Seaside locations have long been a prime spot for retirees to spend their newfound free time, with St Ives named the most envied place to live in the UK. However, one couple is bucking the trend, having chosen to give up their dream retirement of the sandy beaches and salty air of Cornwall to head inland, swapping coast for country at City & Country’s Burderop Park in Chiseldon, Wiltshire.
The Cornish retirement dream for Dave (77) and Rita (71) Fenwick ended in an eye-opening moment, when they realised just how far away their ‘forever home’ in Truro was from the rest of the country. After eight years spent away from their children and grandchildren, the couple cast their gaze back eastwards and began again the search for the perfect retirement home.
“We had spent so much time visiting Cornwall throughout our lives, we opted to move there from Shropshire as the ‘final’ retirement destination for us.” Dave explains. “While we loved living close to the coast, we couldn’t deny the obvious. With our children and grandchildren scattered across Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, we had placed over two hundred miles between us and them. We were missing them terribly.”
The couple decided that their retirement dream was no longer the perfect fit and opted to make one more move. Dave adds: “We began researching countless areas further east, with an aim to find a location that was within two hours from family. From Bath to Telford, from Devizes to Coventry, we really struggled to find somewhere that fit the bill. Eventually it was Rita who saw a video of George Clarke visiting Burderop Park in Wiltshire, and after visiting the development the decision was made.”
Dave continues: “We chose Burderop Park first and foremost so we could be closer to family. Once, it took us seven and a half hours in the car to travel up from Cornwall. We eventually had to stop and ask ourselves; do we really want to be dealing with this constant battle of time and navigation up the M5?”
Location was not the only selling point for the couple. They were also attracted to the community feel at Burderop Park, including the vast village green, contemporary finishes and the styles of homes available across the collection. Burderop Park has offered the perfect location for the couple to be nearer to loved ones, whilst not comprising on the things that matter the most to them in a home; space to entertain, amenities nearby and nature right on their doorstep.
“We wanted a place that felt central, with access to lots of different locations. Living in Cornwall, once you’ve done places like Newquay, Padstow and St Ives, you feel as if you’ve pretty much seen all there is to be seen down the coast.” Dave adds. “Here, we’re so close to so many places – we’ve been to Bath, Oxford and Cheltenham, and we’re not far from spots like Swindon and Marlborough for shorter trips. We also have the North Wessex Downs on our doorstep. You could be doing something totally different each weekend, which is amazing.”
Swapping a three-bedroom, three-storey townhouse for a more manageable three-bedroom semi-detached home, Dave and Rita wanted to ensure their home wouldn’t be restrictive as they got older. The couple decided on The Maple housetype, which offered the perfect layout without compromising on square footage or number of bedrooms compared to their previous home in Truro.
“We love the open-plan layout of the downstairs. The large kitchen and living area means we have space to entertain our family and become the central hub to host all our children and grandchildren without having to worry about travel times. Our son-in-law walked in the other day and just said ‘Wow… What a great party room!’ We’re excited to have them all together for our next family gathering.” Dave added.
The move has not only served as an opportunity for the Fenwicks to spend more time with immediate family, but also offered a chance for connection with friends, old and new.
“Having raised our kids in Oxfordshire, we have many friends living nearby that we have been able to pick up with, particularly over a few rounds of golf. As passionate golfers, the wide choice of courses in the area was another major factor in our decision choosing Burderop Park.
“On top of reconnecting with old friends, we’ve even managed to make some new ones! There’s such a great community spirit at Burderop Park. Recently we all shared some wine on the communal green and got to know each other. It’s great mix of both young and old, so it really does feel like a proper little community here.” Rita concludes.
Burderop Park is now 90% sold with one two-bedroom coach house and a handful of three-bedroom terraces remaining. Prices start from £350,000 for a two-bedroom coach house.
To find out more about Burderop Park, please visit http://www.cityandcountry.co.uk/ or call 01793 384 621.
[1] https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/1956216/best-seaside-town-lifestyle-uk