Reunited couple find new start at The Chase, Norwich

Almost 25 years after breaking off their engagement, Mark Powell and Tracey Brannigan got back in touch, fell in love again and married. The couple have now started their new life together in a brand new four-bedroom townhouse at The Chase, a David Wilson Homes development in Queen's Hills, near Norwich.

Mark, 49, and Tracey, 45, had been sweethearts whilst Mark was serving with the Royal Air Force, based at RAF Upavon in Wilshire. Sadly, their engagement didn't last, and Tracey moved to Swansea, where she worked as an auxiliary nurse, married and had three children. After leaving the RAF, Mark trained as a paramedic and moved to Norwich to work for the East of England Ambulance Service. He too married and had a daughter.

After Mark's marriage ended, he decided to look up Tracey on the Friends Reunited website and posted a message for her, which Tracey's mother spotted. When Mark found that Tracey was also single again, it didn't take long for the couple to rekindle their relationship. They decided to marry and Tracey agreed to move to Norwich.

Despite living hundreds of miles apart, finding a new home together proved surprisingly easy. Mark's work is based close to The Chase and, deciding to take a quick drive around the development, he very much liked what he saw. The Chase is part of the new Queen's Hills village, which is set in 86 acres of parkland, just five miles from Norwich, and has its own shops, recreational areas and primary school.

When Tracey looked around The Chase, she felt the same as Mark. She says: "I instantly loved the show home and was very impressed by the attention to detail. The surroundings are lovely and I felt that we would be very happy living here."
Mark was staying temporarily in lodgings, whilst Tracey owned a house in Swansea, which she sold. With the proceeds and plenty of support from David Wilson Homes, it took just six weeks for the couple to move into their new home.

Mark comments: "David Wilson Homes offered us a very good price on the house we wanted which included a fully-fitted kitchen and carpets. They even paid our stamp duty, legal and estate agent fees. The staff were very friendly and helpful, and they made sure that our special moving in day went really smoothly."

Mark and Tracey's new home is a light and airy four-bedroom townhouse, arranged on three storeys, which gives them plenty of flexible space when their children come to stay. The open plan living/dining/kitchen area downstairs gives a great sense of space, and there is a large separate living room on the first floor for cosy nights in. Their garden is surrounded by beautiful countryside and is perfect for relaxing in summer.

The Chase is tucked away at the back of Queen's Hills and backs onto a private woodland area, with plenty of wildlife to enjoy. Tracey comments: "We love the countryside and the peacefulness of the area, but everything we need is so close by, including a shopping centre and a big Sainsbury's just down the road."

Being just five miles from the extensive range of shops, bars, restaurants and cafés in Norwich is great for the couple's social life and, to make life very easy, a bus service every 15 minutes links Queen's Hills with the city centre. Mark says: "The bus service is really good or we can use the Park and Ride, which makes it very cheap to get into town."

Transport links from The Chase are excellent. From Norwich Station it takes just 40 minutes to Ipswich, where Mark's daughter lives, and if Mark and Tracey want to fly abroad on holiday, Norwich International Airport is only a 15-minute drive away.

Currently available at The Chase are three, four and five-bedroom houses priced from £189,995. David Wilson Homes is currently offering its popular Part Exchange Scheme. If you have an existing home to sell, David Wilson Homes can buy your property and put the value towards your new house. Part Exchange is quick, easy and saves the cost of estate agent fees and the HIP pack. You can even stay in your old home until your new one is ready. As an extra incentive, David Wilson Homes will even pay your Stamp Duty. Other incentives currently on offer include a five per cent payment towards your deposit.

For more information, log on to Dwh.co.uk.