After 30 years of living in the US, Ian and Lindsay Poulton had no immediate plans to return to the UK – until their twin daughters said they wanted to study at university here.
With both their mothers also getting older and needing more care, the couple decided it was time to come back home – and they found their perfect place at Bellway’s Bowood View development in Melksham, approximately midway between their families in Ascot, and the University of Exeter, where 19-year-olds Grace and Meredith start in September.
Bellway was on hand to ensure their relocation across the Atlantic went as smoothly as possible, despite the distance involved – and the family moved into their new four-bedroom detached house in June this year.
Ian, 56, said: “Because we were in the States, we couldn’t visit regularly, so are very grateful to the Bellway team for being so accommodating and helpful. The virtual tours and the measurements of the rooms online enabled us to visualise what our new property would be like, and allowed us to order our furniture accordingly.
“Meredith became disabled at the beginning of the year, and Bellway added a wheelchair ramp to the outside of the property for her before we moved, which was amazing. The sales advisors were great – nothing was too much trouble.”
Lindsay, 57, said: “Having spent such a long time in the States we had forgotten how to register with the local council, water, electricity company etc and they really helped us out. They made everything easier for us, which they didn’t have to do, so we were so grateful.”
The couple had moved to America in 1989 for work, where they both worked within the aerospace sector, Lindsay as a chemical engineer and Ian now a financial director within the same sector. They had no plans to return until their family circumstances changed.
They looked at numerous different housing developments all over the UK before they decided on the Wroughton house type at Bowood View.
Ian said: “We looked at countless developments and property designs and no property compared to Bellway’s Wroughton house type.
“All the rooms are great sizes, there are three bathrooms upstairs and a cloakroom downstairs, there is a large kitchen and dining area, a double garage which was important to us, as well as a large dining room which we have now converted into a study as I work from home.
“It was really important to us to have a large room I could use as a study as my head office is back in America so I will be working from home every day.
“One thing in particular that has been a big positive is that our house is disability friendly. The room sizes, the hall area and the space in general in the property is suited for anyone in a wheelchair.
“We also really liked that two of the bedrooms are en suite, as one of the reasons we moved back to the UK was to be closer to both our mothers who may need to move in with us at some point. Having that extra en suite allows us to have that option when the time comes.”
In just over a month, the family made this new house their home by decorating it from top to bottom.
Ian said: “The whole interior has been decorated to suit our tastes and each room is individual.
“My office is painted royal blue and yellow, the kitchen has grey cabinets and dusky pink walls, the girls’ rooms are both yellow, our bedroom is aqua, and the bathrooms are floor to ceiling grey tiles- as seen in Bellway’s Showhomes, as it was so beautiful. As you can tell, we enjoy bold colours!
“I’d say my favourite room is my office, as it’s where I spend the most time in the house and it’s decorated just how I want it, with a lot of space.”
Lindsay said: “My favourite room would have to be the kitchen. The kitchen has big French doors which open up into the garden and gives the feeling of being outside.”
The location of the house in the Wiltshire market town of Melksham was also a real selling point for the family.
Ian said: “Melksham is big enough to make it interesting, with a lot of independent stores, and it still has that older feel to it which is really nice, whilst also having the larger supermarkets and essential shops and amenities – it is the perfect blend of old and new.
Lindsay added: “Everything is within walking distance of the development, so it is handy for when you need to nip to the shops, the chemist, or the doctors. There are also a fair few pubs and restaurants nearby when we want to go for a meal and drink but don’t want to drive home.
“There is a bus route at the entrance of the development, so you are always well connected. The town also has a library and an arts centre, and it is big enough and diverse enough that there seems to always be something going on, which is great!
“The location is also ideal when it comes to travel. It is relatively close to the M4 and midway between Exeter, where the girls will be attending university, and in the other direction Ascot where both our families still live.”
In all, the experience of moving back to the UK has been really positive for the family, who have adapted well to life back here after three decades on another continent.
Ian said: “The whole process has been great, and the house already feels like home. We would absolutely recommend this development and Bellway to anyone looking for a new-build home.”
