Finding our Dream Family Home in the Bedfordshire Countryside
July 2021
Having rented close to their family in Bedfordshire for the past 9 years, Darren and his wife, Christine, were eager to find a permanent home in the region to suit their young family’s needs. Looking to upsize in the thriving local area they already called home, finding somewhere with ample outdoor space for their two young children was top of their list of priorities.
Darren comments: “When we initially started looking for our new home, we weren’t convinced a new build property was for us, but how spacious and high-quality L&Q’s Shared Ownership homes could be, our heads were turned, and we knew instantly that L&Q at Willow Grove was the right choice. For us, it was the size of the garden which really stood out – we actually ended up choosing a slightly smaller house because we were so impressed with the generous outdoor space!”
Darren and Christine have recently bought 60% share of a 3 bedroom semi-detached house through L&Q’s Shared Ownership scheme at L&Q at Willow Grove, Bedfordshire.
At the start of their search, the couple viewed multiple show homes across the four garden villages that make up the blossoming new town of Wixams, in the heart of the Bedfordshire countryside. Covering a vast 750 acres site, the ambitious scheme will deliver 4,600 new homes, new commercial and retail facilities and an impressive 300 acres of parkland.
After discussing their options to live in Wixams with the on-site sales team, Darren and Christine were pointed towards L&Q’s recent launch of Shared Ownership houses in Willow Grove, one of the four new villages at Wixams.
Speaking about the different properties available at L&Q at Willow Grove, Darren says “It was great to be able to see the range of housing options available at L&Q at Willow Grove – including semi-detached two and three bedroom houses – allowing us to really compare the different layout choices and room sizes to then pick our home based on our family’s needs.”
Eager to move into their new home before Christmas, Darren and Christine spoke frequently with L&Q’s sales team to ensure a smooth buying process, enabling them to get into their new property quickly before the festive season.
“The whole buying process went incredibly smoothly. There was a bit of back and forth sorting out our application, but the L&Q sales team were really helpful which made the whole thing completely hassle-free.”
After five months of settling in, Darren explains how living at L&Q at Willow Grove has been for the family so far:
“One of the main draws of living at L&Q at Willow Grove was the location. With Christine’s family just down the road, it’s been wonderful to only be a short drive for the kids to see their grandparents, whilst still being an easy commute into the centre of Bedford.”
“For us, the real benefit of a new build property was that everything was fitted ready for us to move straight into, including our integrated kitchen appliances and modern bathroom fixtures. The home was a blank canvas for us to put our stamp on, and we’ve been able to really enjoy unpacking and decorating! The best part is that the kids now finally have their own rooms – they both love it!”
Commenting on the local area, Darren says:
“We are already feeling incredibly settled at Willow Grove – there is a really friendly community atmosphere and we have already met our neighbours. There are also lots of other families living around us which is great for the kids to socialise with other young people their age, and the playground, ponds and green areas on site are fantastic spaces for them to play.”
“Our children are also involved in drama and football clubs in the local area, which we can easily reach from Willow Grove. It was incredibly important for us to that our new home was well-located and offered enough space for our young family.”
