David Workmann had been living in London but after marrying his European wife Nataliia in 2017, he was looking for an area that would offer his wife and step-daughter the best start to life in England.
David comments: “Having lived in London for over 10 years, I had only ever rented. But when I married my wife, I knew it was time I purchased a home that would be suitable for my new family.
“I have always loved Chichester and had visited the area previously. I like that it’s not as busy as some other major cities yet is really family-friendly with great quality schooling and the coast close by. The area offers convenient road connections to my workplace in Uxbridge, meaning I can take the A3 followed by the M25 and be at work in around 90 minutes.”
David, aged 53, and Nataliia originally rented in Chichester for a couple of years, and had seen the building work at Shopwyke Lakes taking shape. Once they had saved their 5% deposit, the couple used the Help to Buy scheme to help them make their dream move.
Designed for first-time buyers, the Help to Buy** scheme sees the Government provide an equity loan of up to 20% of the purchase price of the property, meaning buyers only need to find a 5% deposit and secure a mortgage for the remaining 75%. The upper limit to buy a property in the South East with Help to Buy is £437,600.
David adds: “We visited Shopwyke Lakes just after Cala launched the second phase and were taken in by the lovely homes and the stunning surroundings too.
“We used the Help to Buy scheme to help with our purchase, which meant we were able to get out of renting sooner and finally take a step onto the property ladder. Without the scheme we would’ve certainly had to rent for a couple more years. The scheme was so easy to use – the Cala recommended solicitor was amazing and did most of the hard work, enabling us to buy our lovely new three-bedroom home.”
David and Nataliia purchased the three-bedroom, link-detached Hurwick housetype in the second phase of Shopwyke Lakes. The home features a large bay-fronted sitting room, and a separate impressive kitchen/family room with French doors opening out to the rear garden, alongside a downstairs cloakroom and garage. Upstairs, the en suite main bedroom and second bedroom boast fitted wardrobes, a family bathroom, as well as a well-proportioned third bedroom, ideal for use as a spare room or private study.
Speaking of his new home, David said: “We were immediately drawn to the Hurwick as it was perfect for what we needed. We especially loved the downstairs layout with the two big living areas – it all felt so spacious and perfect to enjoy quality family time together. We were fortunate enough to purchase the corner plot – which was the one we really had our eyes on – so our garden is a very generous size.”
Due to the delays that the pandemic caused construction during spring 2020, David and Nataliia’s mortgage offer came close to expiring; but the Cala team were able to get their home completed ahead of schedule just in time.
David comments: “From start to finish, the Cala team has been amazing. Not only were they able to get us into our dream house with the exact plot we wanted, but they also worked incredibly hard to get us into our home quickly. With our mortgage offer at risk of expiring, Cala ensured the house was completed in time, and were really accommodating of us sending tradespeople to the house before we could move in, to measure up for furniture. It’s those little touches that really make Cala stand out; combined with the high-quality homes they build, I really couldn’t recommend them enough.”
Situated just one mile to the east of the famous Chichester city, Shopwyke Lakes offers a growing community of one to five bedroom homes with prices starting from just £310,000* set in a relaxing environment full of green open spaces, footpaths, established lakes and waterways. Facilities will include access to football and cricket pitches, a clubhouse, community centre, convenience store and children’s play areas.
Chichester’s cobbled streets and winding lanes offer a selection of high street stores, independent boutiques, restaurants and leisure facilities. The development has immediate access to the A27 and is just over 15 miles from the A3(M), providing a direct route into London.
For further information on Help to Buy at Shopwyke Lakes or to book an appointment to view the stunning show homes, call 01243 928 394 or visit www.Cala.co.uk.
