New energy-efficient home with the Lake District on the doorstep is the perfect combination for lovers of the great outdoors

Homebuyers at Jones Homes developments in Cumbria are able to enjoy the benefits of living in one of the UK’s most desirable postcodes.

Stonecross Meadows in Kendal and coming soon, Helmdale in Natland, are both located within the LA9 postcode, which was listed in this year’s top 11 ‘coolest postcodes’ by The Sunday Times, alongside postcodes in places across the UK from East Lothian to East Sussex. The Sunday Times claims that for the “cool outdoorsy crowd,” the coolest postcodes reside in Kendal.

Having the Lake District National Park right on the doorstep was the key attraction for a couple from Surrey who bought a new home at Jones Homes’ Stonecross Meadows development in Kendal.

Duncan and Rachel moved from a 1980s four-bedroom home in Guildford to a brand-new five-bedroom Knightsbridge house at the development, off Milnthorpe Road, fulfilling their wish to move back to the North West where Rachel’s family were originally from.

The couple also wanted an energy-efficient new-build home – so their new Jones Homes property ticked both boxes.

Keen cyclist and skier Duncan works in a bike shop in Kendal and also instructs people to ski in Italy during the winter months.
He said: “We had been wanting to move to Kendal for a while. Rachel’s family had a holiday home here which we visited multiple times and it made me fall in love with the location, especially with it being perfect for a lover of outdoor pursuits.

“And after living in an older home, we were certain we wanted a newer build when we moved up north, mainly because of their insulation and energy efficiency.”

Rachel, who works locally in logistics, said: “Guildford is in a beautiful part of the world, but it was too busy for us. Kendal has everything we need and suits our lifestyle much more.

“We enjoy hiking up to Scout Scar, which only takes us 25 minutes from the house and, visiting Sizergh Castle which is a National Trust property just south of Kendal, where there are beautiful gardens and a coffee shop. Morecambe Bay and the River Kent, which runs through Kendal, are both wonderful places to visit, too.”

Duncan and Rachel moved into their new home at Stonecross Meadows in December 2019 after selling both of their previous properties. They rented for a while in Kendal while they searched for the perfect place to put down roots.

Duncan said: “We came across Stonecross Meadows through the internet. We went to view it and fell in love with the stone exterior design of the Knightsbridge.”

The five-bedroom property also provides enough space to host family from across the UK. Rachel’s mother lives nearby in Kendal, while her brother lives in the north of Scotland and Duncan’s family lives back in Surrey.

Duncan said: “It was important for both of us that we had enough room to host our family. With everyone being situated across the UK, we wanted a place that would be big enough to have everybody round for events such as Christmas.

“The space of the house is also very convenient day-to-day. Rachel works from home often and having a downstairs office allows her to focus on her work without being distracted. We have also converted one of the upstairs bedrooms into an office for myself.

“The garage allows us to store our bicycles, my skis and other items which we would not necessarily want inside the house.

“Our favourite room, however, must be the kitchen and family living room. It is the perfect space for socialising. Rachel or I will be cooking and the other one may be working at our kitchen island or sat on the sofa in the family room.

“We are still able to see each other and have a conversation, whilst sat in essentially different rooms due to its open space.”

Having bought a new-build home, with no repairs or renovation work required, has given the couple time to enjoy their surroundings in this picturesque part of the world.

Duncan said: “I have refurbished properties previously, and it is a lot of effort and time spent. I would much rather buy a home that is ready to move into, without the hassle of worrying if the room has dampness, or electrical faults.”