Shared Ownership lets Nick step back on the ladder for a family-focused lifestyle
17 November 2025
Thanks to the government-backed Shared Ownership scheme, forty-year-old Nick Haynes was able to step back on the property ladder recently, securing the ideal family home for his children at Places for People’s (PfP’s) Carvers Meadow development.
In the story below, Nick talks about his recent move, how his new home is ticking all the boxes for family life, and why Attleborough is the perfect place to put down roots.
Jump to:
- Perfect home, perfect location
- Thoughtfully designed for family living
- Excellent amenities on the doorstep
- High quality and energy efficient
Perfect home, perfect location
Nick couldn’t be happier with his brand-new Shared Ownership home: a three-bedroom townhouse at Carvers Meadow in Attleborough, Norfolk. The stylish, contemporary home with its private rear garden and generously sized living space is ideal for Nick to enjoy with his two children, Ayra (11) and Beau (5). Ayra has room for a double bed, large wardrobe and huge TV for her PlayStation, while Beau’s setup includes a bed with a desk and wardrobe underneath, along with space for his eight Hot Wheels sets.
For Nick, who works three days per week from home as part of his Complaints Team Leader role at Aviva, the spacious home has enabled him to create a study/home office from the largest storage cupboard. The long area set into the eaves with its sloping ceiling is ideal for his desk, PC and screens. Carvers Meadow’s convenient location also means it’s easy for Nick to commute into Norwich city centre for his two office-based days each week, with the journey taking around 30 minutes by car.
Thoughtfully designed for family living
Family was firmly in focus when Nick chose to buy one of the brand-new homes at Carvers Meadow. He explains:
“When my ex-wife moved to Wymondham in October 2024, I wanted to find a home nearby, so that I could be close to the children. Carvers Meadow is ideal – it’s near the children’s school and they absolutely love the property. There’s so much space here for all their toys and games. The French doors to the garden mean that daily life flows between inside and out really easily, and the patio area is lovely. We have room for loungers, a BBQ and a garden dining set, as well as all the children’s playthings. It’s a home that’s beautifully designed around family life.”
“There’s so much space here. It’s a home that’s beautifully designed around family life.”
Nick has the children every Thursday and every other long weekend. Buying with Shared Ownership at Carvers Meadow has helped him get back onto the property ladder following his divorce, while supporting a smooth family life. It has also ensured the children are close to their cousins; Nick’s sister and her three children live just ten doors down, having also bought through Shared Ownership at Carvers Meadow. Their brother and his three children also live close by, while their parents are just a 15-minute drive away.
“Buying through Shared Ownership has been the ideal way to secure a home in the local area that fits into family life,” comments Nick. “We’re a really close family – the children and their cousins are more like brothers and sisters; they spend so much time together. Being able to buy a home at Carvers Meadow has helped us all to be close to each other. We’re now looking forward to connecting with the local Community – I’ve already joined the 24-hour gym, and the children are keen to get involved in boxing and karate clubs, plus Beau wants to join a local football team. It’s such a family-friendly area.”
Excellent amenities on the doorstep
Carvers Meadow, with its extensive grassland and the nearby tranquil Norfolk countryside, offers much to delight families. Nick and his children are looking forward to the development’s new park and playground, which they can see from their house, opening this autumn. The local schools have an excellent reputation, with Attleborough Academy rated Good by Ofsted and Wymondham College which takes children from ages 4-18, rated Outstanding. For everyday essentials, Attleborough is a bustling market town, while the huge range of shops and vibrant cultural scene of Norwich are also within easy reach. Both Cambridge and London are conveniently commutable via the nearby train station.
When not enjoying the local area, Nick has plenty of space to spread out at home. His partner Olivia comes to stay regularly, with the couple enjoying their large living room and kitchen/diner. The latter has room to easily seat six, with the table comfortably expanding to seat eight for special occasions. Upstairs, the spacious main bedroom comes with an en-suite shower room, while the children have the convenience of their own bathroom with bath and shower.
High quality and energy efficient
“It’s all very convenient,” remarks Nick. “From the dual parking spaces to having two supermarkets nearby, everything makes for an easy life here. To have such a high-quality home is brilliant, too. It’s all very high spec, with a Symphony kitchen and Amtico flooring. It’s also very energy efficient, which is good for the environment and means the running costs are much lower than they would be for an older property of this size.”
Nick used a 5% deposit of £4,187.50 to buy a 25% share, worth £83,750, of his three-bedroom home which has a full market value of £335,000. By purchasing through Shared Ownership, Nick is free to ‘staircase’ his way to full ownership should he choose to do so, purchasing additional shares in the home whenever it suits him.
If you’re looking for your perfect family home like Nick, take a look at our exciting new developments with homes to suit everyone’s budget and lifestyle.