Sarah Hopper, aged 27 and Lochlan Pinder, aged 31, were the first residents to move into the development, finding their dream home after a year-long search.
Having been together for almost five years, Sarah, an accountant from Bristol, made the exciting decision to move in with her partner in Bedford – swapping busy city life for the fresh air of the English countryside. Originally from Biggleswade, Lochlan is a director at a 3D printing company and is based just a 15-minute drive from the new development at Stone Hill Meadow.
With their busy lifestyles and Sarah currently studying alongside her job in Clevedon, the young couple were keen for their first home together to be a new-build, to benefit from a smooth and stress-free move.
After eight viewings at new-build developments and older properties, as well as hours of scrolling on Rightmove, Sarah and Lochlan finally found their dream home – the three-bedroom Shrewsbury 3, at Stone Hill Meadow. While being surrounded by the beautiful countryside, the couple were attracted to the development’s excellent transport links into London allowing them to still easily enjoy city life when they choose.
When asked for advice and top tips for future first-time buyers, Sarah said: “Try to squirrel away any money you can each month – my top tip would be to set up a standing order into a savings account. It adds up before you know it!”
Stone Hill Meadow’s environmental features were also a big draw for Sarah and Lochan when choosing their first home together. The development is the first to feature our new eco-friendly homes in the South Midlands, which have been designed with innovative low-carbon technology and include cost-effective initiatives to help customers save on their bills.
Air source heat pumps and underground floor heating are fitted as standard in line with our goal to reach the target of achieving Net Zero across the whole business and supply chain by 2050.
When asked about the appeal of the energy-efficiency aspect of their new home, Sarah said: “We knew that new-build homes had an obvious advantage over second-hand properties, thanks to all the energy efficient benefits that modern materials and better floorplans provide. Knowing that our home at Stone Hill Meadow would be even more environmentally efficient thanks to the air source heat pump and underground floor heating was a real standout when making our decision. Air source heat pumps are the future, so it’s great that we’re on board early with a home that’s futureproofed with new technology – and it will be a money saver too!”
The couple are already seeing savings first hand, not least in their fuel bills after no longer having to commute to see each other. Commenting on the savings they’re experiencing: “I knew that new-build homes were generally cheaper to run, however we have felt quite smug after moving into our new energy cap. We have a number of friends who are in second-hand homes that will be paying considerably more than us for energy over the winter months. Coupled with the savings that we’ll be making after cutting down our fuel bills, we’ll have a great nest egg to put towards things for our new home.”
The couple’s chosen house design, the three-bedroom Shrewsbury 3, forms part of our award-winning Heritage Collection. An expansive open-plan kitchen and dining area spans the full width of the rear of the home, while a separate utility and cloakroom help keep muddy shoes and wet coats out of the way. There is also a large, separate lounge, perfect to relax and unwind after a walk exploring the Bedfordshire countryside. Upstairs, the main bedroom features an en-suite, and the two further bedrooms allow extra space for a nursery, guest bedroom, or perhaps a home office.
Andrew Newman, Sales Director for our South Midlands division, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Sarah and Lochlan, the very first residents to our brand-new development, at Stone Hill Meadow, in Lower Stondon. As the novelty of living in a large city among the hustle and bustle wears off for many, young homebuyers in particular are now on the lookout for energy-efficient homes and to be nearer to green, open spaces, while retaining good city connections, and of course, getting much more for their money. We’d invite anyone who likes the idea of spacious, luxury living while being eco-conscious to find out more about our extremely popular development, Stone Hill Meadow – as Sarah and Lochlan have shown, these new homes won’t be around for long!”
Located just 2.5 miles from Henlow, and with Letchworth Garden City, Bedford and Luton all within a 30-minute drive, Stone Hill Meadow offers village surroundings combined with a well-connected location, making it perfectly placed for first-time buyers, growing families and downsizers alike. There are direct trains from Luton to London St. Pancras in less than 30 minutes, and a fantastic commuter service is also available from Arlesey Train Station, which is just four miles away. Two-, three-, four-, and five-bedroom properties are available at Stone Hill Meadow with prices starting from £490,000.
For more information about Stone Hill Meadow or to register your interest please head to the development webpage.
*Figures taken from USwitch in October 2023
