Finding Peace and Freedom at Cocoa Gardens in York
City Living with a Breath of Fresh Air
After nearly three decades in their four-bedroom village home 18 miles north of York, Jane and Pete Oglesby began to consider their next move. They had enjoyed village life, built friendships, and grown roots, but when their young granddaughter sighed from the backseat one day, “Grandma, your road is soooo long, can’t you move closer?” something shifted.
Jane, a quality auditor, comments: “That was it. That one comment said it all. We’d been toying with the idea of being closer to family and moving closer to York city, but hearing her say it out loud made the decision for us.”
Now, the couple are happily settled in their brand-new three-bedroom detached home at Cocoa Gardens, just a short walk from York Minster. Their move wasn’t just about convenience, it was about reclaiming time, embracing spontaneity, and making everyday life richer.
Benefits for Emma and Rebecca
- A more central location and a less than a 30 minute commute.
- Equal size bedrooms and two parking spots.
- Enjoying the Grand Union Canal for exercise and leisure.
- Instead of renting, both were able to get onto the property ladder.
Prioritising size and location
When choosing their home, it boiled down to two priorities for Rebecca and Emma; location and bedroom sizes. Sharing the home together meant they needed equal-sized bedrooms and a bathroom each. They also wanted a reasonable commute.
Rebecca explains: “Being in Kent or Essex would have meant very expensive train fares and petrol bills. Here we can whizz straight to work on the Piccadilly line in about 30 minutes or drive to work in just 25 minutes.”
They also found that most two-bedroom homes have large master bedrooms and much smaller second bedrooms. However, at Liberty Wharf they found two equal-sized rooms as well as two parking spaces, making it an ideal choice for their situation.
Shared ownership was a great option for us as it was proving impossible to do it alone. Using the scheme also meant we could hold back a cushion within our savings which we were really thankful for.”
Rebecca at Liberty Wharf
Living and leisure
With Brent Cross and Westfield both short car journeys away, Rebecca and Emma are making the most of the shops and familiarising themselves with Alperton and its surroundings. “We began researching options in October and moved in in March. We were kept busy, putting flat-pack furniture together and getting to know the area. We love walking and running down The Grand Union Canal which runs right in front of the development. There’s always something of interest here; the pretty barges and long boats that pass through are wonderful."
An equal share
The friends bought 25% of their property, contributing £10,000 each. Rebecca concludes: “It's quite strange that we haven't known each other very long, but it works brilliantly. We're enjoying having our own place to call home and we have different days off, as well as lives outside of work... there's always plenty to chat about when we're at home at the same time.”