TO buy a home at The Vines is to buy into Paul Holgate’s concept, so let me explain... Paul is aware from experience that many park home developments after a time begin to look higgeldy-piggeldy and maybe run down. As gardens are changed and planted by various owners with differing ideas, each plot may look lovely, depending on your taste, but the whole can lack a sense of unity and design.

Enter The Vines, a development of eight luxury homes at Mount Pleasant, a residential and holiday home park at Acaster Malbis, about five miles from York, owned by Arthur Holgate & Son, which has been in the business since the 1950s and owns two other top rank parks.

Model village

You may be familiar with the ‘model village’ concept, where a whole village was planned so that the houses and layout made sense together. One such is beautiful Inverary in Scotland. To achieve that look in The Vines the in-house design team has created an overall pattern, with the homes in a cul de sac, divided by box hedges, and where attractive carports, which will eventually be covered in vines (yes, hence the name!), are arranged in a curve, with expensive pathways and sandstone paving around them, sitting out places and planting to boot. Like the garden of a stately home, almost, and designed for maturity, to improve with age. Each house as it is brought in fits into the design.

The first residents at The Vines were Alison and Ann, who bought a Wessex Wessex (no, that’s not a typo!). Theirs is now an established plot, with a simple garden with beech hedge and lawned areas and a raised patio. Alison and Ann are happy with their plot and home, and could understand the thinking behind the concept.

Save the earth

A new development can incorporate earth-saving measures, and the Vines has gone for rainwater harvesting for watering the gardens or washing cars. Huge tanks are concealed underground. Condensing boilers are, of course, used as standard now. There are low energy light bulbs.

Paul Holgate makes no apology for explaining that this is a particular style of development for those who want it. Well designed and well-laid out. Minimal maintenance, minimal owner input into how the exterior looks, in return for a well-kept and landscaped areas to live in and enjoy. Top-end spec – stainless steel street lights to match those exterior to the homes. Better gutters, even. Lasting value, a timeless quality is what is aimed for. Plenty of planting and green areas.

The planning permission is for a development for the 50+ age-group. There are no restrictions on visitors’ ages, though, and pets are allowed after vetting, as long as they are walked off the park.

This is the first stage of the development, and other phases are planned to follow. The show homes have been much-admired but some would-be owners have yet to sell their property, so they will possibly go to those who don’t need to wait. It’s a development suitable for those who want to downsize a little, and are perhaps living in the area already – though interest is coming from as far afield as Devon and the far north of Scotland!

If you are happy for others to mantain the outside to their own high standard, you might be a potential candidate for this new and interesting development.

SHOW HOME ONE – Fruity Bordeaux

There are currently two show homes at The Vines and a third will follow. I had a good look round the first, an Omar Bordeaux, which, at £300,000, I am told is one of the most expensive park homes in the country. If you have a viewing you will understand why. You will not find another like it, because the interior has been individually designed. The style is reminiscent of a French country pile. No expense has been spared.

The entrance hall sets the scene with beautifully shaped wooden furniture, expensive lighting and wide mirror. In the dining room are polished wood, spoon back chairs, light pendant with six lights with dark shades, and a wonderful sideboard. A squared archway leads to a similarly opulent lounge. Georgian style French doors lead to a patio. Wall and table lamps and the traditionally-patterned sofas on brass feet with castors speak of stylish days gone by, but underfloor heating, stylish electric fire and LCD TV are modern intrusions reminding you that this is a home fit for the 21st century. The pièce de resistance is the Bose sound system that takes up virtually a whole walk-in cupboard – and that’s just the control centre!

At the front end of this Omar is a spacious sun room, shaded with vertical blinds and a white tongue-and-groove ceiling. At the other side of the living space is a fabulous kitchen.
By this time I was getting used to luxury, so the extravagent master bedroom came as no surprise! Laura Ashley has been let loose in here, and there is the French-style bed in cool colours and with a white basket work headboard. A door leads to the en suite with a marble-topped basin stand and round basin, and a top spec wide shower with set-in wooden duckboard to make egress easier. The second double bedroom is similar in style, with expensive freestanding furniture. Modernity takes over in the study, where there is also a massive drinks’ cooler.

I think I can see the profile of the customer for this one. You are traditional in style and modern in outlook. You are ready to splash out, maybe for retirement, maybe downsizing but you do not want to compromise on quality. You want every conceivable modern convenience but not at the expense of style. You want a one-off to match your individuality. You have looked after your own grounds for long enough and are more than happy for someone else to look after the surroundings now. The interior of your home is all important because you will probably spend a lot of time there, but when you are not there you are grateful for the security this type of development affords. If that’s you, we may have spotted a unique and luxury-laden home you would be delighted with! ¦

SHOW HOME TWO – Sparkling Sancerre

Wessex has supplied the second show home, a Sancerre, and the contrast with its near neighbour could not be more marked!

This is as plain as the other is fancy. Entry is via a small porch into the huge kitchen diner. The large U-shape has cupboards galore, some concealing integrated appliances such as the washing machine.

In the centre is a large table that could become the heart of the home, especially when grandchildren come to visit. It’s big enough to have craft activities or junior baking on the go at the table while a serious meal is being cooked in the kitchen.

The lounge is an airy room, and the light wood furniture is expensively simple, with tongue and grooved jointing and practical drawers.

The sensible upholstery is in crushed strawberry, chunky style. The family bathroom is practical and spacious, the master bedroom has oodles of drawers and an attractive window seat. A handy en suite is off one corner of the room. A cavernous walk-in-wardrobe is in another.

The layout as well as the style of this home could not be more different from the Omar. The bedrooms and bathroom are off a corridor to the rear. The kitchen is the first point of access to the home, except by the patio doors.

Less flamboyant than the Bordeaux, this Wessex individually-styled home is nevertheless full of quality furniture and fittings. Priced at £220,000, it is the entry-level on the Vines.

A third show home, also a Wessex, will be the Merlot and will sit between the two others in price and specification. At £270,000 it will offer a style thst is not quite plain and not so fancy. A range of choice, then, at the Vines. ¦

FOR SALE

Prices for the show homes at The Vines are £300,000 for the Omar Bordeaux, £270,000 for the Wessex Merlot and £220,000 for the Wessex Sancerre. There are a number of pre-owned homes for sale on the Mount Pleasant area of the estate, ranging from a 1998 41x12 2-bed Tingdene Hayden at £59,950 to a 2002 Homeseeker Grampian 40x20 2-bed at  £150,000.

LOCAL INFO

• Local amenities: The nearest supermarkets are Co-ops in Copmanthorpe and Bishopthorpe, each around 2 miles, with Tesco at Dringhouses just under 3 miles; there’s also a farm shop in Acaster (just over half a mile). The nearest post office is at Naburn (just over a mile), but for banks it’s best to go into York (4.5 miles). There is a Wyevale Garden Centre in York (5.5 miles). The McArthur Glen Designer Outlet village (2.5 miles)
has a variety of shops.
• Health: The nearest GPs and dentist are at Copmanthorpe, but for opticians you need to travel to York. The nearest hospital is also towards York (3.5 miles). The nearest pharmacy is at the Copmanthorpe Co-op or the same village’s shopping precinct.
• Transport: The nearest railway station is York. Buses run through Acaster on the Askham Bar-Tadcaster route via Bishopthorpe; there are half-hourly buses from Bishopthorpe to York. There is also a park and ride service from the McArthur Glen shopping centre.
• Eating & drinking: The nearest pub is the Ship Inn at Acaster, less than half a mile, with other pubs nearby at Naburn and Bishopthorpe. There’s a pizza takeaway and an Indian restauarant in Copmanthorpe and a chippie in Bishopthorpe. The best bet for restaurants is York itself.
• Entertainment: The nearest cinemas and theatres are in York. There are a number of racecourses within easy reach, including York and Wetherby.

WHAT CAN I DO AROUND HERE?

The train – The National Railway Museum at York is the country’s premier day out for train enthusiasts – whether nostalgic for steam or excited by electrics – but you’ll have fun even if you have only a passing interest in the history of the iron horse.

The plane – Based on a former RAF World War II Bomber Command airfield, the Yorkshire Air Museum has an expanding collection featuring uniforms, memorabilia, military vehicles, a Barnes Wallis ‘bouncing bomb’ and, of course, planes like the Spitfire and Hurricane.

The church – Well, it’s actually a minster, of course – one of the country’s most magnificent cathedrals, seat of the second most senior cleric in the Anglican Church, home to some magnificent stained glass and host to changing exhibitions. There are magnificent views from the central tower.

The hall – Beningbrough Hall is an 18th-century mansion, now owned by the National Trust, with magnificent baroque interiors and housing a fine collection of more than 100 paintings from the National Portrait Gallery. Also a lovely walled garden and wilderness play area for children.

CONTACT

Acaster Malbis, York YO23 2UA. Tel: 01904 707078/07977 274979. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.holgates.com

• Ground rents at Mount Pleasant/The Vines range from c£1,200 to c£1,900 per year
• 50+, retired/semi-retired
• No resident children
• Pets permitted, but dogs to be kept on a  leash an exercised off-park


This park review was published in the November 2008 issue of Park & Holiday Homes magazine. To order our latest issue please click here.


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