Imagine life in this fine new house

COVER STORY Address: Watlings, Mount Charles Walk, Bridge, Canterbury Price: £1.35m Agent: Strutt & Parker

Monday mornings could never be a grumpy affair in the very special 44ft kitchen/breakfast/family room of this brand new house.

Now on the books of Strutt and Parker, Watlings is a four/ five-bedroom detached home at Mount Charles Walk, Bridge, near Canterbury. It is priced at £1.35m. Buyers will find an entrance hallway/dining hall with a window seat in a bay window and doors to the garden, double aspect drawing room, study, cloakroom and utility. Running the full length of the house, the open-plan kitchen/ family/breakfast room has windows on four sides including full height glazing to the front With Herne Bay property prices rocketing, plus a general shortage of bungalows, this home could prove a smart buy twice over.

The three-bedroom bungalow at Bullers Avenue, Herne Bay is priced at £325,000.

There is off-road parking on the block-paved driveway and Herne Bay train station is just a third of a mile away.

A 15ft x 12ft lounge is a great spot to relax and there’s a tidy kitchen, with separate dining room and utility room. The three bedrooms share two shower rooms.

The sunny back garden has been block-paved, making this a home that is very easy to maintain. Graham Goodsell, of Wards, says: “This is a superbly presented and recently refurbished detached bungalow, with gas central heating. It is on the market with vacant possession.”

Recent figures by Halifax show average house prices in Herne

Bay and nearby Whitstable have risen by a staggering 63% in 10 years, making values among the fastest rising in the country.

Other research has pointed at a bungalow shortage, leading to some developers starting to build the accessible single-storey houses again.

For information ring the agent on 01227 361226 garden. A central island houses a wine cooler and hob.

On the first floor the 15ft master bedroom leads to an en suite with bath and separate shower.

There are built-in wardrobes and, in addition, a door leads through to a large dressing room/fifth bedroom. There are three further bedrooms and two more bathrooms. The gardens have been professionally landscaped and have sunny spaces for dining outside. The village of Bridge is a soughtafter spot and is 2.5 miles from Canterbury. There’s plenty to do and easy access to the M2 and HS trains from Canterbury

Simon Backhouse, of Strutt and Parker, says: “Watlings is a discreetly tucked away, brand new family home in a beautiful and much favoured village. The magnificent family room/kitchen and breakfast room is an appealing family space, providing relaxed living, informal entertaining and a social cooking experience.”

For information ring the agent on 01227 451123

ON THE MARKET Address: Bullers Avenue, Herne Bay Price: £325,000 Agent: Wards