Date published: 03 October 2025
Amy and Luke were the first customers to buy a home at Stonewater’s Sturt Farm scheme in Haslemere, which has enabled them to stay in the local area and has seen their energy bills significantly lowered.
Amy, 35, a psychotherapist who grew up near Sunbury in Surrey, and Luke, 37, a water installation specialist originally from Stanwell, also in Surrey, had rented their three-bedroom terraced house for six years. However, the couple had dreams of moving to a community-focused area where they could raise their young family.
“Where we used to live really changed over the years and there was anti-social behaviour taking place,” explains Amy. “We were keen to move somewhere that was quieter and we wanted a slightly bigger home so our children could have their own bedrooms too.”
With three children – Kaitlin (ten), Reilly (nine) and Connor (three) – and Del Boy, the Boxer dog to think about, Amy and Luke ideally wanted to stay in the local area. Having always lived in Surrey, the couple knew the areas they liked and spent weekends exploring villages and market towns, including Haslemere.
Amy added, “Haslemere really appealed to us because there is plenty of green space and the pace of life felt very different to where we were renting. When we found out that Stonewater was building a new development there and there were shared ownership homes, we knew we had to go and visit it right away.”
The first visit to Sturt Farm was all it took for the couple to set their sights on moving to the scheme, which officially opened in August 2025. The properties range from two-, three and four-bedroom homes, with 70 available for Social Rent, 44 provided as Shared Ownership and 9 available for Rent to Buy.
“As soon as we turned the corner and saw the exterior cladding, which makes the properties look like barns, and the local architecture, nearby parks and cafes, I fell in love with it,” explains Amy.
Amy and Luke went on to purchase their property, a semi-detached, four-bedroom home split over three storeys, and moved into it 15 months ago.
“It’s got everything – four double bedrooms, large gardens that are completely private, three bathrooms and uninterrupted countryside views out of our bedroom and kitchen windows. You can see right up the valley,” Amy said.
“If it weren’t for this development and the shared ownership option, we would have been priced out of the area. Being in a shared ownership property means we can gradually increase our share of the property, which is something we will look to do in the future.”
Stonewater has long been a sector leader in Shared Ownership, with hundreds of families each year taking their first step onto the property ladder through its schemes. By offering flexible tenure options, customers can not only to secure a home in the communities they love but also to build long-term stability and financial security. For families like Amy and Luke’s, Shared Ownership has meant the difference between being priced out of the market and achieving their dream of homeownership.
Finding somewhere that was more community-focused firmly featured on the family’s wish list and is another big box they’ve been able to tick with their move to Sturt Farm.
“There’s such a wonderful community vibe here. There’s a WhatsApp group for the neighbours to keep in touch. If you run out of something and mention it to the group, someone will say, ‘I’ll run it up to you.’ There’s a real sense of community here.”
All the homes at Sturt Farm have an EPC rating of B or above and were constructed using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). There are electric vehicle charging points available across the site, while PV solar panels have been installed on 118 of the properties.
“The windows are triple-glazed and the difference it makes is huge. It means that warmth is kept in, so much so, we don’t have to put the heating on very much, even in winter. And the windows mean it’s so quiet, we don’t hear much noise from outside either,” explains Amy.
“The energy efficiency of this property is a lot better than our last place. We used to pay £148 for our gas and electricity every month. Now we pay £88, despite doubling our square footage.
“We love it here. We’ve all got our own space and the added benefit of stunning views and a supportive local community, plus the fact, we’ve managed to stay living in Surrey. We feel extremely lucky to be living here at Sturt Farm.”
Amy and Luke’s story reflects one of Stonewater’s core values: enabling people to remain in the communities they cherish.
With rising living costs making rural areas increasingly unaffordable, developments like Sturt Farm are vital in ensuring families aren’t forced to move away from the places they’ve always known.
By offering affordable options such as shared ownership, Stonewater is helping to preserve the social fabric of rural counties like Surrey, allowing residents to put down roots and thrive.
