Retiree David Thompson had spent 24 years in his family home in Cheshire, raising his two children Lucy and James with his wife Janet. But when Janet sadly passed away in 2022, he knew it was time to make the move to a more manageable property closer to family.

David was looking for a low-maintenance, energy-efficient home and decided that buying a new-build property would give him the peace of mind he was looking for. But he was reluctant to compromise on character, wanted enough outdoor space to fulfil his passion for gardening and good-sized guest bedrooms for when his son and family visited from America. In the chocolate-box Oxfordshire village of East Hagbourne, David found his dream property with Deanfield Homes.

David comments: “It was a huge decision to move, but with five acres of land, the family home had simply become too much for me to manage. I came down for a weekend and began looking at new properties in villages near to where my daughter lives, but many of them were on large developments that seemed to lack character and a real sense of community.

“Deanfield Green was completely different. The brick-built homes were traditional in design, and had plenty of space and a quality finish. The house I chose was the Dalton, a charming double-fronted property with four bedrooms, two of which have ensuite, a spacious kitchen/diner, handy utility room and a separate study. There’s plenty of space for when I have the family to stay, but it also feels cosy when I’m here on my own.

“Having not moved house for nearly a quarter of a century, I was quite apprehensive, but I used one of the solicitors suggested by Deanfield Homes and everything went really smoothly.”

The village of East Hagbourne has also proved a welcoming community for David, who has already made new friends, is a weekly regular at the village pub and will be joining a local photography club. He is now looking forward to showing off his new home when all the family come together to celebrate Christmas this year.

David concludes: “I’m really happy here. I have a plaque in the hallway that says ‘Home Sweet Home’ – and that is exactly how it feels.”

There is currently a range of two, three and four bedroom homes available at Deanfield Green with prices starting from £349,950. For further information, visit www.deanfieldhomes.co.uk/deanfield-green or call 01865 269010.