INDIVIDUAL

Golf lovers are spoilt for choice this month. Last week, our Property of the Week was a beautiful villa where you could walk to the bottom of the garden and drop a ball, in the South Devon village of Churston Ferrers. This week’s property is equally likely to get heartbeats quickening among the golfing fraternity and sorority. It’s Fairway Gardens, a boutique development of new homes in Sparkwell between Plymouth and Dartmoor.

This Blue Cedar Homes vision is for 12 detached homes: seven cottages and five bungalows, with three or four bedrooms. They’re set within beautifully landscaped gardens with southerly views over Sparkwell golf course. Just think how you could improve your handicap this close to the links.

This community is specially designed for people over 55. Chris

Gillian Molesworth discovers a new development on the edge of Dartmoor with views over Sparkwell golf course

Fayers of Blue Cedar Homes says: “What we’ve found through our research is that there’s about a 10-year period where people are thinking of moving out of their family home into something more manageable. Most people put it off because they don’t know where to go. They think: ‘we have lived in our lovely family home for a long time, but our children have left now, and it’s a lot to look after. We don’t want to move into a retirement flat, and there doesn’t seem to be anything around that we want.’

“Our homes are filling that gap in the market. We choose lovely locations for them: the Sparkwell homes are in a valley close to Ivybridge and Lee Mill. The homes are not flats: they are detached modern houses with a garden, closer to what people are used to. The site is managed, so there’s someone who can look after their house when they travel, which is important to them.

“We recognise that people who are downsizing don’t necessarily want a lot of bedrooms, but they do want a lot of space, so we’ve provided that as well as a very high quality specification.

“Our customers like to own their own freehold property, and buying and selling is a straightforward process.

“We’ve put thought into how people’s needs might change over time as well, and the houses are designed for that. For instance, there is a ground floor room which can become an en-suite bedroom in case there’s a need, or, for separate accommodation for a carer.

“We’re not trying to care for people – we’re allowing people to live their lives as they want to live them.”

Arranged around a landscaped garden, maintained by the estate manager, each property has its own individual character, distinguished by different architectural features. Inside, the rooms are spacious and beautifully finished.

Designed to keep running costs to a minimum, each home features high levels of insulation and central heating alongside a range of energy saving and sustainable features. Running costs are low.

Practicality is key as each property has an oversized garage with additional parking space for each plot.

Andrew Biggs of Marchand Petit says: “Interest levels in Fairway Gardens are good, and enquiries are coming from all over the country. Many homeseekers are moving to be closer to family, in Plymouth and the surrounding area.

“People like that this is a small development built to a high