Upsizers Find Their Dream Family Home in Hollyfields

Florence Lai and Daniel Chen, alongside their two boys, had been living in a three-bedroom semi-detached house in Bromley for many years. With their sons growing up fast, they were keen to move to a more family orientated area with access to great schools, so began their search for their dream home - perfect for the next chapter of their lives. 

Unsurprisingly, Royal Tunbridge Wells with its lifestyle offering, transport links and exemplary education institutions, caught the attention of the family, following a recommendation from a friend who had recently purchased a property at Hollyfields.  

Florence explains: “We were always keen on the Tunbridge Wells area, particularly because of their fantastic schools. So, when we spoke to a friend about our property search, she recommended we take a look around Hollyfields. Knowing that Berkeley was one of the top UK developers with a great reputation, we booked a viewing and fell in love with the development and its village-like feel straight away”. 

The Chen family went on to purchase a stylish four-bedroom detached house and are now happily settled into their new home. Florence says: “We were keen to purchase a new-build house preferring their modern finishes and open-plan living. Having previously lived in a 1930’s style house, we were drawn to the spacious modern homes at Hollyfields. Our new home is perfect for entertaining and what’s more, we have a large private garden which is ideal for the boys to run around and play, which is something they have been thrilled about since moving.”

Built with energy-saving features included as standard, homes at Hollyfields are helping to mitigate the adverse effects on the environment as well as reducing energy costs. Florence commented: “The energy-saving features were a huge selling point for us - with energy costs rising, new build homes are much more energy efficient which is reassuring for us when it comes to looking at how we will manage the energy bills.”

Located close by to Tunbridge Wells, residents at Hollyfields benefit from everything the thriving town has to offer, from bars and restaurants to schools and fantastic travel links. The surrounding area also boasts beautiful countryside with popular walking routes and greenspace for the public to enjoy.

Florence says: “We are really excited to raise our family at Hollyfields. With the surrounding countryside we can enjoy a rural lifestyle, but also with the town of Tunbridge Wells on the doorstep we have everything we could possibly need. The high-street has a quintessentially English charm with its characterful streets filled with boutique shops, popular high street chains as well as the fantastic schools which we are keen to get our sons into. Plus, with the train station allowing access to London so easily, it is perfect for my husband who commutes into the city for work.”

She adds: “Another selling point for us was the community feel which has established itself here at Hollyfields. There’s a WhatsApp group for all the residents, everyone waves and says hello, it’s such a lovely environment to be a part of.”

When asked about their buying experience, the couple said: “The Berkeley sales team were fantastic through the whole buying process – making the whole experience really easy. We would absolutely recommend Hollyfields to family and friends.”

Located just 1.2 miles from the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells, Hollyfields is located in a community enclave surrounded by the Kent countryside. The spacious homes are designed in a range of styles, complete with well-equipped modern kitchens featuring integrated appliances, ideal home office spaces, and private gardens. The houses are thoughtfully positioned to maximise views across the surrounding countryside.

There is a range of highly rated schools nearby, with St Peter’s Primary School – rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted – located onsite at Hollyfields. Residents also have access to a private shuttle bus that takes commuters to Tunbridge Wells Station during peak hours. 

Prices for apartments start from £345,000. Two-bedroom coach houses are available from £419,950 and three-four-bedroom houses are also available, from £725,000. You can find out more about Hollyfields here.