Armed Forces Scheme Helps Royal Marine Secure Home
Thanks to Barratt Homes’ Armed Forces Deposit Contribution scheme, David, a serving Royal Marine, has been able to secure a new home on the Isle of Wight.
David Jenkins, 47, is now living at St George’s Gate in Newport, with partner, Sue Ellen Gascoigne, 43, and said finding out about the scheme was an unexpected bonus.
He says: “I wasn’t aware of Barratt’s Armed Forces scheme until we were looking to buy on the Island, but it was a welcome surprise. The contribution meant that we had enough money to include all the extras we wanted in our new home, and we couldn’t be happier.”
The developer’s scheme, which is available to all military servicemen and women purchasing their first home, offers buyers a 5% deposit contribution, up to £15,000.
David adds: “It was a fantastic day when we received the keys! We couldn’t wait to see how everything looked, and we weren’t disappointed. Barratt had created our dream home, and we’ve been enjoying getting settled in over the last few months.”
David has been working in the Royal Marines for 22 years, and before his current role, he spent a lot of time travelling around with work and living out of a bag. He is now delighted to be staying put on the Island where he grew up, with Sue Ellen.
Sue Ellen, who works mostly remotely as a PA, had never been to the Isle of Wight before she met David. It didn’t take long for her to be ‘sold’ on its sandy beaches and holiday feel, however.
She says: “As soon as I visited the Island to meet David’s family for the first time, I knew I could live here. It feels like you’re on a permanent holiday!”
The couple is now settling into the Barratt development, surrounded by rolling fields and country walks, and are happy with their new life. To add to the joy, they are also celebrating having just got engaged, and are looking forward to some wedding planning.
David adds: “I grew up here on the Isle of Wight and it’s good to be back after 20-something years. It’s great to be close to the sea again as well as within easy reach of my family. St George’s Gate, with its perfect location, close to the coast, countryside and Newport town centre, is the perfect place for us to start a new chapter of our lives together.”
It is the developer’s two-bedroom Denford property which has become the first home for the couple. It has an open-plan kitchen and dining area, which leads through to a spacious lounge with French doors to the garden. Upstairs, there is a main bedroom with built-in storage, a further double bedroom, and a family bathroom.
Sue Ellen adds: “The Denford was good value-for-money, and it was also excellent to know that we had some more money in the pot to spend on extras. Our home looks just how we imagined it.”
Tammy Bishop, Barratt Homes sales director, Southampton Division, is thrilled that the housebuilder’s development is the new home for David and Sue Ellen.
She says: “With a selection of stylish homes and easy access to all that the Isle of Wight has to offer, St George’s Gate is a wonderful development. It’s brilliant to hear that David and Sue Ellen have chosen to move here, and I’m delighted that our Armed Forces Deposit Contribution scheme has helped them create their ideal haven. I also want to congratulate them both on their recent engagement – this is wonderful news, and I wish them all the best for their future lives together.”
St George's Gate is a collection of two- and three-bedroom homes surrounded by rolling fields and country walks. It is close to local schools and shops and is within walking distance of Newport town centre. There are excellent transport links around the Island and the development is only five miles away from East Cowes for the car ferry terminal to the mainland.
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