An accidental discovery in the West Sussex village of Felbridge turned out to be the “forever home” of a family seeking to swap the noise and traffic of London for the peace and quiet of the countryside.
Alexandra and Ben Murphy had for several months been looking for a rural location to bring up their young daughter – without having to abandon their careers in the City where they both work as chartered accountants.
“We were looking for the country environment, but with an easy commute to the City, where we could bring up our daughter in a forever home,” explained Alexandra.
“We were looking in Hertfordshire, Essex and Kent. We just happened to see the adverts for Heath Wood, so when we were in the area visiting another development it was just convenient to have a look.”
Located on the edge of the High Weald, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the exclusive development of £1 million-plus properties is by award-winning Linden Homes.
The 11 executive properties are all five-bedroom homes, shared between two private addresses set back from a quiet country lane. Lavish fixtures and fittings sit alongside high quality craftsmanship.
“We were wowed by it,” Alexandra continued. “We drove in and thought the homes were very nice. Sarah, the sales executive, showed us the property we now live in – it’s huge compared to what we could get in London.
“We were worried it was too far from there to commute to the City, but we discovered it’s just 10 minutes’ drive from Three Bridges railway station from where fast trains go direct into London.”
It means that in the morning Alexandra and Ben can reach St Pancras International in just over an hour, Victoria in 59 minutes, and London Bridge in 39 minutes.
Having found the right home, the Murphys were able to move fast by using Linden Homes’ Part Exchange scheme, in which on qualifying homes the housebuilder acts as the guaranteed buyer – taking out the hassle of property chains and estate agents’ fees.
“It worked really well for us,” said Alexandra. “All the hassle is taken out. We were happy with Linden Homes’ offer on our old home – it was actually on the higher side of what we were expecting.
“I think what we particularly like about our new home is the size of the kitchen and living area. And we like new-build homes because there’s nothing to do, they’re very clean and you can do anything with them.
“Ben loves the big garden; we use it so much more than we did in London. He’s Australian and the house actually has quite an Australian feel. He loves to cook and we spend nearly all our time in the kitchen/family room.
“We did not know the area very well but everything is very convenient. There’s a Waitrose and a Sainsbury’s nearby, and there are lovely pubs and restaurants. It seems to be a very nice and friendly area.”
Alexandra, who has been married to Ben for five years, added: “We’re very happy. I hope we will be here for 20 years, at least.”
Andrew Reynolds, sales and marketing director for Linden Homes South, said: “It’s great to hear that Alexandra, Ben and their daughter are enjoying their new home at Heath Wood.
“The homes are exceptional and well located, so it’s not surprising that buyers are moving out of London to seek a better lifestyle that these homes offer with space, community and countryside on their doorstep. We hope that the family will be very happy here for years to come.
“There are, however, only three of these outstanding homes remaining at Heath Wood, so we would encourage anyone that is interested to get in touch sooner rather than later. Once they’re gone, they’re gone!”.
As with every Linden Homes development, each property comes with integrated kitchen appliances as standard, plus a 10-year NHBC warranty and two-year customer care warranty for peace of mind.
To find out more and to book an appointment to view the show home, call 01342 488 624 or go online.
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Media can contact Claire Oakley or Kelly Ward at Remarkable Content on 01962 893 893 for more information, images and interviews with Linden Homes.
References to “we”, “us” or “our” are to the part of the Vistry Group (including Linden Homes, Bovis Homes, Countryside Homes, Drew Smith, Vistry Ventures or one of Vistry’s joint venture companies) from which you are intending to purchase a new home. References to "you” and “your” are to the prospective buyer or buyers of a new home from us.
All images are used for illustrative purposes only and are representative only. They may not be the same as the actual home you purchase and the specification may differ. Images may be of a slightly different model of home and may include optional upgrades and extras which involve additional cost. Individual features such as windows, brick, carpets, paint and other material colours may vary and also the specification of fittings may vary. Any furnishings and furniture are not included in any sale. Please check with our sales consultants for details of the exact specifications available at the development(s) for each type of home and the associated prices.
