Southborough

Halfacres London Road | Southborough | TN4 0UJ

HALFACRES

This exciting home has recently been constructed to exacting standards that few other homes in the South East can compete with. Every care has been taken to ensure that the designs and specifications meet and exceed nationally recognised standards in comfort and energy efficiency.

The property sits in a quite wonderful position close to the village of Bidborough, north of the towns of Tunbridge Wells and Southborough and south of Tonbridge. This location affords the resident extremely comfortable commute times to London either by train, or on the A22/M25 by car or via a commuter coach. Typical rail journey times from nearby Tonbridge station to London Bridge are from just 32 minutes.

This area is highly popular for those families that require reputable educational facilities.

High quality schools in the state and private sector are easily accessible and grammar schools can be found in both Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.

The property has just been completed and is now ready to occupy with only the soft landscaping being in need of a little more time to mature.

ACCOMMODATION The property has been designed and configured to offer four generous bedrooms served by two en-suites and a family bathroom. Both principal bedrooms have attractive countryside facing balconies - each dressed with glass balustrade.

On the ground floor the vast open plan kitchen and family room is beautifully complemented by a separate snug, study, utility and walk-in pantry. Bi-fold doors allow easy access to the rearward facing patio area and garden, which affords far reaching countryside views.

GREEN TECHNOLOGY To reduce the homeowners reliance on the National Grid, the property has been fitted with a combination of 14 solar panels, a TESLA Powerwall 2 and a Samsung Air Source Heat Pump along with the highest quality insulation. The compound effect is a property with significantly lower running costs and a much lower environmental impact than the average home.

‘A’ RATED EPC SCORE The property has achieved an ‘Energy Efficiency Rating’ and ‘Environmental Impact’ of score of 96, far beyond the 92 required for the A rating. Only a very small number of properties within the UK achieve such a rating.

SOLAR PANELS Located on the flat roof and not visible from ground level, 14 Trina 295 photovoltaic cells have been installed that generate electrical power to supply the TESLA Powerwall located inside the property. These cells have the potential to supply a total of 4.13 kWp of power, which translates into an 4221kWh of energy annually*, (estimated by The Little Green Energy Company).

Trina is a well established and trusted brand offering high quality, efficient and award winning 295 photovoltaic cells. Those that have been installed benefit from a 12 year warranty from date of installation.

The photovoltaic cells will assist in the charging of the TESLA Powerwall, which will in turn provide power to the Samsung air to water heater and other household appliances.

*The average detached home in the UK uses an estimated 4153kWh (EC4U, 2017) TESLA POWERWALL 2 The electricity generated by the photovoltaic cells ensures a reduced reliance on the Grid. The second generation TESLA Powerwall offers an efficient, sleek and non intrusive means of storing this energy which can then be utilised throughout all hours of the day or night. Up to three additional TESLA Powerwalls can be combined together to increase storage capacity by up to 300%, potentially allowing the property to run using solely stored power.

This current installed system has been estimated to store enough energy to provide the property with a minimum of 24 hours of power (under normal usage), even without the photovoltaic cells or Grid supplying any addition energy.

On the rare occasion where insufficient energy is being produced by the photovoltaic cells, the TESLA Powerwall is programmed to ‘top up’ during off peak energy times to ensure you only pay for the cheapest electricity, perfect for the winter months.

SAMSUNG AIR TO WATER HEATING (EHS) The 16kW Samsung EHS Monobloc Air Source Heat Pump, offers a cleaner solution to heating your home.

This device receives power from the TESLA Powerwall, which will have been predominantly charged using the photovoltaic cells, making heating the property cost effective.

The Samsung EHS provides hot water for both the ground and first floors’ underfloor heating grids, as well as hot water for the rest of the property at a fraction of the cost of traditional heating methods.

INSULATION AND GLAZING The builders have installed extremely high quality insulation throughout the build, to ensure that the highest possible energy rating is achieved. All external walls are insulated with Actis to ensure maximum sound and thermal insulation, whilst a combination of Rockwall RW3 and RW5 have been used inside the property to ensue every room and ceiling is soundproofed.

Ceilings on the first floor have been installed with three layers of insulation, all layers having chosen for their particular properties, resulting in over 250mm of insulation, far beyond the building requirements. A further 140mm of insulation covers the entire ground floor on the block and beam floor.

All the windows in the property are double glazed for both security and thermal purposes. These high quality aluminium windows match the Marley board perfectly, whilst contrasting the white and grey render to complement the modern design LED LIGHTING Ensuring energy is not being wasted is as important as producing the energy itself. Therefore all of the lights both internally and externally are LEDs, rather than the traditional halogen or compact florescent lights (CFL), which can be more expensive to run. LEDs by contrast emit much less heat, making them safer and much cheaper to run whilst also having a far longer life expectancy.

INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY UNDERFLOOR HEATING Underfloor heating has been installed throughout the property on both the ground and first floor. The installed grids are energy efficient than conventional radiators due to the lower running temperatures. The underfloor heating leaves all the walls free from unsightly radiators, which frees up important floor space.

The Samsung EHS air to water pump supplies all of the heated water required to run the system, offering a cost efficient method and reducing heating bills in the colder months.

SECURITY & CCTV With home and property security of paramount importance a high quality CCTV and security system has been installed. This system includes motion detectors in every room, four CCTV cameras (with pre-installed wiring for a further four cameras if required), electric gates and security fences.

CCTV footage can be accessed remotely with 24/7 local or remote recording facilities available as required.

CAT 6 ETHERNET CABLING & WI-FI CAT 6 is currently the fastest solution for domestic properties, allowing for TVs, smart home appliances, computers and games consoles to use wired connections to achieve maximum internet speeds. Two CAT 6 sockets have been terminated in every bedroom and living space to ensure adequate sockets in every room.

A Ubiquiti’s WI-FI system has been installed to maximise high quality WI-FI connectivity throughout the house.

COMMUNICATIONS HUB A central communications hub has been installed to allow for shared hard drives, computers and computer systems to be connected without the need to for additional exposed wiring.

INTEGRATED SPEAKER CABLING Integrated speaker cabling has been installed throughout the house and is ready to be fitted to your own choice of media player and speaker system.

INTERNAL FEATURES THE KITCHEN The hand crafted bespoke kitchen is situated towards one end of the vast main living area and has been designed to accommodate all modern day requirements with minimalistic sharp clean lines.The 1.2 metre by 3 metre kitchen island is topped with a stunning white quartz worktop, which is both low maintenance and eye catching. The kitchen is fitted with twin electric ovens, and induction hob, integrated dishwasher and a traditionally styled ceramic sink.

Generous additional storage has been incorporated behind the kitchen with a walk-in pantry and large utility room. In addition, a further workspace has been included to provide a tea, coffee and breakfast preparation area, in a position out of direct sight of the main living area.

EN-SUITES & BATHROOMS The property has been installed with high quality contemporary ceramic and chrome sanitary fittings dressed with modern tiling and floor coverings. Each area benefits from underfloor heating and extraction.

Seller Insight This stylish modern home, which was completed at the beginning of 2020, occupies an exceptionally picturesque location in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, just over three miles from the bustling town of Tunbridge Wells. “When we initially came across this fabulous piece of land there was an old, rather dilapidated house sitting on it,” says the developer. “It had been built many years ago to accommodate the housekeeper who worked at a neighbouring property, but no real thought had been put into its design and it certainly didn’t make the most of this spectacular setting and, more specifically, the quite extraordinary views across the Weald of Kent. The house was definitely past saving and so we decided to take it down and build a brand new home that would take full advantage of its remarkable surroundings.”

“We actually never intended to design and build an ultra modern home, but the local planning authority wanted a contrast between it and the neighbouring properties, and this has actually has enabled us to maximise the size and living space of the new house, given the constraints arising from the original dwelling. It also gave us the opportunity to make it much more eco friendly than a standard new build and also to weave a wealth of modern technology into the fabric of the building; in my opinion it’s a property that leaves more traditional homes way behind. Among other things, we’ve added 14 Trina 295 photovoltaic cells – located on the flat roof and so not visible from ground level – that generate electrical power to supply the Tesla Powerwall located inside the property; there’s also an air source heat pump, all external walls are super insulated with ACTIS, and the double-pane windows are filled with argon gas, which again adds to the insulation of the house as a whole and minimises the transfer of heat. We put a lot of time an effort into designing a house that would far exceed current building standards, and it’s now one of the very few with an ‘A’ rated EPC score, making it both cheap to run and really eco friendly.”

“As I mentioned before, we wanted to create a property that would make the absolute most of this spectacular setting, and with both the design of the house and the landscaping of the beautiful park-like grounds that surround it, I think we’ve done just that,” continues the developer. “We’ve added a tremendous amount of glazing to the house itself and orientated the building to face the breathtaking views, and the garden has been beautifully landscaped so that it almost appears to meld with the countryside beyond.”

“The real showpiece of this house is the vast open-plan kitchen, dining and living space, which features an expanse of glass including bi-folding doors that beautifully frame the stunning views across the valley beyond. This will be the real heart of the home; a place for the family to gather and a wonderful entertaining space.”

“The house sits in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty so the new owners will be able to come home, shut the gate and feel totally away from it all. However, as well as being incredibly picturesque, the location is also very convenient. Both Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells are around ten minutes away by car, and one of the neighbours told me that he commutes into London via coach on a regular basis. He says that it only costs around £10 and she’s always guaranteed a seat!”

“Every detail of the design and build of this house has been carefully considered, even the double garage has been future proofed. It’s large enough to take two of the biggest 4x4s, and for there still to be extra storage space, and the overall design blends beautifully with the house itself.”

“What we’ve designed and built here is a beautiful, luxury, eco-friendly house with all of the technological features that you never knew you wanted, but soon won’t want to live without,” says the developer. “It’s a ready-made Grand Design, and it just happens to be in one of the most beautiful settings.”* * These comments are the personal views of the current owner and are included as an insight into life at the property. They have not been independently verified, should not be relied on without verification and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agent.

EXTERIOR GARDENS & GROUNDS The property sits quite centrally within a plot of around 0.5 acres. Since construction an extensive programme of hard and soft landscaping has taken place. The property now has swathes of established lawns, high quality paved patios designed with entertainment and relaxation in mind, several flower beds and a host of trees selected for their aesthetic and screening properties. The property has been fitted with quality close board fencing to three sides and rustic open fencing to the remaining side which ensures the exquisite countryside views are uninterrupted.

ENTRANCE GATES Automatic entrance gates manufactured from red steel have been installed providing a stylish first impression and added security.

DOUBLE GARAGE A 6 metre by 7 metre garage has been designed to complement the main house and constructed to accommodate two 4x4s with space to open doors on either side. The fitted powered doors add convenience and security. Internal cabling has been installed to allow for the installation of electric vehicle charging points.

LOCAL EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES PUBLIC SCHOOLS • Hilden Oaks School, Tonbridge (Primary), 3.3 miles • The Schools At Somerhill, Tonbridge (Primary), 2.9 miles • Tonbridge School, Tonbridge (Secondary), 3.3 miles • Beechwood Sacred Heart School, Tunbridge Wells (Secondary), 5.8 miles • Kent College Pembury, Tunbridge Wells (Secondary), 3.5 miles • Sevenoaks School, Sevenoaks (Secondary), 7.8 miles GRAMMAR SCHOOLS • Tonbridge Grammar School, Tonbridge, 3.8 miles • The Judd School, Tonbridge, 4.0 miles • Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School, Tunbridge Wells, 6.0 miles • Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys, Tunbridge Wells, 5.7 miles • The Skinners’ School, Tunbridge Wells, 6.1 miles • Weald of Kent Grammar School, Tonbridge, 3.5 miles OTHER SCHOOLS • Bennett Memorial Diocesan School, Tunbridge Wells, 6.4 miles • St Gregory’s Catholic School, Tunbridge Wells, 5.7miles • Skinners’ Kent Academy, Tunbridge Wells, 5.4 miles • Hillview School for Girls, Tonbridge, 3.3 miles LOCAL TRANSPORT TRAIN STATIONS AND SERVICES • Tonbridge Rail Station, 3.6 miles - London Bridge from 32 minutes • Tunbridge Wells Rail Station, 6.7 miles - London Bridge from 42 minutes • Sevenoaks Rail Station, 8.6 miles - London Bridge from 23 minutes BUS & COACH SERVICES • Various public buses are available for all of the schools listed above.

• Centaur Travel operate a commuter coach service to canary Wharf, City of London & Westminster.

AIRPORTS • Gatwick Airport, 35 miles • Stansted Airport, 62miles • London Heathrow, 53 miles • London City Airport, 40 miles OTHER TRANSPORT HUBS • Port of Dover, 61 miles • Eurostar terminus at Ashford International , 34 miles • Eurostar terminus at Ebbsfleet International , 26 miles • Channel Tunnel, 51 miles Registered in England and Wales. Company Reg No. 06959315 Registered Office: Morgan Alexander Kent Ltd (formerly Fine & Country Kent Ltd.) 36 King Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1BS. copyright © 2020 Fine & Country Ltd.

Agents notes: All measurements are approximate and for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. For a free valuation, contact the numbers listed on the brochure. Printed

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Fine & Country Tel: +44 (0)1892 701900 tunbridgewells@fineandcountry.com 7 London Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1DG