Having lived in Victorian properties for most of her life, Louise Miller was looking for something different from a new homes development. When she saw CALA Homes’ Balls Park in Hertford she knew it was the right move for her.
Miss Miller, who works in marketing for the Hoddesdon-based pharmaceutical company MSD, bought a three bedroom home from the Harrison Collection at Balls Park last October and moved in, with her pug Percy, just before Christmas.
She said: “I was in a two bedroom Victorian terrace in the desirable area of Bengeo but I knew it was time to make my next move. I needed extra room for family and friends to come and stay but I wasn’t sure where that would be or what kind of house I was looking for. I thought about staying where I was, but it would have taken substantial funds to refurbish and redesign my home and I decided I couldn’t live through the disruption, so I started to look for something new.
“I did look at other new build developments in villages around Hertford, but they just didn’t inspire me – they were a bit boring and boxy. A friend suggested I looked at Balls Park and I loved it from the start. It wasn’t just the house design, but the location. You’re on the fringe of the town and it’s within walking distance of Hertford East train station which has frequent trains into the Capital. The landscaped historic grounds here make you feel like you’re in the countryside. My dog Percy just loves running around the grounds. It’s perfect.”
Miss Miller, who is 45, used CALA’s 100% Part Exchange Service to help her move go smoothly. She said: “I was living in a period property in Bengeo and knew I would have no trouble selling my house. I put my house on the market and it sold within a day, but the buyers were nervous of the nature of the Victorian building and pulled out. I put it back on the market and it sold again, but when the second buyers pulled out I was already well into the process of buying my new home at Balls Park.
“CALA stepped in and offered me a very reasonable price under their part exchange scheme. This saved me really, as I had already put down deposits and chosen my tiles and flooring. After the part exchange was agreed, everything moved very quickly. I moved in on December 18 and was able to have friends over for Christmas lunch!”
Miss Miller and Percy the pug dog are now settled into their new home. Miss Miller said: “It felt like home very quickly. I haven’t missed my old place – and I was worried that I would because we moved over to the other side of the town and I thought I would miss the old location. But we love it here. I’m really looking forward to adding a few more finishing touches but it’s definitely home.”
Believed to have inspired Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice, Balls Park features on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest. The new homes form the final part of the sympathetic redevelopment of the Balls Park estate, which was built originally by Sir John Harrison between 1637 and 1640, before being transformed into an award-winning development.
For commuters Hertford East railway station is just one mile from the development giving access into London Liverpool Street in 45 minutes and Hertford North is two miles away with services into London Kings Cross St. Pancras in 35 minutes. The M25 is easily reached via the A414 or the A10. For international travel, London Luton and Stansted airports are within a 25 minute drive and Heathrow is just over an hour away.
For families, some of Hertfordshire’s most renowned state and private schools are in Hertford itself, including Simon Balle School, Hertford St Andrew CofE School, Abel Smith Primary, Richard Hale School and Haileybury Independent Boarding School and for downsizers Balls Park is a country home like no other.
Homes at Balls Park currently range in price from £624,950 to £749,950. 100% Part Exchange is available on selected plots (subject to T’s and C’s). For further information, or to make an appointment to view the showhome which is open daily from 10.30am-5pm, call call 01922 505053 or visit www.cala.co.uk.