Tiffany Sweeney (29) and her partner Myles Bull (28) have purchased a Redrow home at Ebbsfleet Green, part of the Ebbsfleet Garden City development in Kent. Tiffany is a broadcast journalist working in central London and Myles is a property developer and franchise owner at Subway, with a restaurant in Maidstone, Kent.
Importance of commuter connections, despite COVID
The decision to buy a home in Ebbsfleet was largely driven by its proximity to where Tiffany and Myles work, neither of them are continuing to work from home due to the specific demands of their jobs. Though Tiffany had been working remotely between March and July, as a broadcast journalist, she continues to need to work from her offices in central London long term, meanwhile her partner, Myles Bull, is a franchise owner of a Subway restaurant in Maidstone. The need for them to travel to work meant finding a home which provides them with a pain free and short commute was central to their property search. The piece could look at Ebbsfleet as a location, as well as others on the commuter belt.
Tiffany comments: “Though we reserved our home in January, before the Coronavirus pandemic escalated in the UK, it hasn’t impacted our decision to buy in Ebbsfleet in the slightest. We both travel to work and will not be working from home so selecting somewhere well-connected was hugely important to us. I commute into Central London so being able to catch a 17-minute train to St. Pancras from Ebbsfleet will be brilliant. Myles drives to Maidstone for his work, so its easy access to the A2 is ideal.
“Once international travel becomes easier, we will definitely make the most of having the Eurostar on our doorsteps, meaning we can jump on a train for a quick weekend in Paris, Amsterdam or Brussels. The ability to travel abroad so effortlessly is a real bonus, and a unique benefit of living in Ebbsfleet. The area itself is so new and up and coming, it feels like the perfect place to start a new chapter – one that doesn’t involve painfully long commutes!”
Stamp duty holiday
Tiffany and Myles were pleased to be able to benefit from the stamp duty holiday, and are saving approximately £15,000 in fees. The money saved is being invested back into their home as the couple are planning to use the windfall to purchase all their furniture, rather than having to save up again and purchase it overtime. The stamp duty announcement was acknowledged by many in the industry as providing a ‘domino effect’ on the wider economy, supporting suppliers, subcontractors and consultants to the housebuilding industry, as well as boosting businesses supplying goods and services related to moving home such as furnishings, white goods and many others.
Tiffany explains: “We had saved the £15,000 stamp duty fees over a number of years and with some help from our parents. Having to put such a large sum of money aside for this was hard because it sucked up our entire savings and meant we were worried about having the necessary funds to furnish the home upon moving in.
“Hearing about the stamp duty holiday was a complete relief and has meant we can invest the money saved into furniture, various extras and upgrades via Redrow’s online platform ‘My Redrow’, and still have some money left aside for a rainy day.
“I spend most of my time in the kitchen, experimenting with different recipes and entertaining family and friends, so having a beautiful kitchen was absolutely key. Part of the money we have saved has been put towards high-quality worktops, flooring and a kitchen island. It has essentially allowed us to create our perfect home.”
Ebbsfleet Green is our flagship development in Ebbsfleet Garden City, which will comprise 900 new homes once complete. To date, 442 homes have been built across several phases, creating a bustling new community with, a co-op store, pub and hotel already open. In the coming years, a primary school will open, alongside a community centre and commercial space. As the name suggests, Ebbsfleet Green is landscaped to create plenty of green spaces, with over 40% of the development designated as parkland or open spaces, including play areas, allotments and sports pitches.
There are 84 homes remaining at Ebbsfleet Quarter, one of the latest phases at Ebbsfleet Green. The three- and four-bedroom homes are taken from our award winning Heritage Collection, with traditional exteriors inspired by the Arts & Crafts architectural movement of the 1930s, met with bright and modern interiors, with high ceilings, open plan living and integrated appliances.
Residents at Ebbsfleet Green benefit from the high-speed line which links Ebbsfleet International to London St Pancras in just 17 minutes. Canterbury, Maidstone and the seaside towns of Whitstable and Margate are also within easy reach via train and car. The Eurostar also calls at Ebbsfleet International, providing connections to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam.
Prices start from £289,995 for a two-bedroom apartment and houses currently start at £449,995. To find out more about the homes, please visit www.redrow.co.uk/ebbsfleetquarter
