First time buyers choose buzzing Bristol
Former Bristol University students Daniel Carter and his girlfriend Kelly Salcombe, both 29, had been living in the city since 2011, before deciding that it was time to put down roots a decade on.
Daniel moved to Bristol from Wolverhampton, whilst Kelly was originally from Gloucester. The couple decided to stay in the city after graduating in 2014, enticed by its convenience, the social life, and the career prospects, all of which have fuelled a growing population of young professionals.
Earlier this year they were able to get on the property ladder at City & Country’s development, Factory No.1. They discovered the heritage house builder following a recommendation from friends who had bought a few years prior at City & Country’s other development in Bristol, The General.
Daniel explains: “We had been travelling in Southeast Asia, but unfortunately our trip got cut short due to Covid. We had previously been renting in Bristol, but this gave us a good opportunity to move in with Kelly’s parents and save for a deposit – they live in Gloucester, so we were still able to commute to Bristol where we both work.
“We had heard from our friends about the quality of the homes City & Country builds. They told us about the new apartments at Factory No.1, and when we learned we could use the Help to Buy scheme there, we went along to view them and fell in love.”
Being in lockdown for the first few months, Daniel and Kelly had plenty of time to test out their new two-bedroom apartment. Daniel says: “Working from home has actually been a pleasure. We rotate between the spare bedroom and our large dining table – it’s great to have the separate, flexible spaces. We love our south-facing balcony, which combined with the large windows makes the apartment feel even more spacious and airy”.
Having a vibrant lifestyle on offer was also important to the young couple: “Bedminster really appealed to us. It has a thriving social scene which we can’t wait to enjoy further. We love being able to pop to The Bristol Loaf in the morning and go to the Bristol Beer Factory or The Ostrich in the evening, both of which are right on our doorstep. The harbourside in the sun is great, there is even Harbourside Festival, and we are regulars to music venues across the city. King Street also has a great choice of pubs and restaurants to choose from, which we can’t wait to enjoy with friends and family this summer”.