Barbara wasn't actively looking for a new home, but after 28 years in the same property, she had started to grow tired of the maintenance and garden upkeep that came with it. It was her daughter, who lives locally in Lyndhurst, who suggested she take a look at the new development at Lyndhurst Park.
"I got to the stage with the bungalow where I was getting fed up with the maintenance and the garden and all those sorts of things," Barbara explains. “So, when my daughter told me to take a look at Lyndhurst Park, I knew quite quickly it would suit me perfectly.”
Having lived locally for 28 years, Barbara knew the area well. With one daughter living in Lyndhurst, one in Marchwood and a son in Southampton, as well as four grandchildren and soon to be four great-grandchildren, staying local was important to remain close to family.
The apartments at Lyndhurst Park are completed to a high specification with bespoke, elegant kitchens, integrated appliances, flooring throughout and underfloor heating to all areas. For Barbara, the practical benefits were immediately apparent. "A member of the team came to visit me when I was purchasing off-plan and said, 'You've got as much room here in the flat as you have in the bungalow,' which I have. So, I actually wasn't losing any floor space."
Barbara particularly appreciates the open-plan kitchen-diner layout, something that was new to her. "I really like the layout of the kitchen dining area. And I've got a little balcony, where I have added some plants. So, that's all coming together nicely."
The location was another key factor in Barbara's decision. With everything she needs now on her doorstep, daily life has become much more convenient. "There's everything on my doorstep - the doctors, the chemists, Tesco’s, Co-op, all the pubs, the restaurants, it's all there."
The transport links also work perfectly for Barbara's lifestyle. "There's a bus stop right outside the door, either going into Southampton or to Lymington. I'm still fairly active. I go to David Lloyd, I do aqua classes, and I regularly walk in the forest."
Barbara has also discovered the benefits of the local community centre. "What I do like is the community centre. I've joined that, and tomorrow afternoon, I'm going to the cinema there. They have coffee mornings and different things going on. The community centre is really good."
Since moving in, Barbara has found the development offers the perfect balance of community and privacy. She's met several of her neighbours and describes them as very friendly, with a real mix of residents from first-time buyers to families and people using properties as holiday homes.
For Barbara, the move to Lyndhurst Park has given her exactly what she was looking for. A combination of low-maintenance living, an ideal location with everything on the doorstep, and a friendly community.
"I have more time now. It's not having a garden or the maintenance to worry about, and it's lovely sitting on the balcony."