafes, restaurants and the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre which hosts drama, live music and comedy. It’s the reason a lot of families have been attracted to Exemplar Park.
The town is perfectly placed for commuters thanks to its proximity to two stations and journey times into London of about 65 minutes. The area enjoys good road links to the M25, the M1 and the M40. Milton Keynes and the city of Oxford are both less than 25 miles away.
Speed is of the essence for househunters keen to follow the Pettits’ lead and move to Exemplar Park. Buyers have been busy snapping up properties in the popular range of two, three and four-bedroom homes of houses left in the final phase.
Help to Buy has been particularly popular. So far 24 households at Exemplar Park have used the government-backed mortgage scheme which supports people with deposits as low as five per cent get on the property ladder.
Steve Garton, Linden Homes Thames Valley sales and marketing director, said: “We’re advising people to get in touch with us sooner rather than later to avoid missing out at Exemplar Park.”
For more information call 0844 417 8583.
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For further press information, contact Claire Oakley or Claire Cathersides at Remarkable Content on 01962 893 893.
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