A little haven of tranquillity

Why Jane knew she’d found the right home

When Jane and her husband, Paul, visited Welborne an unexpected emotional response to the feel of the garden village today and the vision for its future ended a long search for their new home that same day.

“We went into the Welcome Centre where we watched the short immersive film and I felt very emotional" explains Jane, “I just had this very visceral sense of my late father-in-law, who was a town planner, sitting next to us saying, ‘This is where you need to be’. He would have loved the whole vision and found it so interesting.”

The couple weren’t looking for a new-build home before they drove onto the development that day. In fact, after viewing more than 20 older properties, they were still favouring a quiet village setting.

Instead, they found something they hadn’t realised they were missing: the prospect of a thriving community.

"After watching the film, we asked what homes were available," Jane recalls. "When we walked through the front door of this house, it just felt right straight away."

After a long and often frustrating house hunt, Jane says the Kensington was the first property that felt like home rather than a compromise.

A home designed for family life

Relocating from nearby Hill Head, Jane and her husband wanted to be closer to their five adult children and growing number of grandchildren.

Their home has become what the family affectionately calls "HQ".

"With dogs, grandchildren and family constantly coming and going, we wanted somewhere with plenty of space to bring everyone together," says Jane. "The kitchen and family area is perfect for that. It feels spacious without feeling too big."

The couple were particularly drawn to the character of the home, including features that reminded them of the older properties they had grown up in.

"The sash-style windows, the high ceilings and the larger skirting boards all give it a really homely feel. It has the character we loved in older homes, but without any of the maintenance."

Having previously undertaken a complete refurbishment of a 1970s property, Jane appreciates the advantages of moving into a brand-new home.

"It's nice knowing everything is done. We didn't want to spend months decorating or replacing kitchens and bathrooms. The warranty and support have been brilliant too."

Discovering the value of community

While the quality of the home initially attracted Jane, it is the sense of community that has made the biggest difference to daily life.

"When we lived by the sea, it was beautiful, but we never really felt part of the community," she says. "Here, you walk out of your front door and there's always someone to talk to. You see children playing, people walking their dogs and neighbours saying hello."

As one of the first residents at Welborne, Jane quickly recognised an opportunity to help bring people together.

With only a handful of occupied homes at the time, she created a residents' WhatsApp group to help new neighbours connect.

"When people move in, they can choose to join the group and get to know everyone. We've organised social events, helped each other with questions and welcomed new residents. That's really important to me. I never want anyone to feel left out."

Living the Welborne vision

One of Jane's favourite things about Welborne is being among the first residents helping to shape what will become a thriving garden village.

"I think being one of the first ten households is quite special.”

She believes the emerging community already reflects the vision behind the development.

"The café has made such a difference. It's brought people together and created a real hub. It has such a lovely atmosphere. People come in on their own, meet neighbours and spend time together. It's become a really important part of Welborne."

Looking ahead

Although Welborne is still at the start of its journey, Jane is excited about the future.

"I have complete faith in the vision. You can already see it taking shape and, importantly, things are happening. The café opened, people are moving in and the community is growing."

For Jane, though, the appeal of Welborne can be summed up quite simply.

"When you drive in, it feels like a little haven of tranquillity. You've got beautiful surroundings, wonderful walks, a lovely home and, most importantly, people around you."

"It's exactly what we were looking for. We just didn't realise it until we found it."

Jane's advice to anyone considering Welborne?

"Come and see it for yourself. So many people tell me it's not what they expected. Once they visit, they see how beautiful it is, how welcoming it feels and what a special community is already taking shape here."