Jade, 35, and her partner John, 39, left London for West Sussex, trading the noise of Sutton high street for a quieter life near the coast. They bought a three-bedroom house at Barratt Homes' Ryebank Gate development in Yapton, just 10 minutes from the sea.
From flat to house with a garden
The couple had bought a 35 per cent share of a £390,000 two-bedroom flat in Sutton in 2018, but after their son Albie was born, they wanted more space. "We were right on the high street and while it was nice having everything close by it was just so noisy," says Jade. "And we loved the flat but we wanted a house with a garden."
In 2023, Jade's parents moved to Yapton, and the couple decided to join them, especially since her folks could help with childcare. They reserved their new house in September, sold their flat for £375,000 in October, and moved in mid-December, just in time for Christmas.
Community and convenience
The couple are hybrid workers, with John commuting to New Malden twice a week and Jade to Chingford twice a month. Trains from Barnham to London Victoria take about an hour and a half.
Jade appreciates the sense of belonging: "There is a great sense of belonging here," she says. "Our son, who is enrolled at the local primary school, has a lot of his friends on the development." She also notes that fellow parents help with school runs when needed.
The family enjoys the countryside views and the proximity to the beach, which compensates for the loss of Sutton's amenities. "Obviously I miss my friends, but you just have to make the effort to see them, you just adapt," she says. "And we are so close to the sea that they are all coming down to see us on weekends at the moment anyway."
