Couple find perfect home from home in Soham

When Ollie Raymond and Lauren Fordham began searching for their first property together, their top priority was staying close to their families’ homes in Soham, Cambridgeshire.

However, most of the second-hand houses for sale in Soham they viewed were either too expensive, or in need of costly repairs and maintenance that put them out of the young couple’s price range.

Fortunately for Ollie (22) and 19-year-old Lauren, their frustration was brought to an end when they found out about Taylor Wimpey’s Lion Mills development of new homes for sale in Soham. One look around the stunning ‘Weston’ showhome in Clay Street was all it took to convince them they had found the home of their dreams.

“We’re both very close to our families and didn’t want to move too far away so we were looking around for property in Soham, but couldn’t find anything suitable on the second-hand market,” says Lauren.

“Then one day we drove past Lion Mills and thought we’d take a look. As soon as we saw how beautiful and quiet the development was and how lovely the houses were, we realised this was where we wanted to live.

“We visited the showhome the next day and decided there and then that we were going to buy.”

Ollie and Lauren were so impressed by the showhome that they reserved a three-bedroom ‘Weston’ of their own. When they made the reservation last summer, they were given a projected completion date of May 2010 – but their new home was finished ahead of schedule and they made their move in February.

“We’re absolutely delighted with our new home – we love it!” adds Lauren. “Taylor Wimpey have been fantastic right from the start and the sales team and site manager couldn’t have been more helpful. Our whole experience has been perfect.

“Now we’ve found our first home we’re moving on to the next step in our lives, and we’re planning to get married!”

Three-bedroom homes at Lion Mills are currently available from as little as £154,995 – great value prices which explain why this sought-after development has been so popular among local people.

Three quarters of the homes sold so far have been purchased by existing Soham residents, with nearly half of all properties secured by first-time buyers.

The impressive three-bedroom ‘Hadleigh’ terraced townhouse is just one of the new homes now available to quick-off-the-mark property-seekers.

Priced from only £179,995, this spacious home features a large lounge/dining room opening through French doors to the private rear garden, a separate contemporary kitchen/breakfast area and a handy guest cloakroom off the entrance hallway.

Upstairs, the first-floor landing leads to two well-proportioned bedrooms and a bathroom, while the en-suite master bedroom enjoys appealing seclusion on the top floor.

The ‘Hadleigh’ also benefits from allocated parking outside and, like all new homes at Lion Mills, is completed to a high standard specification, including double glazing, central heating, fitted kitchen with integrated Symphony oven, hob and hood, and Porcelanosa wall tiles to the bathroom and en-suite.

To make choosing a home at the development even more appealing, Taylor Wimpey offers a range of time and money-saving incentives, including help with deposits and legal fees for first-time buyers, and assistance with finding a buyer for an existing property for those with a home to sell.

Incentives can be tailored to customers’ individual circumstances and are subject to availability, with further information available from the Sales Executive.

Lion Mills benefits from a wide range of amenities on the doorstep, including high street shops, a choice of supermarkets, pubs, restaurants and take-aways, while Cambridge, Newmarket and Ely are all within easy reach by road.

Commuters will appreciate that the A412 offers quick links to the A14 east and west, while Ely railway station provides a direct service to London Kings Cross.

For Ollie and Lauren, the location of their new home is ideal. Not only do they live within easy reach of their families in Soham and nearby Isleham, but they are also just a quick commute from work at Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge, where Ollie is employed as an avionic engineer and Lauren works as an administrator.

The Lion Mills Sales Centre is located off Clay Street, Soham, and is open seven days a week – from 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday, and from 1pm to 5pm on Mondays.