Helicopter pilot makes a smooth landing at Earls Meadow in Wem

A career as an army helicopter pilot has taken David King and his wife, Pam, all over the world – so when the time came to settle down in a place of their own, they were looking for all the home comforts they could afford.

Fortunately, just what they were searching for lay only a short distance from RAF Shawbury, where 47-year-old David is now based, in the shape of George Wimpey’s beautiful Earls Meadow development in the village of Wem in Shropshire.

Having lived in Forces properties for most of their lives, David and Pam (41), were looking for a good-sized home where older children, Adrian (22), Lauren (22) and Stephen (21) – who all now serve in the British Armed Forces themselves – could come to stay when not on duty.

And with youngest son Harry (8) to think of too, they also wanted a place close to good schools.

“This was to be one of the main factors when choosing our home,” says David, “and we struggled to find what we were looking for through any of the estate agents.

“But then we took a look at the new homes at Earls Meadow and found just what we were looking for in a lovely village with a very good secondary school for Harry to go to in a couple of years’ time.

“In fact, we were looking at a different, smaller housetype at the development to start with, but found we could actually afford the four-bedroom ‘Jesmond’ design.”

David admits that he and Pam had held off becoming first-time buyers before now partly due to working abroad, but also because of high property prices. When prices fell, the couple acted quickly to secure a great-value home off-plan at the development, and have followed its build-progress over the summer, ready for their autumn move.

“Buying a first home has been very exciting,” adds David, who trains pilots at RAF Shawbury, an air force, army and navy combined base. “Although we are older first-time buyers, we were glad of the assistance George Wimpey’s staff gave us with the process, and of the opportunity to choose our tiles, flooring and kitchen design!”

First-time buyers who are also seeking to take advantage of today’s lower property prices can currently choose from a selection of homes at Earls Meadow, including one-bedroom apartments starting at only £98,950, and two-bedroom houses from £117,950.

The ‘Ashby’, for example, is an excellent choice for couples or young families, and features a spacious lounge/dining room with French doors to the rear garden, a contemporary kitchen and a cloakroom off the entrance hallway.

Upstairs, the landing leads to two well-proportioned bedrooms – one with built-in wardrobes and one with a generous storage closet – and a family bathroom.

Like all new homes available at Earls Meadow, the ‘Ashby’ enjoys a specification which includes gas central heating, double glazing and a fully fitted kitchen with built-in oven, hob and hood.

By choosing their home before it has been built, as the King family did, purchasers at Earls Meadow can select their flooring and carpets, kitchen finishes and appliances, showers, tiling, bathroom suites and lighting. Because many options are built in as each property is constructed, the earlier a property is reserved, the more choices there are.

Earls Meadow is a superb mixed development in a village location, ideal for parents searching for extra space for their growing family, those looking to move up the property ladder or for downsizers simply looking to locate to a more affordable new home in a friendly community.

Wem has shops catering for everyday needs on the doorstep and ample shopping, sports and leisure facilities available at nearby Shrewsbury and Telford.

For children, Wem is home to a primary school and a secondary school with sixth-form, while commuters will appreciate the town’s railway station provides services to Shrewsbury and Crewe.

The development also lies just six miles from RAF Shawbury, making it an ideal location for Forces families to settle down in a home of their own.

To find out more about the homes available at Earls Meadow, visit the Sales Centre, located at Bridgefields, off Orchard Way, Wem, and open Thursday to Monday, 11am and 5pm. Alternatively, visit georgewimpey.co.uk for more details.