Help to Buy

Mum Joanne returns to Warwickshire to find her 'forever home' thanks to Help to Buy

- 26 Oct 18

A mum-of-one who moved away from Warwickshire two decades ago, says she had to return to the county for good after visiting her family in Bidford-on-Avon for the annual fireworks and Christmas lights.

Joanne Archer has now moved to Bovis Homes’ Bidford Leys location with her husband Chris and daughter Eleanor, three, thanks to the Government’s Help to Buy – Equity Loan scheme, after her sister and parents both moved to the village.

Joanne, who attended Alcester Grammar School for Sixth Form and lived in the town before leaving to work in Swindon 20 years ago, said it was the area’s community spirit and countryside lifestyle that forced her back.

After moving into her new-build home, off Salford Road, Joanne said: “We wanted to move into a forever home and the Help to Buy scheme has allowed us to do that. It’s a fantastic scheme for those who need it, and hopefully we will be here for the rest of our lives.

“I used to come up for the fireworks and Christmas lights because of my mum, dad and sister and think ‘why did I move away?’

“I knew the area had a great community spirit having lived in Alcester. There are so many festivals nearby and Stratford-on-Avon is only 20 minutes on the bus, Evesham is very close for shopping, while Birmingham is an hour in the car if we want to do a really big shop.

“We can have picnics by the river when the weather is good and Eleanor loves being close to her cousins. We have nice neighbours and there are lovely families about.”

Joanne’s sister Victoria and brother-in-law Chris live a 15-minute walk away and it’s the same distance to her parents’ home.

Joanne, who studied Marketing at the University of Hull before getting a job placement in Swindon, said she loved the quality of her four-bedroom, detached, new-build. Husband Chris, a supervisor for BP, is undertaking a part-time engineering course, so a decent study was vital.

“Chris works from home a lot so we needed a good study for him,” Joanne said. “It’s definitely got that! The house also has a lovely kitchen, I love it – it’s the heart of the home. There’s a brilliant living/dining space along the back of the house as well.

“We have a playroom for Eleanor, a lovely bathroom and fantastic en suite. The garden is a good size too.”

Joanne lives close to a supermarket, while the River Avon and the village high street, with an array of cafes and shops, is a brief stroll away.

Bovis Homes has a range of three, four and five-bedroom properties available at its Bidford Leys location.