STAFF at Stonewood Partnerships have celebrated the opening of its show home at the prestigious Somerbrook development in Great Somerford in north Wiltshire.

The 38-home neighbourhood, which features a mix of two, three, four and five bedroomed homes is its debut scheme and has already had reservations on four homes.

The four-bedroom Hendon show home has a large open hallway that leads to a generously-sized living room at the front and a huge kitchen diner looking out over the garden. Upstairs a spacious landing with room for a workspace is dominated by a high ceiling where light pours in through a skylight. It opens up on to four bedrooms, including a master bedroom with en suite, and a family bathroom.

One bedroom in the show home is decorated with a skies and balloon theme in a nod to Sir Walter Powell, the former MP for Somerford who was lost at sea off the Dorset coast in a hot air balloon in 1881. The village school still bears his name in tribute and has its own balloon-themed weathervane.

“The opening has been a big day for us,” said Stonewood Land Director Gavin Calthrop. “For months we’ve been looking at the plans and painstakingly choosing the fixtures and fittings. These designs are brand new so to open the door of our first completed home and to see how light and spacious it is, that’s a huge thrill for all of us.”

Staff from the company’s office in Tormarton and parent firm Stonewood in Castle Combe were at the site, which was once home to a dairy herd on the edge of the village, to mark the opening of the home in a socially distanced ceremony. “It was just a lovely moment to share with everyone and we also invited some of our partners and contractors to be with us to celebrate. It has been a huge team effort and we wanted to reflect that.

“After the ceremony everyone joined us for a lunch at The Volunteer Inn in the village because we wanted to reinforce the fact this new neighbourhood is an important part of the village. The families who will make their homes at Somerbrook will be contributing to the life of the community, supporting the pub, the village shop and dozens of other local businesses and sending their children to the school.”

The farm that neighbours the development, first established in the 1500s, is still working and the entrance to the site is bordered by some of its historic stone and timber buildings.

The landscaped entrance to the neighbourhood opens up on to a vista of green space that takes in views across the countryside. It’s a lovely spot and we’ve been careful to ensure that there is plenty of space to breathe here,” said Mr Calthrop.

The site features seven two-bedroom and three three-bedroom affordable homes, which will be let through White Horse Housing Association. “We’ve taken great care to ensure the affordable homes blend in with the development. They have fantastic views across the countryside,” said Mr Calthrop.

Prices start at £425,000 for three bedroom homes, £565,000 for four bedrooms and £725,000 for five bedrooms.

The show home is open by appointment to comply with Covid regulations. To book a visit call 01454 809780 or email somerbrook@stonewoodpartnerships.co.uk. For more details about Somerbrook or Stonewood’s Tannery development in Holt, go to stonewoodpartnerships.co.uk.

For a 360 degrees fly-through of the Hendon show home go to: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=r1no2v8UdJA.