Westwood Park’s Wide Appeal

by | Dec 19, 2016 | Case Study, Community, Featured, Past Developments, Sales Information

19

December, 2016
WESTWOOD PARK’S WIDE APPEAL

We visited Westwood Park and fell in love with it right away

The wealth of character in the conversion properties at our Westwood Park development in Beverley, and its position a short stroll from the heart of the market town, is attracting buyers from all across the UK.

RELOCATING
A prime example of the sites expansive draw is Ken and Denise Pick’s story, whom recently relocated from their native North East to move into one of the penthouse apartments in the site’s original white brick villa Beaver Lodge – now re named as ‘The Mansion House’.

Ken said: “We had decided to downsize and had been looking at bungalows when I spotted Westwood Park on the internet. Our daughter lives in Beverley and our son in York, but we had not heard about the scheme.”

The couple quickly organised a house-hunting weekend and were talked through the development by our dedicated on-site sales team.

BUILDINGS SAVED
All seven of the site’s heritage buildings, as well as a Grade II listed stone entrance archway, have been saved from demolition, offering a mix of homes from one bedroom apartments to a three bedroom detached house

in a walled garden. There are also a range of new build family sized homes with spacious open plan living and clever detail.

With their own four bedroom detached home on the market the Picks wanted something more manageable and were delighted to opt for a two-bedroom penthouse apartment.

Ken explained: “We visited Westwood Park and fell in love with it right away – there is nothing to compare for quality and location. We spent a couple of years abroad and lived in an apartment there so were comfortable with the idea. The only stipulation was that it had to have some outside space.

We bought off plan in February and actually only saw the apartment five weeks before moving in. We absolutely love it. The exposed beams are wonderful and the terrace is much bigger than we thought it would be. It is a really lovely place to sit out and we can see the whole of The Westwood as well as Beverley Minster and St Anne’s church in the other direction. The whole development is very well done and it is quite lovely driving through the archway into this little sanctuary.”

Back to News & Events

This Development is Now Completed.
For Further Information About the Project Click the Button Below.

View Portfolio Page

Sweet memories for former Terry’s worker.

by | Dec 19, 2016 | Case Study, Community, Featured, Past Developments

23

November, 2016

SWEET MEMORIES OF TERRY’S

We hear from a former worker of the Terry’s Chocolate Factory in York

Westwood Park

The world famous chocolate empire of Terry’s has left a strong legacy in York and a strong affection amongst many former workers.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Former employee Liz Calpin vividly remembers walking through the distinctive gates onto the vast Bishopsthorpe Road site for the first time as a 15-year-old girl ready to start work as a Junior Clerk.

Recalling her first impressions Liz said: “I worked in the administration building with its grand staircase and glass dome and I felt very grown up.”

She eventually clocked up ten happy years at Terry’s in total, only leaving in 1976 upon the birth of her first child. Such is the pull of the iconic site, Liz and her husband Ray are now back – this time living in one of the luxury apartments in the converted Factory Building.

Liz explains: “I loved my time at Terry’s, although to be honest in the beginning it was just somewhere I went in the day that funded my social life! I loved dancing! Ray and I met at the Court School of Dancing.

Even though I left forty years ago I have always kept strong links with Terry’s. There was a group of five of us who worked together and we have remained very close friends, still meeting every six weeks or so.

And since it closed it was one of our favourite places to walk. We’d park on the road and walk across the Knavesmire. It was so sad to see the building empty and starting to decay.”

DOWNSIZING
The couple lived in a three bedroom detached house and with Ray now retired from the teaching profession they had already been considering downsizing when plans to convert the Art Decor Factory Building into apartments was announced.

Liz said: “We’d looked at the new build apartments at the front of the site and knew they weren’t for us, but when we went to the P J Livesey launch day and looked at the properties at The Residence we both looked at each other and smiled.

We knew we could happily live here. The whole development is beautiful and the views are stunning.

We had our house on the market but when it did not sell straight away we took good advice and decided to use it to raise the extra money we needed and then rent it out. It all worked out perfectly.”

TRANSFORMATION
The couple bought a two-bedroom mezzanine apartment on the third floor at the back of the building with a wide terrace overlooking the racecourse and towards the River Ouse.

Liz said: “The living, dining area is actually bigger than within our previous house and the open plan kitchen has everything you could possibly want. We plan to buy new furniture for the balcony as it is easily big enough to sit out and enjoy the view – it was quite spectacular on bonfire night!

We love coming through the gates and driving up the boulevard and the lobby feels like a 5* hotel and it is beautifully kept. The P J Livesey ethos is obviously to develop something to be classically Beautiful and maintain the high standard. It really does tick all the boxes and the grand children Lyla and Zak love coming to visit.

I only actually worked in The Factory building itself for two memorable weeks when the dispatch lady was on holiday, but our son-in-law spent summers working for Terry’s and actually remembers working on the third floor. We cannot wait for him to come and see the transformation. People are fascinated by the building, it is such a landmark symbol for York and everyone wants to see what it has now become.

We’ve only been here a matter of weeks but it already feels very much like home – a place of happy memories.”

Back to News & Events

This Development is Now Completed.
For Further Information About the Project Click the Button Below.

View Portfolio Page

CASE STUDY | Andrew Gibson

by | Jan 25, 2016 | Case Study, Past Developments | 0 comments

25

January, 2016

MEETING THE RESIDENTS

Andrew Gibsons Story

We love meeting people who are as passionate about Lancaster Moor as we are, so of course we were delighted to welcome photographer Andrew Gibson who has long been fascinated by the building.

The image here is one of his stunning photographs of the landmark and he said: “I think it is the most striking and fascinating building in Lancaster and I love it! Whatever time of day and whatever season it has a great presence and it never ceases to delight me.”

BLOWN AWAY
The Residence is also now his home after he came to look round during an open day last year.

He explained: “I previously lived in a three bedroom house close to the station in the centre of Lancaster which I had renovated from top to bottom and I really had no intention of moving.

But when I saw an Open Day sign for The Residence I could not resist coming to look round the building again and was blown away by what has been achieved.

“They have managed to keep the scale and grandeur of the building but create some really lovely individual modern properties.”

PERFECT
Andrew bought a light filled two bedroom ground floor apartment and said: “In terms of space it’s smaller than my old house, which was three storey, but actually feels bigger with more usable space. The ceilings are high and the windows are fabulous. I have a modern kitchen with all top appliances and I have swapped a north-facing yard for a very large west-facing garden.

“I have lovely neighbours, don’t have to sit in traffic for 25 minutes trying to get home and am very proud to have a brand new apartment in the best building in Lancaster. It’s perfect.”

You can see more of Andrew’s work on his website:
Andrew Gibson Photography: www.andrewgibsonphotography.co.uk

Back to News & Events

This Development is Now Completed.
For Further Information About the Project Click the Button Below.

View Portfolio Page

Clementine Allen – Resident at The Residence in Lancaster.

by | Dec 18, 2015 | Case Study, Past Developments | 0 comments

18

December, 2015

RESIDENT AT THE RESIDENCE

Clementine Allens Story

The Residence at Lancaster Moor has established itself as the premier address in Lancaster, a magnificent development in a stunning setting and home to a mix of lovely people who are now proud to call it home. Lovely people like Clementine Allen who swapped a large seven bedroom Georgian property ten miles out of the city for life in one of the building’s stunning penthouses.

It was a dramatic but successful shift and she said: “I lived in my old home for 47 years but have not missed it once – isn’t that odd? But the time was right and I know I made the right decision because I already feel settled here. My apartment has high ceilings, lovely windows, a private terrace so no gardening and is all on one level, so no stairs. Some of the pieces of furniture I brought with me are large but they fit in perfectly and it all came up in the lift!

EXCELLENT MIX OF RESIDENTS
“There are only eight apartments in this section and I have already met some interesting neighbours and I love the mix of people living here.”

She also fell in love with the character of her new home which features a distinctive oriel window in the spacious living room and has views over open playing fields from the terrace.

Clementine, owner of the renowned Pizza Margherita restaurant in the city centre is passionate about Lancaster and a member of the Civic Trust.

She said: “When you downsize you don’t want smaller rooms – you just want fewer of them. And you want to be nearer to things and part of life not shut away or stuck somewhere remote in the country.

SCALE AND GRANDEUR
“The Residence is perfect. It offers scale and grandeur but is close to everything. From here I can walk into the city and a taxi back costs just £3.90 so no parking charges which makes it far easier to get to the restaurant.

“I like the fact there are all ages of people here and I look over the new build houses where hopefully there will be families and children. It is nice to be able to hear the sound of children playing.

“I had my two children young and now have four grandchildren with a great grandchild on the way and I love them coming to visit.

“I think I am forging a new way – downsizing into the city. Maybe it’s because in my head I still feel 19, but I can certainly recommend it!”

Back to News & Events

This Development is Now Completed.
For Further Information About the Project Click the Button Below.

View Portfolio Page