A homeowner who swapped his car and countryside home for a bike and apartment in the city says living in Norwich is like being on a 'five-star city break that never ends'.
Stuart Walton, wife Tricia and 16-year-old daughter, Ruby, have downsized from their five-bedroom detached house on the Norfolk coast to a two-bedroom apartment at St James Quay in Norwich.
St James Quay is a landmark development located off Barrack Street, comprising a collection of luxury one and two-bedroom apartments and two and three-bedroom penthouses.
The development had stood empty for around a decade but is now part of an ongoing mission to regenerate the area and create a new urban community.
“Our new home is within walking or cycling distance of all that Norwich has to offer, so we sold our car which meant we saved money on all the costs associated with having a vehicle and invested in new bikes and paddleboards,” says Stuart, who owns Norwich-based freelance web design company GetProCopy.
“Our old house was in Bradwell, Great Yarmouth which lies on the Norfolk coastline. It’s quite a rural location compared to living at St James Quay in Norwich.
"We all had to depend on a car to get around and do simple things like going to the shops – especially Ruby who had to rely on myself or my wife to take her anywhere."
Now Stuart says it takes Ruby just a five-minute cycle ride to get to sixth form.
Research suggests that more Brits are rethinking their transport choices.
According to a survey by Bike is Best, 69pc of those surveyed have changed or are considering their behaviour - with saving money a key motivator.
Cyclescheme, a major provider of the government’s Cycle to Work programme, says running a car costs on average £3,727 per year compared to just £396 for a bike.
The family is also enjoying exploring more of the area. “We often go for a wander around the Lanes or head into The Silver Triangle which is known as ‘The Notting Hill of Norwich’," says Stuart.
"It has a very different vibe to rest of the city; filled with quirky cafés, restaurants and vintage shops.
“We have recently discovered Waterloo Park which is just a few minutes away by bike. There is a beautiful Victorian pavilion there which hosts a social enterprise café, The Feed – it’s such a great venture which invests its profits into helping prevent homelessness in Norwich.
“We love keeping fit too, we go on long cycle rides and my wife and I often go paddleboarding and swim in the river every Saturday – living here is like being on a five-star city break that never ends.”
Stuart says that swapping to a two-bedroom apartment has also brought the family closer together.
The layout includes a “huge” open-plan living area leading onto a private, south-facing balcony, high-quality fixtures, fittings and appliances and lots of storage space – another reason the family chose St James Quay.
Despite being a two-bed, their apartment also offers enough space for guests, as their 22-year-old son – who is currently studying at Cardiff University – often comes to stay.
Stuart has also been impressed with the apartment’s energy efficiency. “We have underfloor heating and individual thermostats in each room which helps to keep our bills low, as we can turn the temperature down to suit the room we are using rather than heat the whole apartment.
“However, it is so incredibly well insulated – our gas and electric bill is just £77 per month, and we don’t see this changing as we hardly need to have it on. It also means there are no radiators on the walls so we can put our furniture wherever we want.”
He says that the family have made some “lovely friends” in the development, and they enjoy having everything they could need on their doorstep. “Our new apartment already feels like home."
Some two-bed apartments are still for sale at St James Quay, with prices starting from £334,950. Visit hill.co.uk/all-developments/norfolk/st-james-quay for more information.
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