PO19 - The desirable place to be

Chichester business-woman, kitchenware retailer Wendy Horton (41) has proved you can have your cake and eat it. She believes her new home offers a slice of heaven, after moving into her new house at Bellway Homes’ Cardington Place development on the edge of Chichester.

Wendy runs a successful business - the Chichester Cookshop - which she has owned for the past 7 years, so being close to work as well as finding a house she loved and could afford, seemed a tall order. But thanks to Bellway all three priorities were met and Wendy moved in November 2007.

When Wendy set out to look for her new home, PO19 was at the top of her wish list, the desirable postcode wasn’t the only reason behind her purchase: “I’m so pleased to be in my new home, commented Wendy: “I’m now just fifteen minutes walk from my shop and I’m finally in the thick of it, in the buzz of Chichester.”

Wendy was extremely happy with her purchase, as she explains: “I’ve lived in West Sussex my whole life but never in the heart of Chichester before. When I first came to Cardington Place, I liked the development straight away and it is so convenient for work. The show house caught my eye; the layout and the décor was very appealing and I reserved the exact same home, the Stoke - more or less there and then, with Bellway Homes paying the stamp duty and carpeting the home throughout.”

After selling her previous home, Wendy needed to act fast to find a new abode: “I came close to buying an older house, but realised quickly that I’d needed time and deep pockets for the maintenance and up-keep. I found the buying process quick and uncomplicated and was impressed by the Bellway Homes staff who advised me throughout the transaction.

“The Bellway team were very professional and friendly and certainly helped make this an easy move for me. The Sales Negotiator, Clare has been absolutely marvellous and very attentive.”

Homes similar to that purchased by Wendy cost from £279,950. Also available at Cardington Place are homes priced at £209,950 for a two bedroom house, three-bedroom terraced homes begin at £239,950, while three-storey homes are priced from £299,950 to 369,950.

Cardington place is a small enclave of two, three and four bedroom homes within easy reach of the heart of Chichester. The development has a range of house-styles to suit all tastes from two bedroom terraced homes to three-storey homes and the more traditional three-bedroom semi-detached home.

The development is well-served with several good schools, both the state and independent. The town has superb facilities such as the Westgate Leisure Centre with a state of the art health suite and spa, as well as a stunning three pool complex and water slide and an activity programme from toddler gym to over 50s fun club.

Chichester also has an excellent reputation for shopping with its pedestrianised streets throughout the town. In addition to Wendy’s own Chichester Cookshop, there are supermarkets, major high street fashion retailers as well as independent boutiques, cafes and cocktail bars plus restaurants offering everything from French cuisine to those specializing in fish and game. For guaranteed entertainment The Chichester Festival Theatre offers a packed and wide-ranging programme all year round.

Standing between the South Downs and the sea, Cardington Place is within easy reach of picturesque villages like the Lavants to discover as well as places to walk, picnic, and enjoy panoramic views - on a clear day as far as the Isle of Wight. Golfers will find Chichester's 18 hole golf courses on the South Downs and close to the West Sussex coastline the perfect place to unwind. With the second largest marina in Britain and a thriving yachting community, the relaxed ebb and flow of marina life is on hand for sailing enthusiasts and those just enjoying a Sunday morning stroll, while faster paced action is on hand at Goodwood Racecourse.

Chichester also has 117 acres of land including parks, gardens, ponds, sports pitches and a local nature reserve. Many of the district’s parks and green spaces are within Chichester, although some are situated outside of the City, for example, South Pond and St Anne's Hill at Midhurst and East Beach at Selsey.

For those who don’t work in Chichester, Cardington Place offers great commuter transport links too. Chichester railway station is just under two miles from the development and has direct links Brighton, London Victoria via Gatwick, Portsmouth and Southampton. For motorists the site is also convenient for the A3, M27 and A27.

For further information on homes available at Cardington Place, visit Bellway.co.uk.