When Emma Stretton first drove past the sign for a new Bellway development in the Staffordshire village of Baldwins Gate while on her way to visit her mum
When Emma Stretton first drove past the sign for a new Bellway development in the Staffordshire village of Baldwins Gate while on her way to visit her mum in nearby Ashley, she thought to herself, “I would love to live here.”
With its attractive village location and excellent road links, Baldwins Gate Grange might have seemed like the perfect place for Emma, 58, and partner Ade Cookson, 56, to buy their first home together.
However, the idea was not something the couple considered at the time – because their plan was to find a new home more than 20 miles away in Congleton, where they were currently living and which was close to Emma and Ade’s places of work in Knutsford and Brereton respectively.
But fast forward three years and Emma, who works in a risk and governance role for a major bank, and Ade, a precision engineer, are now happily settling into their new three-bedroom Thespian home at Baldwins Gate Grange – having become the first residents to move in at the development.
Things all changed when, having sold the three-bedroom semi-detached townhouse in Congleton which Emma had bought six years previously – and with all three of their children having now flown the nest – the couple moved in with Emma’s mum in Ashley while their search for a new house continued.
With their hunt for suitable properties in Congleton failing to bear fruit, and having acclimatised to their longer commutes, the couple widened their search – resulting in a visit to Bellway’s Baldwins Gate Grange.
Emma said: “Our intention was to move back to Congleton and we had put in an offer on a house there, but it needed a lot of work. When the survey came back we decided to pull out so we licked our wounds for a bit and then widened our search.
“I mentioned the Bellway development and Ade said, ‘why don’t you go in and see what they’ve got?’ So I did, and one of the Thespians was going to be available. We had viewed a Thespian showhome in Macclesfield so we knew it would work for us. It’s a really well-proportioned house, with three good-sized bedrooms, a kitchen-diner on one side and a good-sized living room. There’s a really nice flow to the house and it’s a very pretty house as well.”
Having decided that this was the house for them, the couple reserved their chosen plot. They picked up the keys to their new home on Friday 6 March.
Emma said: “When we got the keys it was so exciting. Olivia, the sales advisor, and Ant, the assistant site manager, made us feel really special. We got a hamper with a bird box and a trowel and they made a big fuss of us.
“It just felt like home immediately. Bellway were very accommodating – it was never a problem if we wanted to come and measure up for the curtains or carpets so when we came to move in, the home felt familiar to us.”
The couple’s friends and relatives have also been impressed by both their new house and the development when visiting.
“When people have come round they have absolutely loved it – the village, the location, the surroundings. Everything is neat and tidy and the development looks really smart even though there’s scaffolding up. People have also commented on how spacious, light and airy the house is. Even though it’s only a three-bedroom house it packs a punch for its size.”
One of the features Emma loves most about her new house is the spacious kitchen-diner, which is perfect for entertaining and family gatherings.
“I’ve always wanted a kitchen-diner with a nice large table. When I’m entertaining, I want to have enough space for my friends to sit and chat while I’m doing the cooking. In my previous house the dining table was in the living room and the kitchen only had space for two people. Here, it houses six to eight people easily and I can’t wait for Christmas so I can get everyone in there.”
The couple are also hoping that the solar panels installed on the roof of their new home and the smart heating thermostat will enable them to cut their energy bills.
Emma said: “Ade has been up in the loft and has been saying we need to use the dishwasher and the washing machine in the day because it’s costing us nothing thanks to the solar panels. The heating system is so intuitive. When it’s chilly it’s easy to control the temperature and gets warm instantly.”
Having settled into their new home, Emma and Ade are enjoying exploring the area with their two whippets Eric and Ernie.
“There’s a fabulous pub within walking distance and there are some really good walks in the area,” Emma said. “There’s a good butcher and deli in the village and a farm shop that’s not too far away. We are in the middle of the countryside but it’s so accessible for so many places. We are only about 10 minutes from major towns and the M6 is about 15 to 20 minutes away.”
They also love the woodland setting of the development and are looking forward to when the public open space opposite their house is completed.
Emma said: “There are quite a few woods around and because the development is in a dip, even when the other houses are built every single room upstairs and downstairs will have a view of trees. All the villagers that we have spoken to have said this is going to be a really pretty development when it’s finished.”
The couple received an incentive worth five per cent of the purchase price to make their move more affordable. The couple put down a deposit of more than 30 per cent, which has helped to keep their monthly mortgage payments at a similar level to what they were paying for their smaller house in Congleton.
Emma said: “We’re paying roughly the same for a much better house and a much better position. Out of my bedroom window now, I see trees – instead of a brick wall, which is what I saw before.”
Commenting on the customer service the couple received from Bellway, Emma said: “The team here are just brilliant. The site manager Ben has made sure that any inconvenience is kept to a minimum and even had fencing put up opposite the house so we didn’t have to look at a building site. Ant has been superb looking after us and Olivia has kept us updated every step of the way. I have complete faith and trust in them and I would have no hesitation in recommending Bellway or buying from them again.”
A selection of two, three and four-bedroom houses are currently available at Baldwins Gate Grange, with prices starting from £245,000. For more information, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/west-midlands/baldwins-gate-grange or call the sales team on 01782 491796.
