Starting their next chapter at Manorwood

When Lia and Ross first explored Manorwood in West Horsley, they were not actively planning to reserve a new home. They were simply out for a walk, scoping the area together, when the development caught their attention.

“We just fell in love with it,” says Lia. “It was one of those moments where we said, ‘we’ll just have a look’ – and then a couple of weeks later, we were here reserving our first home together.”

For the couple, Manorwood offered the right balance of familiarity and fresh beginnings. It felt connected to the surrounding village, rather than separate from it, with homes that sat comfortably alongside the local architecture and streetscape.

A place that felt like home

Having previously owned a modern flat with her sister, Lia was familiar with new build developments. Manorwood stood out because it did not feel like a typical ‘estate’ - the homes had variety, character and a natural fit with the area.

“Sometimes you can go into developments and they feel out of place,” Lia explains. “But it doesn’t feel different down here. The homes are similar to those you might see on a residential road.”

That sense of belonging was important. For Lia, who was moving into a new area, Manorwood felt welcoming and reassuring. For Ross, it offered the chance to stay close to the place he knew, while starting a new chapter together.

Space, greenery and room to grow

One of the biggest attractions to their new home was the feeling of space. After flat living, Lia was particularly drawn to having a garden and views of greenery. Ross also noticed that the outside space felt more generous than they had expected from a new build home.

“Usually, the garden is the size of a postage stamp,” he says. “But this one is a decent size.”

The couple also valued practical features such as a garage and an electric vehicle charging point, which has already started conversations about moving to a plug-in hybrid or electric car in the future.

For them, Manorwood offers a lifestyle that works now and could continue to work as their plans evolve: peaceful, green, safe and connected, with useful amenities close by, including the nursery and play areas within the development.

Quality that gave them confidence

When Lia and Ross began considering whether to buy together, they explored different options, including older homes and other new build developments nearby. Manorwood quickly became the benchmark.

For Ross, the quality of the home and our reputation were major factors. “You hear some bad things about new builds,” he says. “But when we were looking around the property, you could just tell that they’re done to a higher standard.”

The couple liked that the home was a blank canvas: ready to move into, easy to personalise and without the pressure of renovation work. As Lia puts it, “We could just come in and start the next chapter together.”

Connected to work, London and the Surrey countryside

Manorwood’s location also worked for their day-to-day lives. Lia commutes to Reading when needed, while Ross drives to Wimbledon several times a week. Being close to the A3 makes Ross’s commute straightforward, and the wider location gives them the best of both worlds: access to work and London, with countryside and village life on the doorstep.

That balance was important. Lia says London never felt quite right for them. “I’m not a city girl,” she smiles. At Manorwood, they have the space and greenery they wanted, while still staying well connected.

A supportive buying experience

The journey to buying their first home together was not without delays, largely because Lia was selling a previous property. Once that process was complete, the purchase moved quickly.

Lia and Ross felt supported throughout by our team, particularly when it came to keeping their reservation in place and helping move things along. “They understood that things take time,” says Ross. “There wasn’t pressure on us. They understood we wanted to get moving as much as we could.”

The couple also praised the support from the Sales Consultant, who helped keep the process on track. “She was always on it,” Ross says. “Trying to apply that extra bit of pressure and help us move things forward.”

“I’d recommend it”

Asked what they would say to someone considering a move to Manorwood, Ross is clear: “I’d recommend it.” Lia agrees, adding that the best way to understand the development is to walk around and get a feel for it.

For a young couple starting out together, Manorwood has offered more than a new home. It has given Lia and Ross somewhere that feels safe, well-built and full of potential; a place where they can enjoy the present while thinking about the future.

“You look at it and think, this is the type of place where you want to raise a family,” says Lia.

“We could just come in and start the next chapter together.”

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