When searching for their new home together, self-employed accountant Iquo Nwankwo (49) had a clear list of requirements for her and her sister Chi Chi (51), who has Downs Syndrome and requires support to help with her learning needs. On discovering Beaulieu in Chelmsford, a joint venture by Countryside (part of the Vistry Group) and L&Q, offering a wide range of new homes and the amenities ideally required to support the sisters’ lives, including a community centre, shops, cafes, schools, medical and dental practices and a supermarket, they stopped looking elsewhere and waited over a year for their perfect property to become available.
Iquo, 49, and Chi Chi, 51, first visited Beaulieu in June 2023. She explains: “I previously owned a three-bedroom 1970s house in Ruislip and as we couldn’t afford to upsize, we looked at various locations outside the capital. When we came across Beaulieu, we knew straight away that it was the place for us. I work predominantly from home, with the occasional commute to London, so easy connectivity to the capital was essential. We loved the show homes available at Beaulieu Heath but I really wanted separate living and dining rooms so that I could use one as a home office. So, I drove immediately to another Countryside development in Braintree to look at The Chelmer show home, and subsequently put my name down on three of these homes being constructed at Beaulieu. We were then delighted to move into our new four-bedroom house a year later in June 2024.”
Iquo comments: “I am a foodie and a huge fan of cooking and entertaining friends and family, so The Chelmer is perfect for us. There is a great amount of space for everyone to relax and enjoy, with a family dining area in the large kitchen, where everyone can chat while I cook for them and we can then all enjoy eating together. We also have four bedrooms, one with an ensuite and a large bathroom, so plenty of space for everyone to comfortably stay over. Most importantly, having a separate living and dining rooms, has meant that I can use one of these rooms as an office where I now love working from home, while Chi Chi can enjoy using the living room. There are many additional benefits including a utility room for our laundry, a downstairs cloakroom and a dedicated dressing area and en-suite in my lovely bedroom.
Iquo comments: “We love living at Beaulieu as everything is literally on the doorstep. We wanted a cleaner, healthier lifestyle and this is easy to achieve and enjoy here, especially with so much green open space available. We can literally walk out of our front door and enjoy a long walk around the surrounding parkland, which makes it very easy to connect with nature. Chi Chi is now keen to get a little dog, which we plan to do soon, as it’s the perfect environment for dog owners. We’re excited to have family members come to visit, as having four bedrooms means we have plenty of room to accommodate them all.”
‘For me, it’s great to be able to work from home, as I am here when Chi Chi needs me. We love all of the amenities that are available at Beaulieu Square, including the supermarket, shops and café and we can easily get into Chelmsford where there is a great range of shops, restaurants and amenities. I can also easily commute to the city using the regular bus service to Chelmsford train station where it’s a 32-minutes journey into London Liverpool Street. It will be even easier when the new Beaulieu train station opens in 2025. I am also planning to rent office space at Beaulieu Exchange when this business facility becomes available in years to come, and then I really will be using all the services available onsite.”
“We are now looking forward to making friends and joining many of the wide range of socially groups already available at the community centre, including Zumba. I would also like to initiate support groups for people like Chi Chi, who have learning difficulties. We are already being offered support with nearby services from Essex Country Council and City of Chelmsford Mencap, including a local day centre and we are grateful that the new Beaulieu Medical Centre opens at the end of this year. This really is a new neighbourhood for everyone.”
A wide range of new homes are available at Beaulieu, including at Beaulieu Gate where prices start from £249,995 for a one bedroom apartment and at Beaulieu Heath where start from £284,995 for a one bedroom house. On-site facilities include Essex’s first all-through primary and secondary school, a day nursery, an education centre and new community, health, sport and retail amenities.
“Beaulieu is a lovely place to live,” concludes Iquo. “There is beautiful parkland for walks, shops and cafes for everyday needs and quick access to London. The quality of the homes is excellent too. It’s all been very well thought out.”
