Life in the calm lane…

Hassocks is a historic village with idyllic views overlooking the South Downs.  For those who love rural living yet need good transport links for work or play, this is the perfect location for you.  The main line train station allows easy access to London, and for the jet setters, Gatwick airport is an easy 30 minute drive.  If the city lights of London don’t draw you in, then perhaps a quick 20 minute car journey to the seaside city of Brighton might interest you. 
The village has much on offer for those who enjoy the outdoors, with tennis & squash clubs, golf clubs, bowling greens, scenic South Down routes and much more.  It is a village layered in history, with a church dating back 900 years to the Saxon times, however the village has been pulled into the modern day but still retains its character and charm. 

Driving East along the A23 and onto the A273, my trusty AA route finder safely navigated me towards the rural development built by Barratt Homes.  I had nearly reached the site entrance when the eye-catching yellow AA boards continued to direct me along the narrow roads.  It was easy to find the visitor parking which had informative boards hung on the fences to give me a taste of what the developer has on offer to help those who wish to buy one of their well-built homes.  I walked into the sales office where a well presented show home negotiator welcomed me into his neat, tidy and cleverly displayed sales cabin.  He qualified me and then began by showing the display boards so I was able to comprehend what was on offer and where the available homes were located.  Afterwards, we strolled along to the two bedroom show home where he gave me some snippets of useful information, invited me to take a look around the three bed two doors away, then dashed back to the sales cabin where paper-work awaited his attention.

Both the show-homes were spacious and were designed in different colour schemes, one in yellow and oranges, the other in blues and greens to give perspective buyers a variety of choice.  This time, I will be concentrating on the three bed property known as The Mulberry. 
I entered through the partially glazed fronted door into a large, open lounge.  The first think that grabbed my attention was the wooden flooring and silver framed flame effect fire place. There was plenty of available natural light with more than enough room to move, play or relax in – definitely in-keeping with the surroundings.  The cloakroom and under-stairs cupboard were also a good size.

The kitchen was uniquely designed with colour codes normally unseen in this creative room - however this particular blue gave a pleasing end product.  The kitchen was rectangular in shape with dark wooden veneer cupboards filling much of the space, lots of available light coming through the sink windows and patio doors (which open up onto the turfed rear garden), large grey worktops that blended in well with the brush-chromed door handles, oven and extractor fan.  The kitchen is large enough to fit a four seated breakfast table where residents can enjoy the rear-garden view.

Walking back through the lounge, I climbed the stairs.  The bathroom was the first door I entered which was well proportioned and decorated in blues and creams. The second bedroom lay next to the bathroom fitting a double bed, two side tables and a fitted wardrobe.  The master bedroom, slightly larger than the second bedroom, was decorated in browns and oranges and comes with an en-suite bathroom.  Next to the master is the smaller third room which can be utilised as a study or a bedroom.  This particular room was decorated in a spaceman theme and came with a fitted wardrobe.

What you get for your money:
Prices from £249,995 for a two bed property …
Prices from £285,495 for a three bed property …
Prices from £390,995 for a four bed property …
Prices from £579,495 for a five bed property …

Location, location, location:
A short walk to the main high street where there are a variety of shops, Hassocks train station about 1 mile away, Burgess Hill 2 miles away, Brighton is a twenty minute drive, Golf clubs, tennis clubs and bowls green within a 5 minute car journey.

Best feature:
Spacious, great location, easy access to transport links, outside space available for everyone, good community feel, children’s playground to be built in development between 2009-2010.

Worst feature:
There will be further construction taking place in 2009 – could this cause problems for present residents?

Contact the sales office: 01273 846418 - open daily 10 till 6

• Location:                       9 of 10 (Easy access by roads and to amenities)
• Product:                        10 of 10
• Sales Negotiator service: 8 of 10 (smiled, well spoken, took the time to chat when he was busy)
• Value for money:           Good for family homes or commuters, very good value