A sense of community outside of the city at Balls Park, Hertford
With London having recently been awarded the title of Loneliest City in the UK and deemed the least friendly area in the country, the fact that only 55% of those questioned in a recent survey knew their neighbour’s names implies that there is a definite lack of community spirit in the capital. Born in the Ukraine and having moved to London 16 years ago, Elena Sali and Sandeep Bhargava looked to buy in Wimbledon (where they were currently renting) but found that the prices were too high, so began to search further afield. As the community at City & Country Group’s exclusive Balls Park development in Hertford is beginning to take shape, with the first residents starting to move in, the couple found the converted country estate to be just what they were looking for.
Elena and Sandeep had rented a three-bedroom apartment in Wimbledon and - although the apartment they bought in Balls Park is smaller - it suits their requirements. They immediately recognised the warm and welcoming atmosphere it had, and the sense of community amongst its select number of residents. Set amidst 63 acres of Grade II listed parkland, which features on the English Heritage Register of Historic Parks & Gardens, the homes at Balls Park are interspersed with private gardens for the resident’s exclusive use. Kept in pristine condition by a separate maintenance company, the gardens and parkland provide the ideal environment for socialising, whilst giving purchasers a rare opportunity to live within an historic country manor without the typical responsibilities of maintaining an estate of its size.
Elena comments: "We both knew that Balls Park was special; the homes are incredibly beautiful, with so many unusual architectural details and set amidst vast grounds. There is a great sense of community spirit; my partner and I only moved here in May and have already met our neighbours and discussed organising some social events as more people move in.”
The couple hadn’t been looking for any particular style of property but were struck by the unusual combination of old and new that the properties at Balls Park offer. Having been carefully restored from a Grade I Listed Jacobean mansion house and its Grade II Listed outbuildings, the homes at Balls Park boast an abundance of period features set amongst the very best of modern interior design.
Whilst Sandeep runs his business from home, Elena works near Liverpool Street and at first had reservations about her daily commute from Hertford. Elena explains: “On a map, Hertford looks much further away from the city than Wimbledon. In the beginning I was worried that my daily journey into the office would be difficult but in reality my commute has become easier. I can get from Liverpool Street to Hertford by direct train in around an hour, whereas my journey from Wimbledon would take a bit longer and involved changing from the overground line onto the tube. Hertford is still very much a part of the capital’s commuter belt and I have more chance of getting a seat on the train from this end, so living here really hasn’t been a problem.”
With Sandeep’s work meaning he is away from home a lot, the gated community that Balls Park provides offered a reassuring sense of security for Elena, and its close proximity to the shops, cafes and restaurants of Hertford town centre also makes it a convenient location for the couple, who are keen to involve themselves in the local lifestyle.
Elena concludes: “For Sandeep and I, our new home at Balls Park ticks all the boxes. It is a beautiful and luxurious apartment with an easy city commute. We’ve finally found the warm community atmosphere we always wanted and we really couldn’t be happier.”
Prices at Balls Park start at £210,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, £315,000 for a two-bedroom apartment and £500,000 for a three-bedroom apartment. For further information or to arrange a viewing, please contact the on-site sales suite, open daily between 10am and 5pm, or visit: balls-park.co.uk.
