Tell us about yourself.
We are Colin and Liz. We are both 63 years old, from Manchester and are now retired.
When did you move to Gateforth Park?
We moved to Gateforth Park in March 2021 from Tyldesley in Manchester.
What model of park home do you have?
We live in a 40x20ft Sonata residential home with 2 bedrooms, lounge/dining room and separate kitchen. We had the concrete base removed from the rear garden and replaced it with an Indian stone patio, providing us with a lovely small garden to enjoy in the summertime.
Have you lived on a residential park before?
This is our first move to a residential park, having previously lived in a 3 bedroom detached property.
Why did you choose to move to a residential park?
It has always been our intention to move to a residential park at retirement age, with the desire to downsize, have less maintenance and be amongst like minded people. Our move happened earlier than anticipated due to Covid and us both being made redundant from full time work. This left us in a position to rethink our future and we therefore decided to take early retirement and fulfil our dream of moving to a residential park.
How did you discover Gateforth Park and what first attracted you to it?
Our ambition was to eventually relocate to the Lake District and having explored this area and many other areas in the North West we were unable to find our dream home on a residential park. Quite by chance we did a search online and came across the beautiful Gateforth Park, which although was not really an area we considered exploring, we decided to take a look.
When did you first visit Gateforth Park and what were your initial impressions?
We visited the park in October 2020 and fell in love at first sight with the beautiful layout of the site. We were also impressed with the amount of space each home was sited on, the landscaping of the park and the peaceful atmosphere of the surrounding rural area.
How did you find the whole process, from first viewing to moving in to your park home?
Having made the decision to put our house on the market and buy a residential home, Dawn in the sales office recommended an assisted move company to us (A2B), who dealt very efficiently with the smooth transition of the sale and purchase of our new home. We were very lucky to sell our property quickly and the whole process from selling to buying our new home transpired with hardly any hitches at all.
What did you think of the Gateforth Park team?
We were very impressed with the professionalism of the sales staff (Dawn and Alan), in particular Dawn who was so pleasant and helpful throughout the whole process of buying our home. Also Amanda and Andrew who manage/maintain the park and deal with any after sales issues efficiently.
How are you settling in to your new home and the park in general?
This was to be a massive change in lifestyle for us, having both worked for over 40 years and lived in a residential area the whole time. To take early retirement, downsize our property and move to a rural area 70 miles from family and friends was such a daunting step for us, however one that has proved to be the best thing we have done during our married life.
What do you like about living in a park home and what do you particularly like about yours?
We love the peace and quiet, living with like-minded people (some of whom have already become good friends) and the easy upkeep of our home.
What do you like about living on a residential park?
As above and also the security the park offers, not having to worry about setting burglar alarms, security lights, etc.
How about the location?
We enjoy living in a rural area and as keen walkers, particularly like exploring the surrounding countryside. For shopping we are close to cities such as Leeds and York and there are many surrounding villages and towns within easy commute that are well worth visiting.
How are you finding the Gateforth Park community?
Everyone is so friendly and we have had many get-togethers within our first few months here, including a Christmas meal at the local pub.
Is there anything about the ongoing development at the site that you are looking forward to?
Once all the phases are complete, we are looking forward to having the use of a community centre, a bus service being available and features such as a fishing lake to enjoy.
What would you say to people considering moving to a residential park or to Gateforth Park in particular?
If you want an easy, quiet, relaxed lifestyle, park living is an ideal choice for people wanting to enjoy life without the usual stresses and strains of everyday living. There is always a friendly face or someone to call on if you need a helping hand or simply a chat to pass the time of day.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
If you are interested in park living, do your homework and explore as many areas/parks as possible. Gateforth Park for us was one of the best as the homes were not on top of one another, the park was modern and beautifully landscaped, and the staff were very friendly and professional. To find out more about living on a residential park, or to arrange a viewing at Gateforth Park, please see our FAQs page here or call Dawn or Alan on 01757 616 646.