Kiddington Estate lets city dwellers find the perfect country retreat

Fancy waking up to a view like this one?  Anyone looking to swap city living for a tranquil bolt-hole in the country should take a look at this delightful, newly refurbished cottage available for rent on the sprawling Kiddington Estate in Oxfordshire.

Located between Woodstock and Chipping Norton this detached, three bedroom house has beautiful views and its own sizeable and fully enclosed garden.  Modern and tastefully decorated, this is ideal for a family or couple who want to get away from road noise and the hustle and bustle of city life.

Number 1 Park Farm Cottages is available immediately and unfurnished for £1,200 per month.  To arrange a viewing contact Christopher Way on 01865 511444 or visit www.carterjonas.co.uk.

Abingdon Business: Firms expand at ‘well designed and managed campus’

The Quadrant at Abingdon Science Park is proving popular for a variety of firms expanding their operations as over 7,000 sq ft of space has been let in the last year to new and existing occupiers on the site.

Medical supplier GlySure Limited has added an extra 4,359 sq ft at The Quadrant to create a manufacturing clean room and for its expanding quality, testing and microbiology facilities.  GlySure has developed an in-hospital continuous blood glucose monitoring system and has been at The Quadrant since 2006.

Chris Jones, CEO of GlySure, says:  “We have recently secured funding to complete our clinical regulatory trials and are expanding our operation to accommodate this activity.  As a scientific medical business, we have high standards and precise requirements. The team at The Quadrant have done a great job in meeting our needs, enabling us to rapidly move forward with our manufacturing expansion and completion of the clinical trials.”

International product design studio Thinkable has moved from the centre of Abingdon into 2,300 sq ft office and studio accommodation. The firm, which specialises in 3D design for consumer, industrial and medical products, was formed six years ago and has a steady client base of UK and international companies.

Thinkable founder and Managing Director Jorg Schlieffers explains how the move is benefitting the team:

“We currently have a core team of six people, and need space for the freelance specialists we work with as well as interns.  We have close links with schools and colleges in the UK to offer work experience to students.

“Abingdon is a successful location for us. It works well for our team and Oxfordshire is a good region for recruitment in our field.  Our proximity to Heathrow suits our clients too.

“The Quadrant is a well managed, well designed campus and the building gives us room to expand in the future and space to breathe.” he adds

Online luxury lifestyle store Achica has also expanded into a 400 sq ft suite  for its team of six; also moving in are First Personnel and  home care services provider Delight Care.

Nick Wilkinson of agent Carter Jonas says:  “It’s great to see businesses growing successfully at The Quadrant as it shows how suitable the site is for expanding firms.  Two years ago we developed a number of units for smaller firms and these are now almost at full occupancy.

“There is still around 9,000 sq ft of space available here and we are seeing strong interest.”  Firms interested in space at The Quadrant can contact Nick Wilkinson on 01865 517000 or email him at nick.wilkinson@carterjonas.co.uk.

 

Carter Jonas makes SSNAP decision for charity

SSNAP’s Julie da Silva-Moore (second left) with (l-r) Adelaide Stewart-Jones, Richard Drew, Richard Harris and Gemma Hall from Carter Jonas

The Carter Jonas Oxford office has voted for SSNAP – Support for the Sick Newborn and their Parents – as its charity for the year.

The charity, which the 80-strong team of Carter Jonas employees voted for from a range of local organisations, supports the Intensive Care, High Dependency and Special Care Nurseries (Neonatal Unit) at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, providing life saving equipment, support for parents including a family rooms at the hospital, sponsoring research and contributing towards nurse training in this specialist field.

SSNAP Manager Julie da Silva-Moore and Deputy Administrator Caz Stokes gave an engaging presentation to the Carter Jonas team, describing the work that they do and sharing some of the ideas for fundraising which the firm could organise. She says of the firm’s support:

“SSNAP relies completely on fundraising and donations and it is overwhelming to see the energy and enthusiasm which the team at Carter Jonas is putting into supporting us. We are delighted to have their help.”

Richard Drew, Carter Jonas Partner, says: “The Neonatal Unit at the John Radcliffe is widely regarded to be one of the best in the UK. Some of our employees have benefited first hand from their work and we are pleased to be able to help them out in this way.”

The funds raised will go towards meeting the charity’s needs for new equipment such as intensive care incubators, vapotherm units to help breathing and phototherapy units for babies with jaundice.

Fundraising activities include a Carter Jonas team at the GE Blenheim Triathlon 2012.

Fancy some Edwardian elegance in Central North Oxford?

A North Oxford Classic - 12 Charlbury Road

One of the few private residences in Oxford designed by renowned builder Symm has come onto the market through Carter Jonas.

Twelve Charlbury Road is a six bedroom, extremely elegant Edwardian house in Central North Oxford that is on for £3.75m with Carter Jonas

The house offers the generous proportions of its era, with spacious rooms, high ceilings, decorative cornicing and large bay windows. West facing and set back from the road, it contains living accommodation of 3,637 sq ft over three floors, including a master bedroom suite of stately proportions, and five further double bedrooms.

Edwardian elegance

On the ground floor, a wonderful double reception room and adjoining study, both with bay windows, run the width of the house. A second drawing room with another bay window also opens to the west-facing terrace through period glazed doors.

The kitchen/breakfast room and conservatory, which currently lead to a utility room and pantry, have the potential to provide an excellent family-living and entertaining space. A kitchenette, serviced by a fully working lift, is on the second floor, along with bedrooms five and six.

Built in 1905, 12 Charlbury Road is walking distance to University Parks and the River Cherwell, and to The Dragon, Oxford High and St Edward’s.

Mark Charter, head of residential sales at Carter Jonas, says: “This is really quite a unique opportunity to buy a large family home in one of Oxford’s most sought-after streets and as such we are expecting plenty of interest.

“The house has a great architectural heritage being designed by Symm and Company, a firm which has also restored many of England’s greatest houses and institutions including Blenheim Palace and the Houses of Parliament.”

If you’d like to take a look, contact Mark Charter on 01865 511444 or email him at mark.charter@carterjonas.co.uk.

Fancy a home in an idyllic Oxfordshire village?

IT is just a few hundred yards to the High Street of one of Oxfordshire’s most desirable villages and as a modern, gated development offers the perfect environment for modern family life.

“It is the ideal place for a family with young children, as well as those seeking a quiet lifestyle within a friendly community,” say the Delafields, who have spent the last eleven years bringing up their two children in Lady Place, a community of 25 homes in the heart of Sutton Courtenay.

Built in 2000 by Berkley Homes, 18 Lady Place is a detached five bedroom property on the market for £775,000 through Carter Jonas and set within a development with its own playground and village green.

“You can let your children go and give them their freedom which you can’t do in other places. They can come and go as they please and I know they will be safe in Lady Place,” says Mia Delafield. With three pubs and the well renowned French restaurant, The Fish, two local shops, a florist, greengrocer and motor garage, Sutton Courtenay offers plenty of life to villagers, while commuters can enjoy excellent transport connections. Didcot Parkway railway station (which provides two trains an hour to London Paddington) is less than four miles away, Oxford is just over 13 miles away and the popular town of Abingdon, three miles away. Mrs Delafield said:

“When you walk off the High Street and into Lady Place there’s a real feeling of peace and tranquillity and the development is very well maintained”.

“The house is well proportioned and there’s a really nicely flowing layout downstairs. It is open and airy and the triple aspect windows in the drawing room create a beautiful light room.”

As well as the impressive drawing room with French doors opening to the rear garden, the downstairs features a generous hallway, dining room and study, all fitted with solid French Oak flooring. The kitchen is fitted with a range of solid beech units with a gas hob and integrated double oven and dishwasher. Adjacent to the kitchen is the breakfast area with a door to the larder and an archway to the family room, which in turn has French doors opening to the garden making this a particularly appealing design for families with young children and for summertime entertaining. The master bedroom overlooks the garden to the rear and has generous fitted wardrobes and a large en suite bathroom with separate shower cubicle. Also on the first floor is a guest bedroom with an en suite shower room and two further double bedrooms, all with built in wardrobes, as well as a single bedroom and a large family bathroom.

There is a large double garage to the front of the property with power and light together with a boarded loft area ideal for storage. Outside the rear garden is mainly laid to lawn while Number 18 benefits from not having another house either immediately to the front or behind the property.

To arrange a viewing contact Mark Charter at Carter Jonas on 01856 511444 or visit www.carterjonas.co.uk.

This article was written for The Oxford Times Property News

First show homes open at Stratford Park

One of the first showhomes at Stratford Park, from David Wilson Homes

David Wilson Homes has opened Stratford Park’s first two show homes and the location, style and quality of the properties have made them so popular that one was reserved during the opening weekend.

Building work on Stratford Park began this autumn and a selection of one, two, three, four and five bedroom homes will be on offer from three of the UK’s largest house builders, Barratt Homes, Bellway and David Wilson Homes.  These major builders are combining to deliver high standards of build quality, planned environment and interior design, all of which assure buyers they are investing in a comfortable and quality new home.

With prices currently ranging from £214,995 to £274,995 for three and four bedroom homes, agent Carter Jonas sees Stratford Park will appeal to professionals and families looking to enjoy the rural charm and boutique shops of Stony Stratford, as well as the area’s excellent transport connections, with Wolverton close by and just 45 minutes by train from London Euston.

For more information on Stratford Park or to register your interest, please visit www.stratfordpark.co.uk or contact Sarah Price on 01604 608223. The David Wilson show homes are open to view daily from 11am to 6pm. Contact Mark and Flip on 07769 306851 / 0844 8114477 or email stratfordpark@dwh.co.uk.  Bellway Homes is due to open its show home at the end of November and Barratt Homes will be launching in December.

Former village pound transformed into idyllic Oxfordshire cottage

Pound Cottage, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell

ONCE the village pound for stray animals, this thatched cottage has been transformed into an idyllic Oxfordshire home full of charm and period character.

Believed to have been built in the 17th Century, when it was two dwellings, Pound Cottage has all the iconic features of a truly wonderful country house; a newly thatched roof, beautiful beamed ceilings, a gas fired Aga, large bay windows to capture the light and additional detached living quarters, all surrounded by a landscaped garden.

However less than 50 years ago this four bedroom detached home in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, near Wallingford, still served as the village pound for loose livestock and hence the name Pound Cottage.

Up until the 1960s stray cattle or other animals in Sotwell parish were kept in its grounds until their owners stumped up a fee to release them, while persistent offences could see owners brought before the manor court and having to face further fines.

Nowadays no trace of the pound remains and the house has been lovingly restored and tastefully extended over the last 35 years; it has now been put on the market for £875,000 through agents Carter Jonas.

Re-thatched in May this year, the wheat straw and reed roof was replaced by renowned thatcher, Kit Davies, from Steventon, who in 2008 repaired and re-ridged of one of the world’s most iconic thatched buildings, The Globe Theatre in London’s Southbank.

Acquired by the Salisbury family in 1976, the property has been extended from a two bedroom home to four while retaining all the original oak floors, wall and ceiling beams and brick and stone fireplaces. Thanks to its bay windows, the three ground floor reception rooms are full of light. As well as an Aga, the kitchen has hand painted John Lewis of Hungerford units and terracotta tiled floor, with French doors leading to a private terrace and seating area.

The first floor is currently configured as a master suite of a bedroom with a dressing room and bathroom, two further bedrooms and a family bath/shower room.

At the side of the property there is a large detached two storey oak framed building with a double garage and an additional multi-purpose living space with separate kitchenette, shower room and first floor bedroom. There is a large ground floor garden/dining room with a wood-burning stove and French doors leading to the adjoining terrace.

Outside the Salisbury’s have created a beautiful garden complete with flowering borders, specimen trees, bricked edged gravel paths, paved terraces and sweeping lawns.

Mother-of-two Anne Salisbury said: “For us Pound Cottage has been a really good family home. It’s very pretty, very comfortable and has lots of natural light.

“As our family grew, so the house grew with us; our home was an old cottage but now it’s been brought into the 21st Century.

“We’ve enjoyed living in a house with such history and character.”

“Pound Cottage is a lovely home, cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and of all the cottages I know in the village, this one is by far the lightest with really big bay windows which bring in the light all through the day.”

“We’re moving locally as we want to remain in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell. We’re really keen gardeners and we’ve created a really pretty garden here, but we feel we have done as much as we can with it, and now we want to have a bit of adventure by taking on a new garden.”

Contact agents Carter Jonas on 01865 511444 or visit the website carterjonas.co.uk

Written by Spriggs David for The Oxford Times

Stratford Park: Carter Jonas brings hundreds of new homes to market

Our client, Carter Jonas New Homes, is heading up the launch and marketing of a major housing development near Milton Keynes which will bring hundreds of much-needed new homes to the region.

Carter Jonas in Northampton has been appointed sole agent for Stratford Park, a development of approximately 350 new homes on the edge of Wolverton, Milton Keynes.

The 18-acre site is being jointly developed by three of the country’s biggest house builders; Barratt Homes, Bellway and David Wilson Homes who have chosen Carter Jonas to handle the marketing by creating an overall brand and web presence for the Stratford Park development. Spriggs David is handling media relations to generate coverage throughout regional, trade and national titles.

Building work commenced this autumn, which will bring a variety of contemporary, high specification one, two, three and four bedroom homes to the historic market town of Wolverton, just a stones’ throw from Stony Stratford.

With prices currently ranging from £214,995 to £274,995 Stratford Park will be popular with professionals and families looking to capitalise on the area’s excellent transport connections.  Train services from Wolverton to London Euston take 45 minutes while commuters are just a four minute ride from central Milton Keynes, four miles away, or a 13 minute train journey from Northampton, 15 miles away.

Carter Jonas anticipates that the range of properties and the site’s location will also appeal to buy-to-let investors.

Zoe Davies, who runs Carter Jonas’ Central Region New Homes Division, says:  “We are proud to be involved in bringing this exciting new development to our central region and believe it will play a part in helping to satisfy the huge demand for housing in this area.”

The New Homes Division of the Carter Jonas Northampton office has been expanded this year in order to manage the marketing of this fantastic new venture, alongside village developments in Nether Heyford and Hartwell, as well as several more schemes due to launch in 2012.

For more information contact Sarah Price on 01604 608223 or email her at sarah.price@carterjonas.co.uk.

Carter Jonas helps Christian charity open door to larger premises

Telfer House, acquired by Christian charity Open Doors

Carter Jonas has finalised the letting of one of Witney’s largest vacant commercial properties to an Oxfordshire based charity.

Telfer House, a 21,960 sq ft (2,040 sq m) detached office and warehousing unit in Range Road, Witney, which is owned by Vale of White Horse District Council, is set to be occupied by Christian charity Open Doors after they agreed a ten year lease on the property for £120,000 p.a. with an option to purchase the building.

Formerly occupied by Torex Retail, the unit comprises a two storey, open plan building with kitchen facilities and 102 car parking spaces

The charity, which supports and serves persecuted Christians, has been based in Oxfordshire since 1970, and had outgrown its current 5,563 sq ft office building in North Leigh.  It will move into the new unit in December.

Open Doors’ Chief Executive Officer, Eddie Lyle, said: “We had massively outgrown our existing premises so we are very excited to be moving in.  This new building with all the facilities it offers is a perfect base to work towards our vision of raising global support for persecuted Christians.”

Cllr Elaine Ware, cabinet member for property at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “This property is part of our investment portfolio and we are pleased to have secured the letting of it to Open Doors, particularly in this difficult economic climate.”

Jon Silversides of Carter Jonas added: “In what remains a challenging market, this is a significant letting in Witney in terms of both size and the ability to retain an established local occupier.”

Carter Jonas has now been instructed to market Open Doors’ former premises, a detached, high quality office building in North Leigh. “This property is available either to lease or to purchase and would make an ideal space for an SME to move into,” adds Jon Silversides.

Bucks farm to benefit from faster rail access

Muswell Hill Farm, Brill, near Aylesbury. On the market as a whole or in lots

Commuters who need good access to the capital have the opportunity to purchase a beautiful 54.51 acre farm on in Brill. Muswell Hill Farm is a grassland holding with a guide price of £1.495m and its hilltop position allows views over a number of surrounding counties including Berks, Northants, Warwicks and Oxon.

The hilltop view over several counties

The farm is for sale as a whole or in two lots. Lot 1, priced at £1.245m, includes a period detached farmhouse of brick and stone which is full of character and in need of complete modernisation.. There are also a number of traditional buildings some of which still contain original stabling. Set within 4.25 acres (1.72 hectares), the house enjoys views from the top of Muswell Hill to the south, east and west.

Lot 2 is 49.89 acres (20.19 hectares) of grassland with long ranging views to the south, east and west, and is on the market for £250,000.

Located just over one mile from the village of Brill and less than seven miles from Bicester, the farm is ideally situated to benefit from faster train times between Birmingham and London which take effect this September. The work will cut journey times by up to 20 per cent, making Bicester just 41 minutes from London by train.

Steven McLaughlin, Rural Partner for Carter Jonas in Oxford, said: “This is an excellent opportunity to invest in land with incredible views over five counties and with excellent transport links to London, the Midlands and Oxford.”
To arrange a viewing contact Steven McLaughlin on 01865 511444, email steven.McLaughlin@carterjonas.co.uk or visit www.carterjonas.co.uk.

This editorial was written by Spriggs David for the Bucks regional media, September 2011