Retired Teacher Finds New Lease Of Life In Bicester

Ashberry Homes’ Royal Retreat development in Bicester provided the perfect setting for Margaret Jordan, a retired teacher seeking to escape from the capital.

At the age of 74, she decided it was time to downsize from her large Victorian apartment in the north London suburb of Barnet and move closer to her family. She found just the property she was looking for in the shape of a two-bedroom mid-terrace house at Royal Retreat, just a short walk from where her daughter Emma lives. And she says the youthful feel of the family-friendly development has given her a new lease of life.

Margaret said: “I wanted to leave London and I wanted to be closer to my family. My daughter had been living in Bicester for the past year and previously in Oxford, so I knew the area pretty well. I knew I wanted a new-build as I didn’t want to have any extra hassle. I wanted a smaller living space with only two bedrooms so it would be easier to manage.

“A new build property is easy to maintain. My last property continually needed work doing to it, whereas this is ready to go, and you get the warranties and guaranties that come with it for peace of mind.”

Margaret chose the two-bedroom ‘Poppy’ house design, the last one of its type available on the development.

“My daughter used to live in a house with a very similar layout to this one, so I knew I’d like it and it would suit my lifestyle. I knew I wanted a downstairs cloakroom, a car port and a garden, and this property has all of those features. My favourite room is the living room, as it looks out to the garden and has sun all day long. The room is lovely and bright because of the outlook. I am still in the process of decorating the house, as I moved in during the pandemic, so I couldn’t have people come round and help. My family and friends are helping me with furnishings now, however.”

Royal Retreat appealed to Margaret because of its peaceful setting and convenient location just two miles from Bicester town centre.

“I like the layout of the development. It is tranquil and peaceful, especially compared to London, and there is lots of greenery and nice places to walk. The house prices are also a lot cheaper compared to London too. There is a bus station near by, the town is only a five-minute drive away, and it’s only a 10-minute walk to my daughter’s. Oxford is also easily accessible, and it isn’t too far away from London so I can go back and visit my friends.

“Everyone on my close has moved in and seems really friendly. I think I am the oldest on the development and I really like that there are a lot of young people and young families living here. There’s a really youthful feel to the area.”

Margaret reserved her new home last autumn and got the keys to her new property in March. She was only able to visit the development once before she moved in, as lockdown restrictions prevented her travelling up from London. However, she was kept fully up to date throughout the sales process by her family and the Ashberry Homes sales advisors.

Margaret said: “I bought the property off plan and my daughter and grandchildren took pictures and videos of the build process for me. They came on their bikes all the time and would send me updates from their phones. “Mark, the sales advisor, was excellent. My family were dealing with most things on my behalf, and he was very helpful with everything.

“All the people on site have been really good and if there’s ever been a problem it’s been fixed straight away, but the house has been very well built, so I haven’t faced many problems. Overall, I’ve had a very good experience.”

Ashberry Homes is building a range of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes for sale at Royal Retreat, off Vendee Drive. Prices currently start from £319,000 for a two-bedroom semi-detached property. Find out more at ashberryhomes.co.uk.

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