Published - 09/11/2023

Nevan Lucas and his wife Leigh moved from their home country of South Africa to the UK in 2021. After months of renting, they have recently put down roots at Bargate Homes’ flagship Rivercross development in the scenic coastal village of Warsash, situated at the mouth of Hampshire’s River Hamble.

Upon arrival in the UK, the couple and, their then three-year-old daughter, Hayley, lived with family in Havant. Unsure how soon they would be eligible for a mortgage, the family then relocated into a rental property in Rowlands Castle, which had been built and completed by Bargate Homes in 2019.

Nevan comments: “We had settled into life in the UK and were keen to purchase our first home, but as new UK residents weren’t sure how soon we would be able to secure a mortgage for a suitable property. We knew when we were able to buy, we wanted a new build home, as we didn’t want the uncertainty and stress of a chain purchase. Our rental property in Rowlands Castle was comfortable and built to a high standard, and with the knowledge that it had been built by Bargate Homes, we were comfortable that if our future home was built by Bargate Homes, it would meet the quality of standard we had been accustomed to.

“To our delight, we saw a new Bargate Homes development was soon to be launched in Warsash. We had visited the area several times as we’d become active sailing members out of Warsash Sailing Club. Despite being located inland in South Africa, we enjoy spending time close to the water and really wanted a coastal home. Warsash ticked the coastal location box as well as other boxes such as the scenic walks in and around the River Hamble, Holly Hill Park, and Strawberry Fields where we could picnic and enjoy the open fields where our daughter could play in a clean & safe environment. So, we registered our interest to find out more about the development and homes.”

Nevan continues: “We were then quickly contacted by Jonathan from the Bargate Homes team who was incredibly helpful. We explained our situation and he put us in touch with a mortgage broker to discuss if we could secure a suitable mortgage. When it was confirmed, we made no hesitation in reserving a four-bedroom home at Rivercross on a lovely plot.”

The £128m Rivercross scheme is accessed off Brook Lane, which is the main route to Warsash, close to bus routes, with Swanwick train station only two miles away. The development consists of 352 two-, three-, and four-bedroom family homes and apartments, priced from £325,000 to £700,000. Residents are continuing to move into the first phase of newly completed homes.

Nevan and Leigh were the first buyers to reserve in late 2022. The family has been enjoying a settled life in their new home after moving in earlier this year.

Speaking about choosing their home, Nevan comments: “We never considered looking at any other developments as the process with Bargate Homes was so smooth, and the location was perfect for us. We chose The Leeward house type which is a four-bedroom detached home to give us the space to grow, particularly as our daughter gets older. Leigh and I both work from home, so the other bedrooms give us those all-important separate offices to differentiate work time and enable us to keep out of each other’s workspace! We can also easily accommodate visiting family and friends.

“The master-bedroom is a good size, as is the garden which we’re really pleased with. Gardens in the UK generally seem smaller than what we were used to in South Africa, but the space we have here brilliantly flows from the kitchen/diner to outside.”

Nevan continues: “The development is spacious and it’s a nice environment with children playing together outside on the communal grassy areas. New developments often appear to be boxed in on top of each other but it’s not like that here, it’s green, open, and welcoming.

“Having been in our new home for a while now we are happy and comfortable and know it’s the perfect home and location for us. We have made friends with some of the new Rivercross residents and can easily get out on the water to sail, explore the local area, enjoy a sunny day on the nearby beaches, or travel a short distance to cycle in the New Forest. Our daughter started school last year and we’re really pleased with the local Hook with Warsash CofE Academy, headed by Mrs Willoughby, which is only a short walk away.

“We are so pleased with our Bargate home, so much so that when friends of ours who had been living in Southampton were ready to buy, we recommended they join us here! They really liked the development too and now live only a couple of doors down, which is a real bonus.”

The homes at Rivercross have a high EPC rating, ensuring future residents can significantly lower their carbon footprint and benefit from energy savings. The bespoke kitchens feature integrated Neff cooking appliances. Bathrooms benefit from contemporary white sanitaryware, with Porcelanosa floor and wall tiles. Google Nest learning thermostats, electric vehicle car chargers, and fibre broadband, are installed as standard.

Rivercross is two miles away from the M27, which provides convenient connectivity across the south of England. Southampton city centre is eight miles away from Warsash, while Portsmouth’s historic dockyard is 13 miles away. Nearby Swanwick train station provides regular direct connections to both port cities, and onwards travel to London.

The development has recently been crowned Residential Development of the Year at the 2023 Insider Property South East awards and been awarded Residential Development of the Year at the national Premier Guarantee Awards.

Rivercross is open daily from 10am – 5pm, accessed off Brook Lane, Warsash, Southampton, SO31 9FG. For more info, or to view the three show homes, please call 01489 307 206, or email rivercross@bargatehomes.co.uk.