THIS week’s property column comes at great effort on my part. I had to walk all of 100 yards from my home office to run the rule over Bonneycroft, a new, small and select development by Daniel Gath Homes in Princess Road, Strensall.

Not, actually, that there was much to see – merely a hard-working bunch of chaps clearing ground, putting in footings and preparing for the bricks-andmortar end of the operation.

Nevertheless, it has been fascinating for many of the neighbours to see this development’s progress.

For years all that could be seen of what is now a busy building site was a tumbledown cottage hidden by overgrown front garden brambles. “The Sleeping Beauty house,” as one of my daughters described it.

What few of us realised, however, was that hidden beyond that cottage was a huge expanse of land. And once the Daniel Gath team set to work, it soon became apparent just how big the plot was… Initially, the builder could have laid plans for nine homes on the site – that’s how much land there was to play with. As it transpired, Daniel decided to build less and provide more… by producing seven detached houses, all with a decent-sized garden plot.

We have long been fans of Daniel Gath. The builder produces high-quality homes with distinctive styles, bringing in new designs for each development and often ‘tweaking’ existing house designs from site to site.

Bonneycroft is no exception – there are some super styles to choose from, all big, bright and airy family homes.

And, as you can see from the ‘Stockton’ style home, they have plenty of space to play with.

We love the layout of this house, particularly the sprawling kitchen/dining/ living room which runs some 36ft all along the back of the house and with bi-folding doors opening out onto the garden creating an even greater impression of space. It is an absolutely brilliant spot for family living and for entertaining friends and visitors.

The ground floor also has two other good spaces in the shape of a lounge and a family room for when you want to tuck yourself away with a book or watch television or log on to your computer. (There is also a ground floor cloakroom and separate utility room to complete the picture).

Upstairs, both master and guest bedrooms have en-suites, there are two further double bedrooms and a fifth bedroom/study and house bathroom.

A generous garden plot and a double garage complete the package.

There are two of this particular style available at Bonneycroft with prices beginning at £539,950.

The ‘Chester’ is the most expensive of the homes here, with an asking price of £574,950 – but you get an awful lot of house for that money. On the ground floor there is a kitchen/dining/ living space, two more reception rooms and a study (plus cloakroom and utility) while upstairs there are five bedrooms (two of them en-suite) and a house bathroom. Outside, there are good gardens and a triple garage.

There are two four-bedroomed house styles – the Ainsty (£414,950) and the ‘Dalby’ (£384,950) – both with crisp clear lines externally and spacious rooms internally. The former has a lounge, family room, dining kitchen and two of the bedrooms have ensuite facilities. The Dalby, meanwhile, has a spacious dining kitchen and lounge, master bedroom with en-suite and a second-floor study.

As we said, this will be a select little community in a popular village with a good range of amenities and easy access to both York city centre and the A64 and other commuting routes.

It has been attracting a lot of interest – and not just from neighbours fascinated by what lay behind the ‘Sleeping Beauty house’ – with one of the homes already reserved.

Is there a fairytale ending for other family house-hunters? We think so… Å For further information, contact Alison Seaman on 07714 999400.