Upsizing to an energy efficient home at Clarion Gate
Having lived in their 1950s three-bedroom house in Upminster for 24 years, David and Janet Long were more than ready for a change. As a result of issues they had experienced with their existing house, they were determined that they would only buy a new home. A four-bedroom townhouse at award-winning developer Crest Nicholson’s Clarion Gate development in Chelmsford fitted the bill.
David Long, a construction project manager, said: “Although it was lovely, our previous house was so cold. It had no insulation at all so it would be terribly cold for a good eight months of the year. The lack of insulation made it very expensive to run and we didn’t want to continue spending money on energy bills. This was one of the main reasons we decided to buy a brand new house. They tend to be far better insulated than older houses, are better designed and more energy efficient. Also, you don’t have the added aggravation of fixing anything if it breaks which can tend to happen quite regularly in older houses.
“We had first looked at Clarion Gate a couple of years ago, not too long after construction started, but it wasn’t the right time for us to move. We had really liked it though so, when we were in a position to move, we came back to see it again. Quite a lot more had been built since we last saw it. The development was even better than we remembered and we loved it even more.”
Janet Long, an underwriter, continues: “Our house is fantastic – really spacious and light. As a townhouse, the kitchen/dining room is situated on the ground floor and there is access to the garden through French double doors, while the L-shaped living room, bathroom, bedroom and shower room are located on the first floor. I love the living room. It’s very spacious and has a double aspect which is great. It makes the room so light.
“The remaining three bedrooms, including one which has an ensuite bathroom, make up the top floor. Being arranged over three levels makes the house seem even larger so the sense of space is wonderful.
“We are also very happy with the development as a whole. It is extremely attractive thanks to the large mixture of apartments and houses available. It really doesn’t look like a traditional development where the houses are all the same and uniform. A village green has recently been created which is great. It is a lovely focal point of the development and adds even more greenery and communal space to the development. We had looked at other new developments nearby but nothing was on a par with Clarion Gate; it really stood out against the rest.”
“The location is also very good,” concludes David. “My commute is only 10 minutes longer than previously so it takes about 45 minutes in total which is fine. There is a bus stop directly outside the development which goes to the train station so my journey to and from work is very easy. Janet works in Chelmsford so it’s ideal for her. There are also some shops nearby which are a real bonus; we didn’t know they were there until we moved in so that was a great surprise.
“With more space, a far more efficient and well-designed home all set in a great location with the countryside just 10 minutes away, we are delighted we made the move to Clarion Gate. We have a far better quality of life than ever before.”
The Village Green is the current phase at Clarion Gate which comprises an attractive selection of traditional style village homes, from pretty two and three-bedroom cottages to four-bedroom detached family homes. Many homes overlook The Green, a large open area in the centre of the development where there are plans to build a children’s playground which will be completed by the end of this year.
In total, Clarion Gate comprises an elegant collection of 153 traditional and contemporary styled apartments and houses. All homes come with at least one parking space and, inside, fully-fitted kitchens feature a comprehensive range of integrated Bosch appliances including an integrated fridge/freezer and stainless steel oven, hob and extractor hood, easing the burden of starting from scratch.
Nearby Chelmsford Station provides fast and efficient services to London Liverpool Street taking approximately 35 minutes. Alternatively, the A12 is just a short drive from the scheme and provides direct routes south to the Capital and Colchester to the north.
Two-bedroom apartments priced from £188,000 and three and four-bedroom houses priced from £292,500 are currently available at Clarion Gate. For further information about buying a home at Clarion Gate, visit crestnicholson.com.
