When first-time buyers Lisa and William Lupton began house-hunting, they knew they were looking for something special. They weren’t looking for simply a first step onto the property ladder, but a house that would be their forever home. The couple found what they were seeking at Westcombe Park, a new garden village in Heybridge, on the outskirts of Maldon in Essex.
Created by award-winning developer Countryside Homes, Westcombe Park is a 418-acre development surrounded by ancient woodland and open green spaces. The semi-rural location was a key part of the appeal.
Lisa explains: “We wanted a location that would work for the whole family – not just for William and I but for our son, Alex, and our dog, Bear. At Westcombe Park, there are so many places to take Bear on walks and all of the local pubs, restaurants and cafés are dog-friendly. Alex has ADHD and is autistic, and has a particularly special bond with Bear, so we love that the four of us can do so much together locally. It will be great to be here as the green open space, park and nature reserve develop over the coming years ahead.”
The family purchased a three-bedroom semi-detached home with a garage, en-suite to the main bedroom, family bathroom and cloakroom. They are delighted with the quality of the home and its open plan design. They are enjoying having so much space and plan to use the third bedroom as a study. 12-year-old Alex, in particular, loves the sizeable garden, where he practices his football skills. Lisa has also been impressed with the property’s energy efficiency.
She comments: “Our home is really well insulated and as a result, our energy bills are low. We haven’t turned the heating on yet, despite some intensely cold weather this winter and have even opened the windows during cold spells.”
Lisa and William were among the first people to secure a new home at Westcombe Park, which provides houses with between two and five bedrooms, to suit a range of families and needs. The phased community will be home to 1,035 new homes in total, 30% of which will be affordable. There will also be a range of new community facilities, with plans for a neighbourhood centre featuring a nursery ,primary school, shop and health care facility, as well as parks, play areas, sports pitches and allotments. Footpaths and cycleways will crisscross the development, encouraging an active lifestyle and greener travel.
“We moved into Westcombe Park in December 2023, after exchanging at the end of November,” comments Lisa. “We were one of the first families to move in and there are still only around a dozen households here. It’s lovely to have a community growing around us and we’re enjoying watching the development grow as construction continues. We plan to record the weekly progress – Alex is taking lots of photos.”
Lisa and William married back in 2007. They lived in rental properties in Kent initially and then in Essex, including in Harlow, Loughton and Chelmsford. Buying a home at Westcombe Park worked well for their local connections to the area. Alex goes to school in Plume Academy in Maldon, rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted in November 2023. Lisa and William, meanwhile, both have an easy commute to work.
For Lisa, her working week is split between home and the City. A senior assistant at a Dutch agricultural financial institution, she works from home three days per week, then catches the train from Witham train station into London Liverpool Street twice weekly – an easy journey of 35-40 minutes.
William also splits his time between home and the office. A facilities manager, he works in Shoreditch for three days each week and from home for two – with travel around the UK and Ireland thrown in for good measure.
The family have all been impressed with their stylish new home at Westcombe Park – even Shih Tzu cross Bear – and are enjoying settling into the development. They look forward to getting to know their neighbours as the community grows. Lisa was also delighted with the service provided by Countryside Homes, commenting:
“The Countryside Homes team have been amazing. From the sales consultant to all of the on-site team, they have been really accommodating and welcoming. It feels like nothing is too much trouble for them – like every aspect of buying our forever home was just meant to be.”
For further details, visit westcombe-park.homes
