Country living in top spot (From York Press)

Country living in top spot

11:05am Thursday 13th October 2011

Brian Page reports on a super Shepherd Homes development providing great homes in a great location.

IF LOCATION, location, location really is the key to a successful housing development, then the Shepherd Homes site at Willow Bridge, Dalton, has got it cracked.

This exclusive development sits at the centre of a ‘golden triangle’ for commuters, brilliantly placed for the A19 and A1 and with relatively easy runs into Leeds, York and the North- East.

Yet it is also very much get-away-from- it-all country living, nestling as it does in a quiet, rural spot on the edge of a lovely village.

“Dalton is three miles from Thirsk, the next nearest village is Sessay, so it is a good commuter spot for the A19 and A1 and York and Teesside,”

says Shepherd’s on-site sales advisor Linda Lofthouse.

“It’s country living on commuter routes. It has lovely countryside all around and there are views to the Hambleton Hills and the White Horse.”

Proof of just how attractive the development is for those looking to come back to a nice quiet spot after a day’s commute comes, says Linda, from the high level of interest they had during the development’s early days.

“There was quite a significant level of interest when we were selling offplan,”

she says. “We have one couple who expressed an interest because the location works well for them, one works in York and the other in Newcastle, so it is an ideal spot for them.”

So, great location, then. But – despite the old adage – you can have as nice a spot as you like, but if the houses are poor quality, they won’t sell.

No need to worry here, however.

Shepherd Homes have a reputation for building fine homes and Willow Bridge is no exception.

A collection of just 19 properties, they are a very individual mix of four and five-bedroomed house styles – all named after local villages.

“They are all very unique,” says Linda, “and have very different designs and stylings.”

And now, having worked initially off-plan, Linda has a brand new – and decidedly beautiful – show home on site to proudly display to visitors.

It is an Asenby style house which looks simply stunning. There’s a huge amount of floorspace to ramble around in.

On the ground floor, for instance, there is a dining kitchen which extends into a superb sun/family room, a living room and a formal dining room (or TV room). Upstairs, one of the five bedrooms has an en-suite wet room and another an en-suite shower room – and there is a luxurious house bathroom.

The Asenby style will not be available until next Spring – but there are five other property styles ready for release now – with completion dates set for December, January and March and with prices ranging from £339,995 through to £384,995.

For the lower of those two prices you could, for instance, snap up an Islebeck style, which has a living room with bifolding doors leading to the garden, a large, superbly-fitted kitchen and dining area, ground floor cloakroom and an integral garage with utility area.

Upstairs, the master bedroom has an en-suite wet room and there are three further double bedrooms and a house bathroom.

Or, if you wanted a little more space, you could opt for a Sessay style, which offers a large kitchen and dining area, a living room, ground floor cloakroom and utility room and an integral garage.

Upstairs, the master of five bedrooms has an en-suite wet room and another has an en-suite shower room. Prices for the Sessay begin at £349,995.

So, there you have it – great location, great homes. A recipe for success? We think so.

Further information is available from the marketing suite, open Thursday to Monday, 10.30am to 5pm. Call 07801 989506, or visit shepherd-homes.co.uk/developments/willow-bridge