Just over half an hour from London, Surrey has always been commuterland, or as its better known ‘the stockbroker belt’. St George’s Hill and Wentworth are both well-known locations for property buyers in search of security and proximity to the capital, and as St George’s Hill Lawn Tennis, Squash and Croquet Club celebrates its centenary this year, as Wimbledon is about to begin we pick a few houses in the hills for sale in the county this month.
The properties which buyers with deep pockets are most attracted to are definitely the new houses. Although the traditional properties built St George’s Hill and Wentworth were arts and crafts houses in the style of WG Tarrant, such as those advertised for sale in the 20th century throughout the pages of Country Life, as the needs of the world’s super rich are ever-changing most of the original properties, and indeed all of the houses currently there are very unlikely to survive. Instead owners and developers are buying the plots and knocking down these period houses to build to a new template first seen in London a decade ago.
The new houses of these communities are built on the largest footprint the developers are allowed on the plot concerned (plots range from an acre to a very few over ten acres). Designed to maximise space, they can have almost, if not more, space underground for leisure complexes and added living space.
This is not just for oligarchs: many high net worth individuals with clear business heads can see that large estates can cost hundreds of thousands in upkeep and hearing per year, where a new house in these gated communities comes with a good EPC and a smart home system out of the box.
St George’s Hill and Wentworth offer huge variety of plots and properties – from Huf Houses to the gigantic ‘Neo-Geo’ houses this area has become so well known for . Some buyers like to be private and others like to be right at the heart of the action, on the golf course or within walking distance of the tennis club and there is generally plenty of choice to suit every budget.
One new property gracing the hills in Surrey is Newnham. On the market since last year, local agents at Knight Frank expect this house to sell well now the summer is underway – the market here is extremely seasonal. With a gross internal floor space of 15,752sq ft and sitting in 1.3 acres this property has been pitched at a professional who likes to entertain. The grand double-height reception hall and the kitchen/breakfast room are both impressive entertaining spaces as are the lounge/bar and games room on the lower-ground floor, which also features an indoor pool/sauna and an impressive wine cellar.
The master bedroom suite has two very large, well-appointed bathrooms with huge rainforest showers, two dressing rooms and two balconies, while the five further bedroom suites are all extremely comfortable.
Self contained staff accommodation is located on the lower ground floor and the landscaped gardens adjoin and overlook the famous St George’s Hill golf course. The asking price is £13.9m from Knight Frank (01372 464 496; www.knightfrank.co.uk).
Outside in wider Surrey but still within easy reach of London, Savills is hoping to tempt buyers of the same or a similar calibre to those in St George’s Hill slightly further off the beaten track, to a very grand proposed new country house. Nutbourne Park is a Robert Adam-designed substantial proposed new country house. Mr Adam commented ‘Nutbourne Park has a unique setting. I have seen many sites for new and replacement country houses in my time yet I have never seen anything quite like this. It is something about the dramatic use of water combined with unusual privacy, security and ancient woodland that make this project so remarkable.’
With 212 acres of land and the chance to build the property of your dreams, to your own specifications, this is quite a unique offering in the area.
The main house has been designed to have five principle reception rooms, nine fully ensuite bedrooms, and a nanny flat, plus a housekeeper flat, two staff flats, gate lodge, three guest/staff cottages and stables with five loose boxes, grooms’ accommodation, indoor swimming pool, sauna/steam room, tennis court , three lakes, and numerous streams running through glorious ancient woodland which has potential for a shoot.
The house is located on the edge of the Surrey Hills near Guildford which has trains to London in just over 40 minutes. The guide price is around £20m. For further information please contact Savills on 020 7016 3825 or visit www.savills.co.uk.
Alternatively the Okewood Hill Estate dates back to the 16th century and is thought to have been built on the site of a Roman station. Grade II listed, the house has brick elevations with exposed timbers and part-tiled elevations under a tile roof, and would sute an equestrian enthusiast. Extensive renovations have been carried out, but the house has retained its original Tudor designs.
Accommodation comprises: entrance hall, drawing room sitting room, dining room, music gallery, indoor pool,gym, home cinema, 35ft kitchen/breakfast room, six bedrooms, five en-suite bedrooms and owner’s suite of boardroom/large office/games room/cinema. There is also a secondary office, garaging with a flat above, two-bedroom cottage and stabling with four loose boxes, stores and a tack room, sand school, pond and Koi carp lake, plus a separate stocked fishing lake and a helipad. There are 21 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and grounds, and paddocks outside.
The estate also lies on the edge of the Surrey Hills, around five miles from Craneligh which has a full complement of shops and services.
The guide price is £8.5m. For further information please contact Jackson-Stops & Staff on 01932 821 160 or visit www.jackson-stops.co.uk.
A smaller family house also for sale near Cranleigh is in Surrey is New House Farm: a substantial family home originally built in the 19th Century. Various attractive features include traditional style windows, doors and fireplaces and there is an impressive wood-burning stove in the drawing room. The kitchen/breakfast room is a prime feature of the house, superbly appointed with a range of bespoke cupboards, oak and granite work surfaces and a comprehensive array of kitchen appliances.
There are three bedrooms to the first floor From the first floor landing, a glazed door leads to an extensive roof terrace which affords lovely views over the grounds. A staircase rises from the first floor landing and leads to the top floor landing where there are 2 further bedrooms.
The house comes with over six acres of grounds, and the gardens have been well kept over many years, being laid to lawn with numerous established flower beds, borders, shrubs and trees. There is a sun terrace adjacent to the French doors leading from the drawing room which makes for a delightful seating area with charming views. New House Farm sits on the southern edge of Ockley, and has a guide of £1.495m. For further information please contact Jackson-Stops & Staff on 01306 887 560 or visit www.jackson-stops.co.uk.
* Country houses for sale in Surrey
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