Why bigger is better for Basingstoke couple

When James Eardley and Claire Marden decided to sell their home and move south, they didn’t think they would be able to afford a much bigger home. But with the help of Bryant Homes, the couple traded in their two-bedroom terrace in Leeds for a brand new three-bedroom three-storey house at the Limes Park development in Basingstoke.

Using Bryant’s part-exchange programme, James and Claire didn’t have to worry about putting their old house on the market, and from first seeing their new place to moving in took just six weeks.

James (31), who works for business technology provider CSC in Aldershot, and Claire (29), who works for the snack food company, Mars, had stumbled on Limes Park by accident. “We found a couple of places to look at online, came down for the weekend, got lost and then saw the signs for Limes Park,” explains James.

“We saw the three-bedroom, three-storey ‘Grayshott Special’ townhouse, and we loved it – which is funny because it’s everything we weren’t looking for! At the start of our search we had said didn’t want a brand new home and certainly not a townhouse design, but when we looked inside we fell in love with it.”

One of the big attractions for James and Claire was the lounge on the first floor of their new home, with a big window to the front letting in plenty of natural light, and a Juliet balcony to the rear. The spacious kitchen is also on the middle level, with a further Juliet balcony which adds a delightful air to summer dining.

The ground floor comprises a cloakroom, a utility room and a third bedroom/study off the entrance hallway. A door also leads through to the wooden-gated carport.

The top floor features a master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and Juliet balcony, a second double bedroom and a main bathroom.

Like all new homes at Limes Park, James and Claire’s new home was finished to a high standard specification including central heating, double glazing and a fitted kitchen with built-in oven, hob and hood. Their home also had carpets, meaning they could move straight in.

“It’s completely different to how we imagined a new home would feel,” adds James. “It’s bigger than many new townhouses, with large windows and we really like the way wood has been used as a feature within the brickwork of the exteriors.

“We also love the setting of Limes Park – it’s a very green-looking development, with mature trees and old buildings which are being preserved among the new homes.

“Overall we’re very glad we found out about Bryant’s part-exchange scheme. It helped us move quickly to a perfect home that we never thought we would have been able to afford, and our mortgage payments have fallen with the lower interest rates. My parents are also trying to move south, and without the help we received, their house is still on the market.”

Customers can currently purchase the three-bedroom ‘Grayshott’ at Limes Park starting at £229,995, while the one-bedroom ‘Tadley’ apartment – ideal for first-time buyers and downsizers – is priced from £144,995.

Bryant Homes offers a range of tailor-made schemes to help purchasers move whatever their circumstances, including help with deposit, legal fees, stamp duty or removal costs.

Limes Park is in a sought-after, leafy residential area to the north-west of Basingstoke town centre on the site of the former Park Prewett hospital. Architecture of historic significance is preserved at the site, while new homes are specially designed to complement existing buildings, with extensive use of natural slate, traditional brickwork and timber-framed windows. As many materials as possible have been taken from sustainable sources.

The development will also include designated cycle routes, public open spaces and new bus services to connect with main routes and provide an alternative to the car for residents.

Limes Park Marketing Suite, off Rooksdown Avenue, Park Village, Basingstoke, is open daily from 10am to 5.30pm. For more information, log on to Bryant.co.uk.