Editorial Team | 25th November, 2020
After five years of wanting to renovate their existing three-bedroom bungalow into their dream home, Tao Liu (37) and his wife decided to sell the property and move to a home that already provided more of what they were looking for. However, they never expected to find a home that would be so perfect during lockdown and the ‘new normal’ so many people now find themselves in.
Tao comments: “When we purchased our bungalow back in 2015, our intention was to turn it into our dream home but as time went on, with a new baby and work commitments, we didn’t get a chance. We started looking for our next home but couldn’t find anything at the right price in the right location.” He continued: “As I need to commute into the city regularly for work, travel time into London had a big impact on our decision. I needed a shorter journey than my current one so I could spend more time with my family, but we still wanted to live in a countryside setting. Even though I’m now back in the office full time, I can drive into the city; it only takes me around 45 minutes, whereas before it would have taken over an hour.”
After comparing a range of locations, Tao, who is Head of Sales for Berkeley (Capital), decided moving to Enfield or Barnet, as he knew the area well and frequently visited for work, was the right choice: “I never thought I’d end up selling myself a home but its proximity to the City and the added bonuses of on-site facilities, open green space and a real community feel – not to mention the exceptional quality homes of course – made it an easy decision.”
He continues, “It’s great to have a chance to be a part of the community being built here. It’s in Berkeley’s DNA that its developments create long-lasting sustainable communities. They organise events to encourage the residents to get together so you can get to know your neighbours in a relaxed and fun environment; that’s exactly the sort of place we wanted.”
He continues: “Lockdown forced us all to live differently and access to green space has become so important to people; while I knew we wanted to be more in the countryside, I never thought when we decided to move to Trent Park, just how important it would become; our dream home has become the perfect place to live for even more reasons than we dared hope.”
Tao and his family bought a four-bedroom house; “It’s perfect for us; I don’t know how we ever thought we’d be able to find time to restore our old home to the same quality we now have; whether it’s the kitchen or bathroom specifications, or having the en suite shower room and the fitted wardrobes to our bedroom – it’s great not having to share the bathroom with our children’s bath toys! We also love having the extra space – we’re using the formal dining room as a playroom and the additional bedroom as a guest suite for my parents when they come to visit. The large windows and light-filled rooms are just the icing on the cake. Even though we have all the fabulous parkland, we have our own private garden so our children, when they are older, can play safely within eyesight of us.”
Beyond the homes, Trent Park is a rare opportunity to enjoy a picturesque countryside environment within easy reach of Central London, which hasn’t been lost on Tao. He comments: “When we were living in Hertfordshire we always thought the city centre was too far away, but from here it’s so easy. It’s a 26 minute journey to King’s Cross on the train from Oakwood underground station which is just 3 minutes’ drive from Trent Park. We’re now looking forward to introducing our children to London’s museums, art galleries and the different cultures central London has to offer, while still embracing countryside on our doorstep.”
Residents at Trent Park have exclusive access to The Lawn Club, which features a range of leisure facilities including an open-air swimming pool, a state-of-the art gym in a beautifully restored Grade II listed Orangery and outdoor tennis courts, all providing additional opportunities for families to enjoy the great outdoors and to get active.
Trent Park is surrounded by an array of excellent education establishments, including nurseries, primary and secondary schools both state and independent; there are 63 schools within a five-mile radius which have been rated ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED.
Prices at Trent Park start from £565,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and £695,000 for a two-bedroom apartment at Highfield House. Five-bedroom homes are priced from £1,950,000 at the newly launched King George Collection. To make moving as stress-free as possible, Berkeley can help arrange an agent to sell your existing home through its Assisted Move service. Some homes are available to move into now. For more information about the homes at Trent Park, or to arrange a viewing, call the Berkeley sales team on 020 3930 4912
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