This stunning Hale home was built in 2022 by high-end property specialists PH Properties Ltd and immediately snapped up – and just a few moments of time spent in this beautiful house, moments from Hale village, shows why.
Current owner, Jamie Whyatt, bought the house in the summer of 2023.
‘I grew up in South Manchester, but when I married, we settled closer to my wife’s family in the Lake District,’ he says. ‘In 2018 my partner passed away; my company is in South Manchester; and my parents are here, so last year I decided perhaps it was time to move closer to them and find a family home where my now-grown children could visit and stay.
‘As soon as I saw this house I decided it was perfect. It’s just a 10-minute walk from Hale village, where you can find everything you need; the road and rail connections are close by and it’s a short drive to Manchester Airport. I travel a lot for work, so it all made great sense – move closer to my parents, be closer my company offices, easy to travel...
‘Sadly, a year on and I still haven’t fully moved in. It seems the ties to the Lakes are holding me tighter than I had anticipated and I’m just not spending the time here to really warrant keeping the house. We all had a fabulous family Christmas here with my parents, children, and my grandson. It was just perfect, and this also made me realise it’s a family home and needs a family in it, all the time.
‘It’s a little ironic as this is what happened with the first owner, who bought it brand new from PH Properties for his in-laws, so they’d be closer to their family. Then their circumstances changed and they never moved in.
‘It’s quite sad, as it’s a truly beautiful house with so much to offer, and twice it’s been rejected, as it were, through no fault of its own.’
With each of the five bedrooms having their own en suite, and three with dressing rooms, luxury living comes built in. This focus on style combined with function is clear to see in the breakfast-kitchen too, where sleek cabinetry and up-to-the-minute Miele appliances merge seamlessly into and expansive living space, with comfy sofas on which to sprawl and continue conversations started over dinner.
The interior decor and furnishings throughout the property were put in place by renowned interior designer Janine Stone, and the flow from room to room designed by the architects is enhanced by the calm, soothing colour palette that runs throughout.
‘It’s one of those homes where you need to see it to really appreciate it,’ Jamiesays. ‘In the photos, the colours are all a little supressed – in reality there is much more richness and warmth to the tones, you can better appreciate the different textures used throughout and the use of light, both natural and from the beautiful light fittings, in each room. It’s stunning, and when the previous owner suggested I buy the furniture and fittings, I was happy to accept. I would make the same offer myself – this house is pristine. It’s barely been lived in since it was built and all the furniture and fittings are in beautiful condition. It seems a shame to dismantle it.’
Jamie has made very few changes to the property, with it not having been lived in previously.
‘I updated the security and smart systems, and added a sun deck in the garden, to catch the evening sun. Nothing needed to be touched inside, however, it’s all faultless.’
The house sits within a small, gated community on one of Hale’s quietest lanes.
‘I love being able to walk into Hale village and everything that offers, from coffee shops and restaurants to independent retailers. And I love stepping back into the calm and quiet of this house,’ Jamiesays. ‘The neighbours are brilliant. Everybody looks out for each other, and we have a group WhatsApp to stay in touch. It’s so quiet here it’s hard to believe we’re so close to the busy streets of Hale village. It will make a wonderful family home or, I think, a downsize for a couple currently in one of the magnificent Hale or Bowdon mansions.
‘It’s a very easy house to live in, and all the reasons I fell for it still stand, but my heart is keeping me elsewhere, so it makes sense to pass it on to someone else, who will fill it with the noise and fun a busy family life will bring, which is exactly what this house deserves.’
Bankhall Lane is for sale for £3.25m, through Gascoigne Halman, Hale
gascoignehalman.co.uk