Helen Rawnsley, her partner Keith and their young son Alfie moved to Heyford Park this year, having previously lived near Oxford.

Helen, who works at the University of Oxford, didn’t originally plan to move into a newly built home until she came to visit Heyford Park. She explains:

“Before we moved to Heyford Park, we lived in a Victorian terraced house just outside of Oxford. We wanted more space, and we also had a small garden that wasn’t safe for Alfie, as it was close to a busy road.

“We started looking for houses in April 2019 around Risinghurst and Abingdon, but there wasn’t a huge amount on the market at that time. Our friends were looking to move to Heyford Park and suggested we have a look. I wasn’t really interested in a new build as I liked the character of the older homes. After viewing a few of the different house types, we walked past the green and there was a group of people with kids, who were playing and enjoying the sunshine - it just felt really welcoming and seemed to have a nice community spirit.  We then realised the people on the green were actually friends of ours who already lived here, so we went back and had a catch up.

thisisoxfordshire: Photos indicative of the Darcy house typePhotos indicative of the Darcy house type

“The house was already built, so we didn’t have any choice on the finishes, however what we saw all looked to a high standard and we thought it was tastefully done.  It was a blank space to make our own.  I've always been interested in interiors, so have been able to make a start on putting our stamp on the house. I enjoyed decorating Alfie's room - it's amazing what a bit of paint can do to change how a space feels.”

The family have since moved into a four-bedroom home, providing them with plenty of room to grow, using the Help to Buy scheme with their purchase. Helen continues:

“The Help to Buy scheme meant we could buy a Darcy home, which we liked because of the open plan feel and the fact it had four bedrooms, so there would be room to have guests stay. What we saw all looked to a high standard and we thought it was tastefully done. “

The family have now settled into life at Heyford Park and are enjoying all that the new neighbourhood has to offer.

“For me, there's the local train station that's super close and gets me into Oxford in around 15 minutes and Bicester is nearby too. There's a nursery and a school that we can walk Alfie to, and the green is a really lovely space.”

Prices at Heyford Park start from £275,000. To secure your new build home in Oxfordshire, please call 01869 238 238 or visit www.heyfordpark.com