New homes in Basingstoke pass the quality test
Taylor Wimpey’s Limes Park development of new homes for sale in Basingstoke turned out to be the perfect choice for Rob Gibb, the son of Taylor Woodrow’s former Chairman.
After a lifetime connected to the building industry, the son of former Taylor Woodrow Chairman Sir Frank Gibb has found his perfect home – at Taylor Wimpey’s stunning Limes Park development of houses for sale in Basingstoke.
Rob Gibb was just ten weeks old when his mother first took him with her to a Taylor Woodrow construction site in North Devon to collect some house keys from his father, who was a site engineer.
Now aged 53, Rob is looking forward to the day when he can pick up the keys to his very own brand new four-bedroom Taylor Wimpey property in Basingstoke at Limes Park with his wife Kookai and nine-year-old son Ross.
Taylor Wimpey was formed in 2007 following the merger of Taylor Woodrow and George Wimpey – but it wasn’t Rob’s long-standing connection to the business that convinced him and his family to choose their ideal home at the development of new build homes in Basingstoke.
“I was, first and foremost, focused on buying a house suitable for my family, with no thought to company loyalty,” says Rob, reflecting on his search for new property for sale in Basingstoke. “My wife and I had been searching extensively on the internet across a wide geographic area, but few properties appealed.
“I was amused that the first house which seriously interested us was a Taylor Wimpey one. My first thought was: ‘Is the company's commitment to quality, customer care, and its passion for house-building as strong now as it was historically?’
“If that commitment hadn’t been there, I would have gone elsewhere without any qualms. However, the onsite team demonstrated in spades that the company's passion for housing is as strong now as it ever was. It’s still the company I’ve known all my life.”
Rob’s father, Sir Frank, spent his working life with Taylor Woodrow, starting as a graduate civil engineer back in 1948, working his way up to become Group Managing Director responsible for construction and civil engineering, Group CEO and finally, in 1985, Group Chairman.
His various accolades include the CBE and a knighthood as well as an honorary degree from Loughborough University, where he had originally graduated.
In 1987, he was elected ‘Construction Man of the Year’ by The Construction Surveyors Institute, reflecting his accomplishments on numerous challenges around the world such as, in the UK, a leading role in the construction of the Channel Tunnel, involvement in the UK’s first nuclear power station plus many more subsequently, and the building of tunnels, terminals and rail links at London’s Heathrow Airport.
Rob himself also worked for the company, spending some 15 years with Taylor Woodrow in media relations.
And although there have been significant changes in more than two decades since he left the company – the business is now focused solely on domestic house-building as opposed to major civil engineering and construction projects globally – he’s still convinced that its ethos and passion for quality remain very much the same.
“It’s obvious that Taylor Wimpey has a clear idea of what its customers want,” says Rob, who is particularly impressed by the amount of green space at Limes Park, giving his son ample opportunities to enjoy playing in the open air, and the rejuvenation of old buildings to retain an historic link to the Basingstoke hospital site, in keeping with the work on urban regeneration that Taylor Woodrow pioneered.
There’s also plenty of space inside the Gibb family’s four-bedroom property, which boasts larger rooms compared to those in their previous home.
Rob adds: “The layout is so much better than other homes we’d seen and makes really good use of space. Limes Park Sales Executive Sophie Jalunina understood what we were looking for. She said this would be the house for us – and she was right.”
Being able to choose from a stylish range of interior Options to turn their new house into a home has been another big advantage of buying at Limes Park, as has the reassurance provided by a two-year guarantee from Taylor Wimpey and a 10-year warranty from the National House-Building Council (NHBC).
“Now that I know that the fundamental principles of the past are still present, I have a lot of faith in Taylor Wimpey – I know we’re in safe hands,” Rob says.
Located on the north-western fringes of Basingstoke just two miles from the town centre, Limes Park is a popular new community comprising a wide selection of homes to suit buyers in a range of circumstances.
Three-bedroom houses are currently available to purchase at the development from just £269,995, while four-bedroom properties are priced from only £314,995.
Basingstoke town centre itself combines historical influences with bustling modern shops and exciting leisure pursuits, while Festival Place shopping centre comprises more than 150 shops, restaurants, bars and cafés.
The town is also home to a choice of music venues, multi-screen cinemas, tennis courts, a leisure park, sports clubs, an ice rink, a swimming pool and bowling alleys.
The open countryside is also just a stone’s throw away from the new homes, offering nature trails and opportunities for woodland walks and cycling.
For further information, visit taylorwimpey.co.uk.
