Richard and Jennifer Tosh and their daughter Lauren decided to leave behind their life in New Zealand and start anew in the UK. Wanting a change of scenery and drawn by the need to be closer to family and friends, the family chose a new home with Cala at Wintringham, St Neots.
17 February 2025
Originally from the UK, Richard felt a pullback to his roots. Richard and Jennifer were eager to find a place that could offer them a blend of space, comfort, good public transport links and modern amenities.
Richard said, “We had been living in Auckland, New Zealand, in a house built in 1989. As the climate is very different, our previous home had no insulation, but it also needed a lot of maintenance work which made us want to switch to a modern, energy-efficient home. When we found Cala’s Stonely house type, which is a four-bedroom detached home, it felt like the perfect fit.”
“The open, airy layout and skylights in the kitchen made the house lovely and bright. We were particularly taken by the three-level design, which allows Lauren to have her own space, guests can have their floor, and it gives us our own dedicated study, which is perfect for my work-from-home needs. Our home also has a garage which is great for additional storage space.”
The family discovered Cala at Wintringham through Rightmove and were impressed by St Neots and its local amenities. Jennifer mentioned: “We visited six different developers in Wintringham, but Cala really stood out because of their stunning homes, and the friendly sales team. The house design, storage space, features, and the community feel of the development made our decision easy.”
Richard continued, “We had initially looked at buying a second-hand home but once we saw the Cala at Wintringham showhome, we loved it. We decided there and then that we wanted a new build home as we wanted the process to be as smooth as possible.”
Richard and Jennifer spoke highly of the service they received from the Cala at Wintringham sales team. Richard added: “The sales team, especially Ryan, were incredibly helpful, supportive, easy to approach, and knowledgeable, making the whole process smooth and stress-free.”
Despite a few minor issues with their home, Ryan, the Cala site manager, promptly addressed these concerns, ensuring the family settled in comfortably.
Energy efficiency was a significant factor in the Tosh family’s decision. Jennifer shared, “Our old home in New Zealand had single glazing and zero insulation, making it difficult to manage energy costs. Our new home’ double glazing and excellent insulation have already made a noticeable difference, and we are looking forward to lower energy bills.”
Now settled, the family is enjoying their new lifestyle. “The development is ideally located with good commuting options into London, excellent local amenities, and a friendly community. We love spending time in the spacious kitchen and dining area and the garden, which is perfect for our two miniature schnauzers” said Jennifer.
Richard continued: “There’s a brilliant 3.5km walking trail around the development which we have been enjoying with our dogs. As a former long-distance runner, I also appreciate the expansive spaces around St Neots which are perfect for getting back into running. Plus, I’m having my bike shipped over from New Zealand so I’m looking forward to exploring the beautiful surrounding areas of St Neots.”
