Downsizer from Down Under finds 'home' at The Wharf

Jeanne Taylor knew she wanted to call The Wharf in Linsdale ‘home’ from the moment she saw it – even though she was thousands of miles away.

Jeanne had lived in New Zealand since 1987 but had been toying with the idea of returning to the UK following the death of her husband seven years ago.

“I made my mind up to come back to the UK and wanted to live around Leighton Buzzard as my brother and sister-in-law live nearby and the transport links are really great. I looked on the internet and saw that Redrow were advertising apartments at The Wharf. It was exactly what I was looking for but at the time there was nothing with a canal view,” Jeanne explained.

“I sold my house in New Zealand and came to England and started looking for a property. I thought I wanted an apartment but wasn’t sure if I wanted to give up having a garden.”

She visited The Wharf and was torn between two apartments – but opted for one on the first floor as she preferred its kitchen.

“It’s beautifully fronted, faces south and overlooks the parkland,” Jeanne commented.

“Everyone was really helpful and because I was a cash buyer I managed to complete within a month. It all went swimmingly.”

With some of her furniture being shipped from New Zealand back to the UK, the fact that apartment included white goods was a weight off her shoulders.

“I was going to sell my three-bedroom bungalow anyway and financially it made sense to come back – the exchange rate was right and I can claim my pension from my previous employers without exchange rate fluctuations. Because the apartment is secure and won’t need a lot of maintenance I can always go back to New Zealand for holidays for a few months,” Jeanne said.

“This place is really nice and because there are double doors out onto the balcony I can look out at the playing fields. It’s almost like having a garden without the work.”

Spacious two-bedroom apartments are currently available at The Wharf, priced from £154,000.

They feature open plan living spaces with contemporary fitted kitchens and the luxury of en-suite to the master bedroom.

Situated alongside the Grand Union Canal in the Linsdale area of Leighton Buzzard, The Wharf is just minutes away from a range of shops, pubs and restaurants, a good choice of schools. And if you want to get back to nature, there are the rugged heaths of the north and the rolling vista of Chiltern Hills.

It also enjoys excellent commuter links, with London just 30 minutes away by train.

For more information, visit the show apartment, open Thursday to Monday from 10am to 5.30pm.