Hare Meadow, Great Barford, MK44

Spacious, contemporary and in show home condition is this detached family property, built just a few years ago, and set on a small development on the edge of the village, next to open fields.

This private position was one of the property’s main appeals for the owners, who have appreciated being one of only two tucked at the end of the close. Before purchasing off-plan in 2018, they were living in another newbuild, but Linden Homes’ Hare Meadow offered them exactly what they wanted for their next step: a bigger house on a smaller development. Its outlooks were a bonus, with wonderful views over the school playing fields and across surrounding countryside.

The location was the perfect fit too, within a 45-minute drive of Luton airport for Mr, under an hour to Cambridge for Mrs, 15 minutes from Bedford’s Harpur Trust for their daughter, and with lots of long walks on the doorstep for their labradoodle. Moving from Little Paxton, Great Barford gave them a similar situation, still along the river, and with ample amenities, including a shop and a Post Office, pubs and takeaways, and a village hall and playparks, one of which is on the development.

As well as being close to the county town of Bedford, Milton Keynes city centre is half an hour’s drive away from Great Barford, London can be reached by direct rail from Bedford and Sandy stations, and major roads such as the A1 and the M1 are easily accessible.

As for the house, it was an immediate attraction. Upstairs are four double bedrooms, an en suite shower room and a family bathroom. Parents have privacy to their principal suite, and children each have a big bedroom. Bedroom one has a bank of built-in wardrobes with lighting, and bedroom four has bespoke fitted furniture so both Mr and Mrs can work side by side, which they do so comfortably without feeling crammed in (there’s fibre to the property for better connection).

The space on offer downstairs is also ideal for a family. The hall is wide for welcoming guests and guiding kids out the door, and there are built-in understairs cubbies for shoes, plus a storage cupboard opposite for coats. It’s obvious from the first step inside that the home has been meticulously maintained, and there’s been redecoration in the last 18 months.

The lounge to the right may be very large, with a box bay window for brightness, but it’s also got a cosy feel. The owners use the room most in winter, snuggling on sofas to watch TV (the home has Hive for heating, and solar panels on the garage roof, with surplus energy sold back to the grid). They spend the best part of their time at the back of the house, making meals in the kitchen, eating together at the table, and chilling on the sofa in the snug. The kitchen is a sleek design, with white cabinetry and grey quartz surfacing, and with a whole range of integrated appliances. This sociable, open-plan space is amazing in the summer, especially for entertaining, with French doors opening onto the garden to bring the outdoors in.

The garden is a great size, with a neat lawn, a new full-width patio, and a play area in the corner. The owners have created bar and barbeque areas, and they’ve added lots of planting, including trees along the fence for screening. There are gated side passageways for access to the front, where there’s parking for two, as well as the garage (the garage has an electric door and an EV charger). The garden faces southeast, so there’s nearly always sun. When it disappears from the patio in the late afternoon, the owners will follow it under the cherry trees and sit outside in the evening with a glass of wine, feeling fortunate for this fantastic home, in such a peaceful spot.