Preston Close, Ampthill, MK45

Modern, high-tech and eco-friendly, The Clearing is architecturally designed and ergonomically planned to suit 21st century family life. This property offers the utmost tranquillity, surrounded and screened by trees in just under an acre of grounds yet all hidden from view in the centre of the lovely Georgian market town of Ampthill. It is like a secret piece of countryside planted right in the middle of town. It is a rare and inspirational find. Tied into the era of the town and inspired by Grand Designs, there are Georgian details interspersed into the geometric aesthetic, clad in red cedar and constructed from innovative Insulated Concrete Form (ICF). All windows are the highest quality triple glazing in line with passive house standards, and all lighting is LED.

A Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery (MVHR) system maintains a constant flow of warm fresh air circulating around the house, the lavatories flush with water from the garden well, and the property is so thoroughly insulated that just a small gas boiler is more than sufficient to heat the whole house. The ‘warm’ roof is also wired for photovoltaic panels with the potential for further sustainable energy.

Technology has been woven into the home, from a centrally controlled whole house music system with the family’s favourite ‘party mode’ setting, electric awnings with wind sensors, electric curtains, and zoned and motion sensor lighting. Futureproofing has been at the forefront too. The large integrated garage is built to the same specifications as the house, allowing for conversion if desired, and the guest suite has been placed on the main floor for single-storey living if required.

In an ‘upside down’ formation, the layout makes the most of the wraparound plot, with bedrooms to the ground floor, and living areas to the first for stunning vistas across the gardens and over to Ampthill’s clocktower. The large, open, light-filled rooms all link wonderfully to each other, yet there’s separation for every family member, for different activities, and for privacy when needed.

The electric gates and sweeping driveway bring you to the main entrance at ground level, and a path leads to the secondary, higher level terrace. Coming into the wow-factor reception hall, the accommodation is instantly homely, warm and welcoming— a reflection of what awaits. From here, a corridor leads to the utility room, the plant room and the garage on the right. The plant room houses the music server, network and TV distribution, the lighting controls and large capacity hot water tanks, MVHR, and the pump that brings water from the well in the garden.

Also on the right side of this tier is the owner’s suite of an enormous bedroom, an extensively fitted dressing room and an absolutely gorgeous ensuite. To the left are three further bedrooms, an ensuite shower room, and a family bathroom. The children love their own spaces in their bedrooms, which are substantially sized and offer outlooks over the grounds.

The first floor is where the hub of the home is — the spectacular open plan kitchen and living space, with an adjoining formal dining room. The kitchen provides “masses of storage”, two multi-function ovens with warming drawers, two dishwashers, a wine fridge, full size individual fridge and freezer, and a fabulous island with Dekton ceramic worksurfaces.

From the living areas, there are uninterrupted views of the grounds, particularly impactful when the bi-fold doors are open. The epitome of an all-seasons home, dappled sunlight fills each room throughout the day via the expanse of glass. With the real feeling of being in a treehouse, the corner most room of the upstairs is the best example as it’s situated above the lowest point of the plot. This room is currently utilised as a TV snug and office, and what better place to work than here, among the trees.
During lockdown, the family found this home the easiest place to be holed up in, and that it was and continues to be a joy to live in.

One of the many, many things the owners love about the house is being able to sit on the west-facing terrace, the firepit alight, chatting with friends and family and enjoying the evening sun in what are idyllic surroundings. They list the wildlife in the garden, including wild ducks visiting the pond, swifts in the air and the trees within the plot: mulberry, holly, yew, oak, silver birch, walnut, fig and the magnificent feature cherry tree. The garden is a safe haven for numerous hedgehogs which are becoming much rarer to see in England. We can envision lounging on the balcony, watching the colours of the leaves turn from green to orange in autumn, and the family tell us the plot is “magical” in the snow.

In the ‘gardening’ zone of the predominantly lawned grounds, there are handmade cold frames over vegetable plots, a vegetable/fruit enclosure, and a gardener’s store and wc. The original Edwardian hot house was saved and reconstructed as a versatile and sizeable garden room with a handy utility area, a patio for summertime, and a wood burner so it can be appreciated in winter too. The family have lovingly nurtured the gardens and have planted many trees and structural plants, a spectacular rose display adjacent to the garden room and have trained a beautiful grapevine over a pergola to create another lovely space to sit and enjoy a glass of something with yet another vista to enjoy.

A charming summerhouse sits on the east boundary of the grounds, tucked between the foliage and captures the very last of the evening sun. There is a special place in the garden for every time of day and season of the year.

Backing onto the ‘Zig Zag’ park, the address is a short walk into the bustling town centre. The high street is lined with independent stores, a Waitrose supermarket, cafés and restaurants, pubs and a wine bar. Ampthill is sought after as a location with great schools and there are dedicated bus connections directly to Bedford’s Harpur Trust private schools. The town is great for commuters, without being a typical commuter town, and the nearest stations are Flitwick and Bedford for fast and frequent trains into London. Cambridge, Stevenage and Milton Keynes are all very accessible driving commutes. Sports are high up the list of things to do in Ampthill, with the local rugby club competing in the RFU Championship and there are thriving cricket and football clubs too. There is a well-established, regular comedy club night that brings top acts out from London and a range of other social activities that help create the amazing community that is Ampthill.

The Clearing presents a truly perfect combination of location and property.