GUIDE PRICE: £700,000--£750,000.

INTERNAL VIEWINGS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.

Valley Drive sweeps up through Withdean from the sports stadium to Dyke Road Avenue; lined with an array of mature trees and substantial homes built on generous plots. This elegant, semi-detached family home was built in the 1930s, giving it the airy proportions expected of the era. It has been expertly maintained over the 16-years the current owners have lived here, bringing it shining into the 21st Century with a stylish and contemporary finish throughout its light filled rooms. With five bedrooms and a generous reception room, it is ideal for any growing family, looking to balance home comforts with a luxury lifestyle. There is also a large garage and a driveway for up to two cars, plus the magical rear garden is a treat for the senses with an area of woodland and a large lawn for children to play in safety. The local schools are excellent, and Preston Park Station and the A23/A27 are very close by should you need to commute, so it is perfectly positioned to suit many lifestyles. Immediately warm and welcoming, and with so many attractive features, this house is sure to invite families looking to live in comfort close to the city and the countryside.

Style: Semi-detached house (1930s)
Type: 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms + WC, 1 through living dining room, 1 kitchen breakfast room
Location: Valley Drive Withdean
Floor Area: 1708 sq.ft.
Outside: planting to the front and a very large rear garden
Parking: garage, driveway for 2-3 cars

Why you’ll like it:

Introduction:
Set back from the road by an immaculate lawn with hedgerow borders, this family home has plenty of kerb appeal. The architects during the 1930s had moved away from the ornate Victorian styles and were building houses with family in mind; where space and light were of the utmost importance – and this house ticks all those boxes and more. Stepping through the door it feels immediately homely which invites you to explore further.

Engineered oak floorboards flow from the spacious entrance hall into the living room which spans the depth of the house with a wide bow window on its southerly wall and double-glazed French doors opening to the glorious garden to the rear. There are clearly defined areas for formal dining and relaxed seating alongside a traditional fireplace which is open but will need a professional sweep prior to first use. Bespoke shelves and storage cupboards were added in recent years for ornaments, books, and concealing the entertainment systems below the TV.

Wood floors make way for the original terracotta floor tiles in the kitchen breakfast room to the rear of the property. Designed perfectly to sit sympathetically within this country-style home, the kitchen has a real warmth to it with Shaker units in cream and solid oak worktops. These form a breakfast bar for informal drinks and dining, while space has been left for freestanding appliances to include a gas hob cooker, a washing machine and dishwasher and a tall fridge freezer. A side door provides direct access, so you can bring in shopping from the car rather than taking it through the house.

Stepping into the garden you feel a million miles from the city as majestic trees rise up creating a woodland view beyond a beautiful stretch of lawn surrounded by colourful borders. In 2020, the garden was landscaped, and the lawn was re-laid, so it remains green and lush, and the mature borders invite a plethora of wildlife – listen carefully and you’ll hear the owl at night. Close to the house is a large decked area for dining alfresco during the warmer months, and the entire garden is not overlooked.

Returning inside, there are three beautiful bedrooms on the first floor, all of which have had their carpets replaced in recent years and are decorated in restful, neutral tones to suit all styles of furnishing. While one is dressed as a child’s room, all three have space for double beds and freestanding furnishings where built-in wardrobes are not already in place. Almost every window in the house was replaced with energy-efficient double glazing, so you can guarantee a warm and peaceful night’s sleep.

These rooms share use of the family bathroom which is classically tiled with a shower over the bath and plenty of built-in storage below the basin.

The principal bedroom suite spans the entire second floor creating a quiet retreat away from the hubbub of family life. The space has vaulted ceilings to one side with a full width dormer to the rear which adds to the feeling of space up here, to include a tranquil home office and seating area within the open eaves. Replaced in recent months, the en suite bathroom is new and on-trend with metro brick wall tiles around the bath which sits below the Velux so you can star-gaze or watch the clouds go by as you relax after a long day.

Agent’s thoughts:
Homely, welcoming and spacious, this family home is bursting with character and the garden is glorious. Being so well-presented, along with the excellent location for schools and transport links, this house is will not sit on the market for long.

Owner’s secret
“When we moved here 16-years ago, it was the light, the space and the feeling of privacy which first attracted us. We love how green the views are looking out over the garden which gives you the feeling you are in the countryside. The second floor is also really tranquil, and the neighbours are amazing – indeed we will miss them the most when we leave. It has been a really comfortable and happy home for us to raise a family, which will be tough to replicate elsewhere.”

Where it is:
Shops: Local 5 min walk, city centre 10 min drive
Train Station: Brighton Station 10 min drive, Preston Park 20 min walk
Seafront or Park: South Downs 10 min walk, Seafront 10 min drive
Closest Schools:
Primary: Westdene Primary School
Secondary: Patcham High School, Cardinal Newman RC
Private: Brighton College, Windlesham Prep.

This stunning home is beautifully situated in a prestigious area with lots of local green spaces, and the South Downs on your doorstep. The city centre shopping districts and beach are also within easy reach, and with a bus stop nearby, you can be at Preston Park Station or in the city centre in minutes – ideal for the London commute. Alternatively, this home offers easy access to the A23/A27 which has direct and fast access to the universities, airports and London.