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Flexible Working Made Easy In Staplehurst

Posted 23 September 2020 by Keith Osborne

Michelle and Mark upsized to have a home office in a brand new house at Dickens Gate from David Wilson Homes...

Homebuyers’ priorities are shifting, with space for a study top of the list, and just one example is that of Michelle Bignell and her husband Mark, who decided to upsize into a four-bedroom detached home at David Wilson Homes’ Dickens Gate development in Staplehurst, Kent, this summer, with the fourth bedroom being utilised as a study by Mark.

Michelle and Mark have lived in Staplehurst for 14 years, after relocating from Dartford, Kent, in search of a rural location to bring up their children Luke, who now lives away from home at university, and Thomas. They were living in a three-bedroom house on the outskirts of Staplehurst, but decided to upsize into a brand new home at Dickens Gate thanks to its convenient location, extra space, and low maintenance offering.

Michelle commented: “The low-maintenance aspect of a new home really appealed to us, and it’s been fantastic moving in knowing that we do not need to worry about anything. We benefitted from very good incentives, which meant that carpets, flooring and lighting were all included – and we also had our Stamp Duty paid for!

“We have only moved five minutes away from our old home, but the location of Dickens Gate is so much better as it’s right in the village – everything we need is now within walking distance, rather than needing to hop in the car to drive to the local shops or train station.”

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Mark was regularly commuting to his job in London as an accountant during the week. Like many employees, Mark found himself working from home for an extended period of time – and is now likely to return to the office just once or twice a week.

“When we originally moved to Staplehurst, a big consideration for us was the connections to London. Luckily, Staplehurst is less than an hour from London by train, so it’s really convenient for when Mark needs to travel into work,” said Michelle. “For the majority of the week however, he will be working from home – and this is where our fourth bedroom comes into its own! Mark has a fantastic separate space to work upstairs, and we have excellent WiFi connections throughout the house, making working from home seamless.”

Dickens GateNatalie Perry, sales and marketing director at David Wilson Kent, remarked: “Unsurprisingly, we have seen a huge demand recently for larger family homes that can accommodate a work from home space – whether this is in the form of a traditional downstairs study, or creative use of additional rooms upstairs. Locations such as Staplehurst are desirable for commuters with flexible working arrangements, as families can enjoy a countryside lifestyle yet reach London directly in less than an hour.”

The Bignell family have strong roots in Staplehurst, with Luke and Thomas both attending school in the village. For Michelle, it’s the sense of community that make Staplehurst appeal. “When we had children, we wanted more of a country feel – and we love that about Staplehurst,” said Michelle. “The village has grown over the years, but it still has a village aspect to it, and there is a real tightknit community – everyone looks out for each other. Dickens Gate offers an extension to this community, and all the residents are so friendly.”

Dickens Gate is set in Staplehurst, Kent, amongst open spaces and retained wildlife areas, with play areas and allotments once the development is complete. The village itself has a number of local amenities, including a local convenience store, shops, local pub, small library, butchers, international cuisine, and a medical centre, with plans for a Sainsbury’s later this year.

The development is a 15-minute walk from Staplehurst railway station, from which London Bridge can be reached in less than an hour. Maidstone is around 25 minutes away by car via the A229, whilst Tonbridge is around half-an-hour away via the A229 and A21.

Currently available at Dickens Gate is a collection of three-, four- and five-bedroom homes. Prices start from £354,995 for a three-bedroom semi-detached family home.

Find out more about Dickens Gate from David Wilosn Homes.

 

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