Downsizing without compromising on space was front of mind for Ruth Cusiter when she was looking to make the move from her family home of around 17 years in Aberdeen’s Kings Gate.
Retired nurse Ruth moved into Woodland Grove in October last year.
This popular development of modern two-bedroom homes in the prestigious Aberdeen suburb, is exclusively for buyers aged 55 and over.
Each property is thoughtfully created, with superior finishes, light and spacious lounges, contemporary bathrooms, and designer-fitted kitchens featuring high-quality appliances and solid quartz worktops.
Every apartment has either a substantial private balcony or terrace, as well as lift access to all levels and there is allocated residents’ parking with ample visitor spaces.
Ruth said: “As soon as I walked in, I knew right away.
“I like to entertain and there’s plenty space to do that here — in fact I still have the dining table from Kings Gate, and the kitchen at Woodland Grove’s bigger than the one I had there.”
And space for family to visit is important too.
Ruth and her late husband Stan, who died eight years ago, have two sons: retired Scotland rugby international Chris Cusiter who now lives in California, and retired Scottish 7s international Calum Cusiter, who’s based in Edinburgh. Chris and Calum have four children between them.
In particular, Woodland Grove’s fully-maintained grounds are not only popular with homeowners, they’re a hit with younger visitors too.
Ruth said: “The grandchildren love the grounds, where there’s plenty of space for them to have a good run around, play a game of hide and seek, or even keep an eye out for the rabbits and other wildlife.
“And because the grounds are fully maintained, I get all the advantages of this space without ever having to cut the grass!”
These days, Ruth travels a lot, including regular visits to California and Edinburgh, so peace of mind when she’s away is important.
“It’s good to go away and not worry about security, any maintenance issues, or even having to look after the garden,” she says.
All homes have a door entry security video system. Plus, a concierge is always on hand.
In addition, the soon-to-be-completed Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) — located minutes away from the development — is set to reduce congestion and shorten journey times.
Ruth said: “The bus service into town is excellent, and the western peripheral route will make a huge difference, it’s going to be fabulous. It’ll make getting to the airport, or just driving down to Edinburgh even easier.”
And she says there’s always plenty to do in and around Woodland Grove: from making the most of the summer weather on the south-west facing balcony and cycling along the Royal Deeside Railway line, to visiting castles with the grandchildren and enjoying a bite to eat in one of the restaurants nearby.
Ruth is a member of a gym in town, travelling in daily. Plus, there are other sporting and leisure facilities close by, include the Deeside and Peterculter Golf Clubs, Kippie Lodge sports and country club, and the David Lloyd Club, with nearby spas including the Marcliffe Hotel.
Another benefit is how much cheaper the apartment is to run, compared with older properties.
Built using modern materials, each of the remaining two-bedroom apartments in the Crathes Building has an EPC B band rating with estimated yearly heating, light and hot water costs of around £400: potentially saving hundreds of pounds on utility bills, compared with the average Scottish D-rated property.
“I definitely notice cheaper energy bills — they’re around a third of what they used to be — and because I pay a service charge, I don’t have to worry about maintenance either,” Ruth said.
In addition, current council tax and Scottish Water payments for the remaining band E Woodland Grove apartments are £2,199.69 a year: representing a saving for those moving from F or G band properties in the city of around £490 to just over £1,000.
Plus, with just the show apartment and one more property remaining at Woodland Grove — and limited-time incentives, as well as a help to move package available — now’s a great time to buy.
The 101m2 show apartment is available, with the full interior design package included, for £349,500.
The tailored ‘help to move’ package can include a free home survey, a pre-move decluttering service, or help with removal costs, while limited-time incentives include cashback and paid land and buildings transaction tax (LBTT).
For further information contact Christine Macdonald on 01224 863591 or visit woodlandgrove.co.uk
Show apartment opening hours
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday 11am – 5pm, Sunday noon – 4pm.
