It took 12 months, 28 property viewings and one gazumping before Polly Hughes found the right home to tempt her out of her beloved old house in the Hampshire village of Crondall.
“I am pretty difficult to please,” Polly smiles.
Polly’s challenge was to downsize to a home with enough character and atmosphere to replace her old house, but without the time-consuming challenges of its “massive” garden complete with small lake.
“It was a big wrench, but I’m not sorry I did it because I love it here,” said semi-retired Polly in her new three-bedroom property at Froyle Park, a high quality development by award-winning Linden Homes in the charming village of Upper Froyle.
It nearly didn’t go through, however. During her search Polly found a house she was prepared to purchase in Crondall – before being gazumped by another buyer. But she says now: “I’m glad it happened.”
She explained her requirements: “I knew it had to be a light, airy property and have a small garden, but it was also about getting the right feel. I think if it feels right, then it will be right for me.
“I never dreamed I would buy a new-build property; I have always lived in older properties. But this new one at Froyle Park blew my mind. I saw it before it was finished, but I have quite an imagination and I could see what the potential was and what I could do with it.
“It’s beautifully set out for me. It’s about 1,500 square feet and it has a feeling of much more space than that. It’s light and airy – it’s just a lovely, lovely feel. I felt like that even when the concrete was wet.”
Nevertheless, Polly made three viewings before she was ready to make up her mind: “On the third viewing I said I would drive home and when I got back I would call and give a direct answer – and of course that was a yes!”
The house Polly now owns – with her Tonkinese cat, Louis – is in the Franklin style which, like the other new-build homes in the village-style collection, is uniquely designed and draws on inspiration from the traditional, Hampshire architecture.
Settling in didn’t go entirely without a hitch, however. One week after picking up the keys Polly went on holiday to New Orleans. On her return, however, she “went into autopilot” and drove from the airport straight to her old house.
She added. “But it was so nice coming to somewhere new. The house is of the highest specification and has a wonderful finish, I can’t fault it. The layout is a big bonus – whoever designed this property got it perfect for me and, really, any family could live here.”
At Froyle Park’s heart is the sensitive refurbishment of Burnham House into homes. There will also be a local shop and a series of green open spaces, including a large meadow at the south of the site, which lies within the Froyle Conservation Area.
“I know the area very well,” said Polly, “so I just didn’t want to leave. There’s everything here: Upper Froyle is slap bang in the middle of two very nice market towns – Farnham on one side and Alton on the other.”
The same community spirit she enjoyed in Crondall – and still joins in with by volunteering for a neighbour support group there – is alive and well in Upper Froyle, where she and her other new neighbours were recently invited by villagers to a Christmas social evening.
Susan Whiting, marketing manager at Linden Homes South, said: “It’s great to hear that Polly is enjoying her new home at Froyle Park. The development has so much to offer and we hope she will be very happy here for many years to come.”
The rural location enjoys quick access to the A31 and proximity to Alton train station from where direct services reach London Waterloo in just under an hour and 10 minutes.
To find out more and to register your interest, call 01420 384 394.
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Media can contact Kelly Ward, Claire Oakley or Claire Cathersides at Remarkable Content on 01962 893 893 for more information, images and interviews with Linden Homes.
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