After 16 years living on and managing an 11-acre, Grade II Listed estate, Kim and Carol Berry were finding the maintenance of their property increasingly difficult. Both in their sixties, they realised it was time to find something more modern and practical, a future-proof forever home to meet their changing needs. Buying off-plan with Lockley Homes, the couple found more than an easy-to-run property with a contemporary specification; they were delighted to work closely with the developer to design their new house before it was built, providing a bespoke new home that ticked every box for their retirement.
The Berrys purchased a four-bedroom detached home at Kingsbrooke – A Lockley Homes development in the picturesque village of Colwall in the heart of the Malvern Hills - for £650,000 using the proceeds from the sale of their estate.
Kim says: “When we first met Karl from Lockley Homes, he showed us the plans for a new property he had designed and was building next to our local pub. We were so impressed by the build quality and the specification. Over time, we built a good relationship with Karl, and we were the first to hear about his next development, this time in Colwall where I was born and bred. Karl held one of the plots for us while we sold our existing property.”
The Berrys reserved their new home off-plan in plenty of time, which meant that Lockley Homes could tailor the designs of their new property before it was built. Kim continues: “Lockley Homes went above and beyond to future-proof the house to meet our requirements. They were so collaborative when it came to designing our new home. We modified Lockley Home’s plans to include an additional downstairs shower to the floorplan, and we even changed the layout of the kitchen to ensure it remained convenient and accessible as we get older.”
Director and co-founder of Lockley Homes, Karl Lockley says: “Getting to know our customers from the outset is fundamental to our approach to new homes delivery. We enjoy working closely with our buyers to create customised homes that meet their specific needs and desires. What’s really exciting is that this doesn’t just apply to the colour palette or the kitchen appliances like many larger developers; we can even alter our original floorplans – depending on build progress - to create a home completely bespoke to its new residents.”
“I was born and bred in Colwall. After moving to Leeds at the age of 28, we had always wanted to come back to our roots. The transport here is great, it is just a 50-minute train journey to Birmingham and London is around two hours. Living in the countryside is unmatched, we love living in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Lockley Homes gave us the perfect new home, in the perfect location.” Kim says.
Kim is also chairman of Colwall Cricket Club, which Lockley Homes has sponsored since 2020. He continues: “Their involvement has been transformative for the club. Providing shirts for our ‘Friday Night Club’ has connected us with over 250 local boys and girls who want to play cricket and significantly boosted our visibility with the wider community.”
Kingsbrooke features a collection of ten family homes, bungalows and apartments, five of which were sold off-plan. Victorian-inspired architecture is paired with a contemporary specification, an elegant pairing of the old and new that is a shared theme across every Lockley Homes development.
Within the wider Lockley Homes portfolio, just one two-bedroom apartment remains available for sale at Deer’s Leap in Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom home is priced at £785,000, and offers a high-specification, elegant, modern design and is situated just moments from Henley-in-Arden's prestigious High Street. Coming soon with a stunning new show home (available to view this August) is Britannia Gardens, an exclusive collection of six two, three and four-bedroom houses nestled in the idyllic rural village of Fernhill Heath, Worcestershire.
Lockley Homes is a boutique developer delivering high-quality new houses and apartments in Worcestershire, Warwickshire and The Cotswolds. To find out more, visit lockleyhomes.co.uk.