Community Spirit Helps First-Time Buyer At Cambridge Development

When Coco Xu, 29, moved to the UK from China four years ago, it was the attraction of a better quality of life and employment prospects that led to her move to London. 

Then, when Coco was offered a new job opportunity, the captivating city of Cambridge was her top location choice, where she found her very first home and a welcoming community at Ironworks, a unique collaboration between The Hill Group, Cambridge City Council and Cambridge Investment Partnership.

Coco, a private translator, previously lived in London before moving to a rented two-bedroom apartment in Cambridge in 2020. After experiencing the lifestyle that was on offer in the multicultural city, she decided that Cambridge would be the perfect location for her to purchase her first home – a studio apartment at Ironworks. 

Coco comments: “I had been working in the UK for a couple of years, when I had managed to save enough money to put down a deposit on my own home. I was lucky enough to be given some money from family members which further helped me, and I used the Help to Buy scheme so that I only had to provide a 5% deposit. I found the scheme so easy to use, especially for first-time buyers who have never been through this process before. I would not have been able to buy my own home without the Help to Buy scheme, so I’m really happy that I managed to use it before it ends later this year.”

Since moving into her new home at Ironworks, Coco has built a foundation of friends at the development, which has helped her to feel more at home. She comments: “My favourite part about my new home has to be the community at Ironworks, and the friends I have already made since living here. I have made friends with two neighbours closest to me, one of which coincidentally went to the same university as me back in China! We get together every week to do something, whether that is cooking at home, or exploring new restaurants along Cambridge’s famous Mill Road. Being so far away from my family back in China, it's such a lovely feeling to build a new network of friends at the development, so that we can support each other every day.”

Ironworks occupies a prime location in the centre of Cambridge, just a two-minute walk from the popular Mill Road. Coco explains: “The main reason I chose Ironworks was because of the incredible location. It’s so convenient – it’s close to the train station for when I go to visit my friends in London, and it’s also just off of Mill Road which I love. It’s the most energetic part of Cambridge, filled with restaurants and cafés – there is plenty to do. I go there almost every day! In Cambridge there’s no way you can get bored, even living here there’s always something new to do or explore, it’s such a great place to live.”

She continues: “I prefer living in Cambridge to London. The atmosphere here is professional, people are polite to each other, and there is so much to do. I regularly meet my friends at the weekends to take part in all kinds of sports together, from swimming to tennis. With my home being in the centre of Cambridge, it’s a great base to travel to different places across the city.”

Speaking of buying a home with The Hill Group, Coco comments: “I heard about Hill from a friend that purchased at a different development, and I have since have recommended them to further friends looking to make Cambridge their home. They provide high-quality homes that are stylish and are really well designed, and they ensure the buying process from start to finish is smooth and easy, which is especially important for first-time buyers like myself.” 

Prices at Ironworks start from £499,950.

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