Find park homes in Crewe
- Thursday, 13 August 2009
- 0 Comments
WE WANT
‘A park home with two bedrooms would suit us fine, so long as it has parking alongside. There must be a garden although it doesn't need to be large. And as we have a Highland terrier, Jockey, the park must accept dogs. It needs to be quite small and on the level, too. Oh yes, and because we currently have only one car, needs to be a bus close by within easy walking distance.'
WE CAN AFFORD...
‘Our mortgage will soon be paid up and we have recently inherited some money following the death of Ellis's Dad. So we could use the proceeds from the sale of our house to finance a move. Allowing for moving costs and keeping a bit in reserve, we reckon we could afford up to £130,000 in cash to buy the park home itself.'
LOCATION 1
DELAMERE GROVE PARK
Comprising just 25 terraced plots on several levels, Delamere Grove Park is like a huge, landscaped rockery made up of individual, carefully-tended, gardens.
Located just to the north of the A54, midway between Congleton and Chester, this park lies amid open farmland a mile south of the Delamere Forest. It is eight miles south west of Northwich and 19 miles north west of Crewe.
There has been a residential park here since 1973. Purchased by Andrew and Gina Thornley five years ago (they also own a second park in Preston, Lancashire), it has since benefited from re-surfaced roads and new street lighting.
Delamere has a license for 25 homes. All, but one, are twins, mostly Stately, Omar and Wessex models, with the oldest dating back to 1973.
A clear majority of residents are retired and an indication of that is, perhaps, the state of the open-plan gardens which, without exception, show evidence of tender, loving care. Ornamental conifers, shrubs and miniature palm trees abound. But the overwhelming theme is one of carefully-tended rockeries. A real picture, even on a dull, rainy day.
The hillside location means excellent views but a climb up a slope or steps or both to reach your front door. As a result, residents doubtless value their cars - and the parking too, which is a mixture of bays alongside homes, communal spaces and a block of garages.
CONTACT DETAILS
Delamere Grove Park, Eddisbury Hill, Delamere, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 2JJ
Tel: 01978 664202
Email: sales@country-parks.co.uk
Contact: Andrew Thornley
Owners: Cornish Farm, Francis Lane, Holt, Wrexham LL13 9YB
WHAT DID TINA AND ELLIS THINK?
OUR CONCERNS...
‘It's a bit hilly with rather a steep climb.'
‘The bus stop is farther away than we would like.'
‘Ideally we would prefer to be a bit closer to Crewe if possible.'
BUT WE LOVE...
‘It's a lovely setting with beautiful gardens.'
‘The views, especially from the top of the park, are fantastic.'
‘We get the impression that younger members of our family would be made welcome.'
FACILITIES
There are no facilities at all on site
The nearest shop is a mini supermarket a quarter of a mile away
There are some shops and a Post Office 3 miles away in Kelsall Winsford, the main shopping centre 7 miles away, is where you can find large supermarkets
Doctors' and dental surgeries can be found in Kelsall
For a hospital with A&E you need to go to Crewe, 19 miles away
The nearest station is a mile away in Delamere
LIVING COSTS
Ground rent costs £118.64 per calendar month
All homes come under Band A for council tax and cost £928.65 for the year 2009-10
Electricity is billed quarterly by the park
Each home has its own mini bulk lpg tank or cylinders
Water and sewerage cost £284.43 per annum
PARK POINTS
The minimum age for residents is 18
There is a block of 17 garages, some rented, some owner occupied
Pets are allowed
The park is terraced and on several levels
Access roads and street lighting have recently been renewed
HOMES AT DELAMERE GROVE PARK
At the time of our visit there were two vacant plots available for homes up to 40x22 in size. In addition, four previously-owned models dating from the 1970's were up for sale. They included a 38x20 Stately priced at £85,000, a modified 36x20 Stately costing £110,000 and a 39x20 Donington, price £95,000.
LOCATION 2
KINDERTON PARK
Located less than a mile from Junction 18 on the M6 motorway, Kinderton is a new gated development in a rural setting with only eight homes but plans for up to c.30 more.
The park lies just to the west of the M6, barely a mile as the crow flies from Middlewich and even closer to the Trent & Mersey Canal. Crewe is less than ten miles away, 17 minutes' drive according to the AA.
There has been a park here since the 1960's. Spread across seven acres, it was purchased by Tom and Annemarie Herring, who live on site, a bit over ten years ago and currently has a license for 11 plots, three of which are not used.
As well as there being CCTV, residents are provided with portable remote controls for the electrically-operated gates. Alongside those, though not now part of the estate, is a farmhouse which dates back to 1684.
All of the homes are Omar twins dating from 2004/5. All but one of the residents are retired and even the exception works only part time. There are no garages but all of the homes have block-paved drives providing parking alongside, each big enough to take two cars.
This park is flat and level with a single straight tarmac road giving access to the two rows of homes. Their open-plan, landscaped gardens all showed clear signs of tlc.
CONTACT DETAILS
Kinderton Park, Cledford Lane, Middlewich, Cheshire CW10 0JS
Tel: 01606 833492
Contact: Annemarie Herring
Email: herringparkhomes@aol.com
WHAT DID TINA AND ELLIS THINK?
OUR CONCERNS...
‘The only available homes are right at the top of our price scale.'
‘There wasn't a bus stop close by.'
‘The nearest shop and pub are nearly a mile away.'
BUT WE LOVE...
‘The small size of this park gives it a cosy feel.'
‘It is beautifully laid out with lovely gardens.'
‘The electric gates, CCTV and resident manager give a sense of security.'
FACILITIES
The nearest shop is a Tesco Express 1 mile away in Cledford
Cledford is also the place for a Post Office and takeaway
There is a larger Tesco plus a Lidl 2 miles away in Middlewich
Middlewich is where you can find a GP and dentist
You need to go to Crewe (8 miles away) for a hospital with A&E
The nearest bus stop is a mile away; the train station, 3 miles away in Sandbach
LIVING COSTS
Ground rent costs £140pcm including water and sewerage charges
Homes come under band A for council tax, which is £970.62 for the year 2009-10
Electricity meters are read quarterly by the park
Each home has its own individual bulk lpg tank
PARK POINTS
Minimum age is 50 but younger visitors are welcome
Pets are allowed at the park owners' discretion
There are no amenities on the park
Entry to the park, which has CCTV, is via electrically-operated gates
Kinderton is all on the level with a single straight Tarmac road giving access
HOMES AT KINDERTON
On sale when we visited were two previously-owned park homes, both Omars, 2004/5 models. They were a 42x20 Sheringham, priced at £140,000, and a 40x20 Sandringham, price £130,000.
AND NOW FOR OUR FAVOURITE
KINDERTON PARK
‘We loved the setting and the views at Delamere but the layout and the practicality of Kinderton won the day for us, not least because we have family living in Middlewich and it's much nearer Crewe.'
OUR FAVOURITE BITS
We like the idea of living in such a closely-knit community
It's a lovely site with everything fresh and new
The electric gates and closed-circuit tv help you feel safe
For more park reviews, plus in-depth features and practical advice be sure to get Park Home & Holiday Caravann Magazine. To make sure you never miss an issue and to save you money, why not take advantage of our fantastic subscription offers. Simply click here
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