All Boxes Ticked For Car Enthusiast At Hemyock Development

Retired car enthusiast Stephen Thorne was so impressed with Cavanna Homes’ plans for energy-efficient homes at Oak Mount in the mid-Devon village of Hemyock, that he had reserved a property within 45 minutes of meeting with the sales advisor.

The 71-year-old has now moved into his new three-bedroom ‘Steeperton’ property at Oak Mount, which has an all-important garage for his beloved kit car, and plenty of space for his other hobbies.

Stephen explains: “I have a bright red JBA Falcon kit car, called Gwendolyn, so I needed somewhere I could safely store her during the winter months, so the garage was a must-have for me. I’m also a keen photographer, so having a three-bedroom home means I have space to work on my photos, without having to clear the space for when visitors come to stay.”

After living in the small rural hamlet of Tincleton in Dorset, Stephen was keen to move to a place that offered the peace and intimacy that countryside living has to offer, but with local amenities close by. He says: “Oak Mount ticked all the boxes for me. The local shops and pub – which serves an excellent Sunday roast - are within walking distance as well as the village community centre where I’ve joined the weekly yoga sessions. It’s also only a 20-minute drive to Taunton where I attend a photography club.”

Residents at Oak Mount benefit from a shop, pub, post office, a doctors’ surgery and pharmacy, plus a community centre and sports field, all within walking distance of the three- and four-bedroom homes. Exeter and Taunton are easily accessible via the M5, and Tiverton Parkway Train Station is a 25-minute drive away and provides parking and services to Penzance, Bristol, London and beyond.

Stephen adds: “As a keen walker and explorer, the development is in an ideal location. It’s within the Blackdown Hills, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), so there’s plenty of beautiful walks and places to visit close by.”

The prospect of moving into a new home which didn’t need any DIY or refurbishments was a big appeal to Stephen, as well as the green benefits of living in a modern new build. Every home at Oak Mount is installed with an air source heat pump, high-quality wall and loft insulation and double glazing as standard. Stephen notes: “I’ve gone from living in the dark ages with oil and electric, to the space age with efficient insulation, double glazing and an air source heat pump!”

Stephen describes Oak Mount as a “development that breathes”. On the 40 homes, he adds: “The intimacy of the scale is a real attraction. The houses have been cleverly designed to stand the test of time and have taken inspiration from the local vernacular with the use of materials such as flint and brick. It makes it a very special place to call home.”

After creating a bucket list on his 70th birthday that included settling into a new home, Stephen says: “It’s been great to tick another item off my list! I love my new house and my new neighbourhood – there’s a fantastic community spirit and everyone is so friendly and welcoming. The staff and contractors have been solution orientated, really professional and the site is kept clean and tidy, so you’d hardly know it is a live development site. I’m looking forward to making many new happy memories here in my new home.”

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