Retired couple head for the heart of town

Rather than escaping to the countryside to find a rural idyll to retire to, one couple from Camberley decided to head for the heart of the town centre to kick start their retirement.

Ralph and Sarah Sedgewick-Soderholm moved just half a mile from their existing home to be in a more central location in the town, from a four bedroom modern townhouse to a two bedroom apartment at The Atrium, Camberley’s brand new development by Crest Nicholson Regeneration Ltd.

Sarah, 56, comments: “We saw The Atrium being constructed and were quite intrigued about what it would be like to live in such a central spot. Nothing like this had ever been available in the town centre before and it was being built at the same time we were planning our retirement. After living in London for eleven years before moving to Camberley we have grown very fond of the area and didn’t want to leave. Living in a rural location really doesn’t suit our lifestyle.”

The apartment which Mr & Mrs Sedgewick-Soderholm purchased is on the fourth floor and has a balcony, fantastic for summer evenings. They also have access to a communal garden and courtyard which has just been completed and provides open space for home owners to enjoy. The couple have even given up their car with their move, as they plan to walk and use public transport, so easily accessible from The Atrium.

Sarah continues: “This development is absolutely ideal for us and it would have been very difficult to find anything that compares in the area. Our existing home was no longer suitable to our needs, so downsizing to a two bedroom apartment made perfect sense. We have all the amenities and entertainment facilities we need on our doorstep and are looking forward to making good use of all the shops and restaurants. Giving up the car doesn’t feel like a hardship living in central Camberley, the train station is within walking distance whenever we visit London for the day. I’m looking forward to all the exercise!”

Buying in the current market didn’t put the couple off either. They managed to sell their four bedroom house in less than a month with local agent, Romans, soon after putting it on the market in January, which meant they could move quickly to secure their new home at The Atrium in February.

Helen Boniface, Sales and Marketing Manager, Crest Nicholson Regeneration Ltd, comments: “In light of the current market, Ralph and Sarah have had a very easy and efficient move, showing there is demand for both family homes and apartments in Camberley. The Atrium is becoming increasingly popular with those who either no longer want to run a family sized home or simply prefer to trade down to release equity from their home to fund an enjoyable retirement. The Atrium is perfectly suited given its central and secure location, and also means retirees can enjoy their released capital."

The Atrium has brought shopping, eating and entertainment to the heart of Camberley where prospective purchasers will be able to enjoy a nine-screen Vue Cinema, 22-lane Bowlplex as well as an exciting range of cafes and restaurants including; Nando’s, Chiquito, The Real China, Bella Italia, Frankie & Benny’s, Prezzo, Starbucks, Café Nino and shops Next, SportsDirect.com, Laura Ashley and Esprit. Gold’s Gym offers state-of-the-art exercise equipment and a range of fitness classes and is walking distance from the apartments.

Residents at The Atrium also benefit from a designated car parking space for those who need to take advantage of its central location to commute. There are fantastic links to the M3 out of Camberley leading to the M25 and M4. Heathrow Airport is approximately 15 miles away.

Prices for apartments at The Atrium currently start from £173,500 for a one bedroom apartment and £214,000 for a two bedroom apartment. For further enquiries or to find out more about The Atrium, visit atrium-camberley.com.