Posted 26 October 2020 by
Keith OsborneWhile working from home had become a new norm for some over the last few months, for others a more traditional commute is still of great importance for many people choosing where to buy a home.
Tiffany Sweeney and her partner Myles Bull have purchased a Redrow home at Ebbsfleet Green, part of the Ebbsfleet Garden City development in Kent, and are living with Myles’ dad at his home in Dartford while they wait to complete on their new home.
The decision to buy a home in Ebbsfleet was largely driven by its proximity to where Tiffany and Myles work, as neither of them are continuing to work from home. Ebbsfleet International to London St Pancras takes just 17 minutes on High Speed rail. Canterbury, Maidstone and the seaside towns of Whitstable and Margate are also within easy reach via train and car. The Eurostar also calls at Ebbsfleet International, providing connections to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam.
Though Tiffany had been working remotely between March and July, as a broadcast journalist, she was keen to return to her offices in central London once safe to do so. Likewise, as the franchise owner for Subway with a restaurant in Maidstone, Myles quickly returned to work after only six weeks of closures, able to continue its popular takeaway service.
Tiffany commented: “Though we reserved our home in January, before the Coronavirus pandemic escalated in the UK, it hasn’t impacted our decision to buy in Ebbsfleet in the slightest. We both travel to work and will not be working from home so selecting somewhere well-connected was hugely important to us. I commute into central London so being able to catch a 17-minute train to St Pancras from Ebbsfleet will be brilliant. Myles drives to Maidstone for his work, so its easy access to the A2 is ideal.
“Once international travel becomes easier, we will definitely make the most of having the Eurostar on our doorsteps, meaning we can jump on a train for a quick weekend in Paris, Amsterdam or Brussels. The ability to travel abroad so effortlessly is a real bonus, and a unique benefit of living in Ebbsfleet. The area itself is so new and up and coming, it feels like the perfect place to start a new chapter – one that doesn’t involve painfully long commutes!”
Tiffany and Myles are saving approximately £15,000 in Stamp Duty fees on their new home, which they are delighted about. The money saved is being invested back into their home as the couple are planning to use the windfall to purchase all their furniture, rather than having to save up again and purchase it overtime.
The Stamp Duty announcement was acknowledged by many in the industry as providing a ‘domino effect’ on the wider economy, supporting suppliers, subcontractors and consultants to the housebuilding industry, as well as boosting businesses supplying goods and services related to moving home such as furnishings, white goods and many others.
Tiffany explained: “We had saved the £15,000 Stamp Duty fees over a number of years and with some help from our parents. Having to put such a large sum of money aside for this was hard because it sucked up our entire savings and meant we were worried about having the necessary funds to furnish the home upon moving in.
“Hearing about the Stamp Duty holiday was a complete relief and has meant we can invest the money saved into furniture, various extras and upgrades via Redrow’s online platform ‘My Redrow’, and still have some money left aside for a rainy day.
“I spend most of my time in the kitchen, experimenting with different recipes and entertaining family and friends, so having a beautiful kitchen was absolutely key. Part of the money we have saved has been put towards high-quality worktops, flooring and a kitchen island. It has essentially allowed us to create our perfect home.”
Ebbsfleet Green is Redrow’s flagship development in Ebbsfleet Garden City, which will comprise 900 new homes once complete. To date, 442 homes have been built across several phases, creating a bustling new community with, a Co-op store, pub and hotel already open. In the coming years, a primary school will open, alongside a community centre and commercial space.
As the name suggests, Ebbsfleet Green is landscaped to create plenty of green spaces, with over 40% of the development designated as parkland or open spaces, including play areas, allotments and sports pitches. Prices on the homes remaining for sale start from £289,995 for a two-bedroom apartment, and £449,995 for an Arts & Crafts-inspired house.
Find out more about Ebbsfleet Quarter from Redrow.
Find retirement homes in Kent
Find Help to Buy homes in Kent
Find new homes in Kent