Buying a new home was no marathon for James

Fast-moving marathon-runner James Robinson has taken a big step up the property ladder by part-exchanging his house for a brand new place at Bryant Homes’ Woodlands Park development in Bedford.

With current property prices meaning there is a smaller margin to pay for those upsizing, the savvy Commercial Manager for Boxclever TV rentals in Bedford decided that now was the right time to make his next move.

Using Bryant Homes’ part-exchange scheme to race past those currently stuck in the property chain, he traded in his nine-year-old three-bedroom townhouse in Bedford, for a superb new five-bedroom ‘Kerscott’ townhouse at Woodlands Park.

“It was a natural step up the property ladder,” says James, “I was going to purchase a new property with a different house-builder, but I was able to part-exchange my old home with Bryant, which turned out to be a better deal and a bigger new house.

“In addition to giving me a good price for my old home and without the hassle of having to sell it myself, I received free carpets and integrated kitchen appliances, as well as a large shed for my new garden.

“And when Bryant Homes South Midlands read in the local newspaper that I was running the London Marathon for charity at the end of April, they sponsored me £150!”

Super-fit James completed the marathon in just 5hrs 1min and raised more than £3,000 for Prostate Cancer Research and Bedford Daycare Hospice, two charities close to his heart.

“My granddad, Ron Robinson, was diagnosed with prostate cancer a year ago. Fortunately he’s responded well to treatment and is doing fine now, while Bedford Daycare Hospice helped to care for a colleague when they had to have a cancer operation.”

With the simple part-exchange process completed, James is free to move to his new house when it is finished at the end of June, and is looking forward to living on the edge of Woodlands Country Park yet still within easy reach of the town centre.

He has chosen the bathroom and kitchen tiles for his spacious five-bedroom ‘Kerscott’ townhouse, and already planning to landscape his new garden complete with a vegetable patch.

Those looking for a new home on a bigger scale can currently choose from a range of four and five-bedroom houses at Woodlands Park starting at just £249,995, including the magnificent five-bedroom ‘Mappleton’ with double garage.

Boasting a large lounge and a spacious kitchen with dining area opening through French doors to the rear garden, the ‘Mappleton’ also features a separate formal dining room with attractive bay window to the front, a light and airy home office, a handy utility room and a cloakroom off the entrance hallway.

Upstairs, the landing leads to the five bedrooms, two with en-suite facilities, and a main bathroom benefiting from separate bath and shower cubicle.

Like all new homes at the development, the ‘Mappleton’, which is priced from £450,000, enjoys a high standard specification including a fitted kitchen with integrated oven, hob and hood. Customers can also choose a three-bedroom available from £205,995.

Bryant Homes offers a range of special incentives to help people get on or move up the property ladder, including part-exchange for current homeowners and the leading house-builder’s Marketmover scheme through which Bryant will find a buyer for the customer’s existing property and pay their estate agent’s fees.

Bryant can also pay the stamp duty and a 5% deposit on selected homes. Incentives are subject to availability and full details are available by visiting or phoning the Homes Consultant at the development.

Woodlands Park is conveniently situated just over a mile from Bedford town centre, home to shops, bars and restaurants catering for all tastes, while the development is surrounded by peaceful countryside, close to conservation areas and a stone’s throw from Priory Country Park – more than 200 acres of opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors, including walking, cycling, boating and angling.

For commuters, Bedford station offers mainline links to London St Pancras and the M1 and A1 are only a short drive away.

To find out more, visit the Marketing Suite, located off Tyne Crescent, North Brickhill, Bedford. The Marketing Suites’ opening times are Thursday to Tuesday from 9.30am to 5pm, or log on to Bryant.co.uk.