Positioned in the heart of the historic market town of Godalming, Amber Lodge by Shanly Homes is a collection of 14 one and two bedroom apartments. Designed to cater for modern day living every property has been well considered, and, thanks to its superb position, new residents Liz Wheatley and her husband Mike couldn't be happier.
Liz and Mike have lived in Godalming for 33 years. Liz is a former Mayor of the town, and explains: "We have lived in Godalming since 1988, so know the area very well. I am very active within the community, including being a Councillor for 12 years and having the privilege of being Town Mayor in 2012/13 and Waverley Borough Mayor in 2014/15. Before moving we were considering relocating towards the South West, following my son. Fortunately, we all decided to stay local instead. Godalming has everything we need in terms of shops, amenities, friends and interests and it's a delight to be able to walk everywhere now!"
Discussing their home buying process, Liz begins: "We were living in a two bedroom maisonette prior to moving into Amber Lodge. It was at the top of a hill, which was beginning to become a struggle."
"I began looking for new homes on the internet and Amber Lodge was the first listing that appeared. I quickly booked us a visit and it didn't take long to know it was meant to be. We also rather liked the fact that there will be a mix of ages and circumstances among the residents, so it will be fun getting to know them and being in our own community."
"Our previous home had floor to ceiling windows with fantastic views towards the devil's punch bowl" continues Liz. "We therefore hoped our next property would have lots of light and be special, too. Our new apartment at Amber Lodge is on the ground floor and has a lovely south-facing bay window, which was a huge attraction. Most importantly it has an en suite bathroom with a walk-in shower. I also have my own beautiful bathroom with a bath, which I prefer."
"Almost instantly we put in an offer. All that remained was to sell our home of 33 years and Shanly were really helpful with this. Despite the pandemic everything fell into place and we moved in mid-March. The apartment already feels like home, having added extra storage to the bedrooms and kitchen, including a kitchen island to increase the work surface area, and a bookcase/ornament creation in the living room."
"The back bedroom will be the office / guest room. I still do some book keeping and am involved with many organizations, so need a desk and shelves for my files. It would also be good to have room for my daughter or grandson, and any other friends who live a bit further afield, to be able to spend the night, should they need to!"
Liz and Mike are both looking forward to enjoying their first summer at Amber Lodge. Liz expands: "Our last property had a tiny rockery at the front and, being on the top of a steep hill, its rear garden was inaccessible. The communal grass area at Amber Lodge has been beautifully landscaped so, when the weather allows, it's good to know that we'll be able to enjoy being outside."
"Although no longer a Councillor, I am still very active in the community. When things return to normal, I will be back to playing table tennis, volunteering at the Rural Life Living Museum and perhaps even sequence dancing. I am also currently President of the Rotary Club of Godalming, Treasurer of Godalming Museum's shop and chair the town's twinning friendship group, the Godalming/Mayen Association, so I have plenty to keep me busy."
"Our friends and family are very eager to see our new home, and we can't wait to show everyone! We would definitely recommend this development. The Shanly team have been superb and the residents we have met are all very pleasant. Add to the attributes already mentioned, the very practical facts that the windows are double-glazed and the building is extremely well insulated, then Amber Lodge certainly ticks all the boxes for me. It's been the perfect move." concludes Liz.
Prices for a two-bedroom apartment at Amber Lodge start from £400,000, with selected plots available with Help to Buy, and benefitting from the extended stamp duty holiday. For further information visit www.shanlyhomes.com or call 01483 331191.
