Mark and Lin Stephenson have found their “forever home” at Kingswood – our award-winning development in Cornwall’s Pentewan Valley. The couple explain that its excellent location, combined with low-maintenance living and energy-efficient features, allows them to enjoy the active lifestyle they want in retirement.

Originally from Essex, Mark and Lin relocated to Cornwall just over a year ago to enjoy the many benefits of living in the county all year round.  “We had a holiday home in Cornwall for 15 years and always loved the area,” says Mark. “When the time came to retire properly, we realised we wanted to be in Cornwall full-time. The people are so genuine, and we’ve made many friends here.”

The couple purchased a four-bedroom detached home at Kingswood after viewing numerous other properties across Cornwall. “We looked at everything from cottages, new builds and older homes in the St Austell Bay area, but Kingswood stood out. It’s a smaller development, close to everything we need – the town, gym, doctors, supermarkets, hospital and the beach – and the quality of the build is excellent,” Mark explains.  

“The houses have metal guttering instead of plastic, sheep’s wool insulation, and even a bee brick and swift boxes built into the walls. We also love the Cornish stone façade and the dry-stone walls around the development, with the landscaping finished to a far higher standard than you would normally expect from a new build,” Mark continues.

Their home, one of the distinctive L-shaped designs at Kingswood, features an open-plan kitchen and dining space, high ceilings, and bright, airy rooms. “We love the layout,” says Lin. “It’s spacious but still feels homely. The house has plenty of windows, including a Juliette balcony in the main bedroom and four VELUX skylights. The unusually high ceilings make every room feel generous, and we’ve added fitted wardrobes to make the best use of space.” 

Being keen gardeners, a major selling point for Mark and Lin was the size of the garden, which overlooks open countryside and is just minutes from Cornwall’s coast. “We can walk straight from the house, across the road and along the river to Pentewan Beach. It’s about three and a half miles and one of our favourite walks,” says Mark. “There’s a café and farm shop halfway along the route and the Ship Inn at Pentewan if we fancy a drink by the sea before the walk back. We’re also close to Porthpean, Charlestown and Mevagissey, so there is plenty to choose from.” 

The beautiful coastline of Cornwall provides endless opportunities for walks and the couple have joined the U3A in St Austell (University of the Third Age), which has a wide variety of interest groups to choose from, including walking, social groups, “we’ve been to the theatre and even a wine appreciation group”, says Lin.

Their new home has also brought comfort and efficiency. “It’s an EPC A-rated house with an air source heat pump, solar panels, and excellent insulation,” Mark adds. “There are several nice touches which make life easier, including fitted carpets and Karndean flooring throughout, a fitted kitchen with onyx worktops, a dishwasher, fridge freezer and Miele double oven and induction hob. Other details include an instant boiling water tap, Bluetooth speakers in the ceilings and even a wine fridge. We also have handy touch-sensitive LED mirrors in the bathrooms.”

Legacy’s customer service has been another highlight. “The team have been excellent,” says Lin. “Any small issues have been sorted quickly and professionally. They’re friendly, responsive and genuinely care about their customers.”

Now happily settled, Mark and Lin say they have no plans to move again. “We designed the garden so we can enjoy it for years to come,” says Mark. “This really is our forever home. It’s peaceful, beautifully built, and close to everything we need. We are so pleased that we made the right decision to buy at Kingswood!”

The last homes at Kingswood are being reserved. For more information and current availability, click here.