While many people look to downsize in retirement, Judith and Nigel Allen have moved up from a two-bedroom cottage to a four-bedroom detached house – and one of the reasons was Judith’s new-found passion for sewing.
Judith, 63, was keen to have a sewing room where she could spend time on her favourite hobby and store all her equipment and fabrics – something that wasn’t possible in the couple’s previous home.
But now she has a dedicated sewing room in their new Bovis Homes property at the Oteley Gardens location in Shrewsbury.
Judith and Nigel, 65, and their cat Sootie moved into their new four-bedroom Juniper home in June.
Judith said: “The Juniper offered plenty of space for us both to enjoy each other’s company as well as our own personal hobbies.
“Nigel appreciates the study which holds his computer, allowing him to increase his knowledge of bikes and cars.
“I took up sewing during the pandemic. Since then, I have sewn dresses, skirts, jumpers and tops for myself as well as my family and friends. My twin sister and I are visiting Peru next year, and I have sewn us both some culottes for when we go.”
Having more bedrooms also means that the couple can have family members to stay over.
And there were many other reasons that prompted them to leave their beloved home of 20 years in North Wales.
Now retired, the couple decided they wanted to be within walking distance of shops and cafes, settling on Shrewsbury where Nigel also has family nearby.
“We had been wanting to move for a few years now,” said Judith, “We finally decided to put our house on the market in December 2021 and move out of our cottage in North Wales.
“We previously owned a two-bedroom detached cottage in Ynys, near Harlech. It was an old school which had been renovated and turned into a home. But the location was too rural, and we decided we wanted somewhere which would be less maintenance.”
The couple looked at three other sites within the Shrewsbury area before deciding on Oteley Gardens, where Vistry Group is building under its Bovis Homes brand.
“We knew that Bovis Homes had a good reputation and liked the look of their houses, so we went to visit the site and found the Juniper.
“We were looking at new builds after deciding that our cottage required too much maintenance and we wanted to move to something which would be less demanding.”
Judith said the main selling points of the Juniper were the fact it had a bathroom, en suite shower room and downstairs cloakroom, as well as a large kitchen and dining space, plus a detached garage.
“My favourite room is the kitchen and dining area because it overlooks the garden. It is very open and spacious, allowing plenty of room to have family and friends over.”
Located off Oteley Road, Oteley Gardens is within walking distance of Shrewsbury town centre, which offers an array of cafes, shops and restaurants.
“When we visited Oteley Gardens, the location stood out the most to us. It was a short distance to Shrewsbury town centre and there were some fantastic rambling and cycling routes nearby, too.
“Nigel and I enjoy walking into Shrewsbury. However, Nigel has recently had a hip replacement which means he is doing less of that currently.”
Because of Nigel’s recent operation, the couple have explored other transport methods around Shrewsbury. One of those is the park and ride, which they often use to visit the local cafes in the town centre.
Judith said: “The train station has great links to nearby towns and cities, too. My sisters often come to visit me from Telford, and I visit them on the train. The train station is in the town centre, so very easy to get to.”
Judith also praised the customer service they received at Oteley Gardens from area sales director Rebecca Blades, and sales assistant Elyse Turton.
She said: “Rebecca was magnificent. She helped us with any queries we had, such as adding fitted wardrobes into our bedroom as an added extra.
“And Elyse was also very communicative – she kept us informed on every step of the journey and build updates. I would certainly recommend Oteley Gardens to others looking to buy in the area.”
A selection of three and four-bedroom houses are currently available at Oteley Gardens, with prices starting from £339,995.
For more information, visit: https://www.bovishomes.co.uk.
