Commuter creates dream home with an off-plan property in Stanion

Working in London has made Donna Vanni value the village life she enjoyed while growing up in Northamptonshire – and so she knew exactly what she was looking for from a new home.

The Executive Secretary for Ernst & Young commutes daily to the South Bank, but sought a tranquil, community lifestyle in which to spend time away from the office – something she discovered at George Wimpey’s new South Wood development in Little Stanion, Northants.

Having reserved a three-bedroom ‘Carrick’ home off-plan at South Wood, 42-year-old Donna also had the chance to choose her interior designs, including carpets and flooring, the kitchen, bathroom suites and tiling – which were all fitted before her move.

“I had lived in a three-bedroom townhouse at Oakley Vale in Corby since 2005, but having grown up in a Northamptonshire village I really missed that lifestyle,” she explains.

“It was my mum who told me about George Wimpey’s new development at Stanion and I was impressed by the plans for the new village; the shops and amenities that are being built to serve the new homes, and by the fact that the number of homes is limited, so it won’t ever feel like a massive development.

“I’ve also met some of the other people living here and there is a lovely community spirit – it’s the sort of place where you can get to know your neighbours.”

When the three-bedroom, two-storey ‘Carrick’ house became available to purchase, Donna jumped at the chance – even though not one brick had been laid when she made her reservation.

“Although there wasn’t a ‘Carrick’ showhome at South Wood, I was able to see inside the layout of my home at George Wimpey’s Poppyfields development in Corby,” she explains.

“I’ve also been going around lots of showhomes seeking ideas for the interior design of my new place, and have gone for a scheme similar to one I saw at George Wimpey’s Appleton Gate development!”

“Being able to choose the interiors has been an exciting aspect of buying a home off-plan. I’ve moved around quite a lot in the past few years, but this time I decided I wanted to create a home rather than just live in a house as this is a place I want to live for a long time.”

With commuting keeping her busy, Donna has been delighted with George Wimpey’s hassle-free Easymover scheme, through which the leading housebuilder organised the valuation and sale of her old home in Corby, finding a buyer in just six days and arranging solicitors.

She also used George Wimpey’s bespoke House2Home service, comprising free removals, full packing and unpacking and insurance cover.

South Wood will comprise 179 properties from George Wimpey’s new Country Range of high quality homes, with selected designs benefiting from en-suite bathrooms to the master bedroom.

Properties currently available at the development include one-bedroom coach houses, and two, three and four-bedroom houses, with prices ranging from £89,995 to £214,995.

Set in the Northamptonshire countryside and yet within easy reach of Corby and Kettering, the village is a joint venture co-ordinated by BeLa Partnerships and is interspersed with green spaces and ponds, and served by a range of new community facilities.

These will include a small primary school, a square of shops and amenities, recreation areas, paths, cycleways and bus routes. It will also be in the catchment area for the new Business Academy at Priors Hall, Corby.

Corby is just three miles away, where £60 million investment is providing new shopping, leisure and cultural facilities, schools, colleges and thousands of jobs.

Corby and Kettering Railway stations offer direct rail services to London St Pancras.

To see the showhomes and find out more about purchasing a property off-plan at South Wood, visit the development off Longcroft Road, Stanion, open daily from 10am to 5pm.

Alternatively, further information is available online at Georgewimpey.co.uk .