On a bid to escape the city, today's couple and their three children are looking for a change of lifestyle for the whole family, and Nicki Chapman is in Norfolk to help them find it.
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00:00Here, on Escape to the Country, we like to challenge our escapees' ideas on what makes
00:07the perfect home.
00:09What I love is that it's totally different to anything that we would have chosen.
00:14And make them rethink what they thought they wanted.
00:16I've got an extra special room for you.
00:21Wow.
00:22Oh, my goodness.
00:23That was unexpected.
00:26It can be a somewhat confusing process.
00:29It's definitely not a no, but it's not a yes either.
00:33Yeah.
00:34But trust us, your new home in the country is just around the corner.
00:39Beautiful.
00:40Yeah.
00:41That's a winner.
00:42Norfolk, home to a unique coastline, renowned rural scenes, and the
01:12world-famous Broads.
01:15Just three of the many, many reasons why the county continues to be a popular destination
01:21for many a would-be escapee.
01:24I've been presenting Escape to the Country for, well, more years than I care to remember.
01:30And whilst the show comes to Norfolk on a regular basis, would you believe me if I told
01:35you I've only been house hunting here in this gorgeous county six times?
01:41Six.
01:42Just six.
01:43So I'm keeping my fingers and my toes crossed it's going to be lucky number seven.
01:49You'll find Norfolk in the most easterly corner of England.
01:56Norfolk is just such a lovely place, and visitors who come often come here more than once.
02:00It's also very dog-friendly, so anyone with a dog can pretty much go anywhere in the county.
02:07The village of Old Buckingham boasts a recently refurbished pub, dogs welcome, a pretty mix
02:13of period properties, and a brand new wine refill shop.
02:17Very she-she.
02:19Another property hotspot is Elsham, although its popularity ranks it as one of the most
02:25expensive Norfolk towns in which to buy.
02:28And let's not forget the sand, sea, and surf of Norfolk's much-loved coastline.
02:36I've been surfing in Norfolk since the 60s, so it's quite popular.
02:40It's very cold in the winter, but actually quite warm in the summer, and on its day is
02:44some quite fun waves that are as good as anywhere.
02:50Escaping to the country can sometimes mean packing up your home and moving to the other
02:55side of the UK, but often you don't have to go too far to find a more rural way of life.
03:03Case in point for today's buyers, who are quite simply popping over the odd border or two.
03:11So this is the outside of our house, but you have to walk a fair distance now down this
03:17path to get to a little bit of countryside, a little bit of space.
03:24This five-bedroom detached house in the north Essex town of Colchester is home to Claire
03:29and Andy, 13-year-old Jacob, 10-year-old Jessica, 3-year-old Charlotte, and Honey the dog.
03:38Just having better access to nature, to the outdoors, than we do currently is going to
03:42be brilliant for Jacob, who's autistic.
03:47I think getting him into a local community where people might get to know him, he's going
03:53to feel safer, maybe practice his independence by going to the shop on his own.
03:58Jacob's got a couple of items on his wish list for this move.
04:01Hopefully I'll get a basketball hoop and a new bike.
04:09As has Jessica.
04:10I'm hoping to get a double bed for more bed space, a chicken coop would be lovely, and
04:18a new dog.
04:21And the youngest member of the family has firm ideas about the style of their new home.
04:26I'd really like new houses.
04:31Well Charlotte, let's see if we can find you one.
04:36Top of Claire and Andy's wish list is a detached family home with four bedrooms, at least two
04:42reception rooms, and a minimum of half an acre of land on which they plan to build a
04:47self-contained annex for Claire's mum, Colette.
04:50Their budget?
04:51£825,000.
04:52So this move for Claire and Andy, it's all about lifestyle.
05:06They want a much better, healthier, safer environment for their children.
05:11Can you imagine literally the beach being five minutes down the road, the countryside
05:16all around you, doing all the things that they want to do as a family, without the crowds,
05:23without the pressure.
05:24Oh, it just sounds so idyllic.
05:27Just got to find them the house.
05:30We've much to explore over the next few days, starting in West Somerton, in the east of
05:35the county.
05:36The village sits on the River Thern, and we're all meeting up on the riverbank under the
05:41pretty village sign.
05:46This is such a beautiful spot, isn't it?
05:48It's lovely, it's lovely.
05:49And I've got to say, welcome to Norfolk.
05:52So tell me, why is the time right to make this move, this escape to the country?
05:56Well, Andy retires this summer, don't you, so he doesn't have to be close to London anymore.
06:02Jessica and Charlotte are both starting new schools come September, and so it seems like
06:08a perfect time, really, to make that break.
06:11Jacob's homeschooled, so it doesn't really matter too much.
06:14My mother is finding it increasingly harder now to cope with looking after a house, so
06:18it's perfect for her as well.
06:20And you're going to be looking at building an annex for her within the garden area, is
06:25that right?
06:26Yeah, and the advantage of that, she's got then her independence, but we are only at
06:32the end of the garden.
06:33Of course.
06:34Now, what position are you in at the moment?
06:35Is your house on the market?
06:37We've sold.
06:38We've sold.
06:39So, yes.
06:40The pressure is on.
06:41We need to find somewhere quickly.
06:43I can feel that.
06:44We'd better get going, hadn't we?
06:46We must.
06:47Come on, then.
06:48Let's do it.
06:52The 290 or so residents of West Somerton and neighbouring East Somerton make use of all
06:58the everyday conveniences in Winterton-on-Sea, just under two miles away.
07:04This unspoilt, dog-friendly beach, a primary school, a local store with post office, a
07:10tea room, a pub and a chippy are just a five-minute drive from the first property we've lined
07:16up for Andy and Claire.
07:18So, our first introduction to Norfolk properties, starting off with this beauty.
07:24Wow.
07:25Wow.
07:26Lovely.
07:27It's amazing.
07:28Yeah, we've never looked at anything like this before.
07:29A thatch roof.
07:30Yeah.
07:31It is that chocolate box looking house, isn't it?
07:34It is, yeah.
07:35It has curb appeal.
07:36It certainly does.
07:37How do you feel about a thatch?
07:39Yeah, we're open to it.
07:40Yes.
07:41Shall we take a look inside?
07:42Yes, please.
07:45This house is thought to have been a pair of cottages dating back to the 1700s that
07:50were converted into a single dwelling in the 1970s.
07:54The present owners have lived here for more than 20 years and have done a lot of work
07:59to it during that time.
08:01We're starting our viewing in the kitchen at the front of the house.
08:05So, loads of space.
08:07Oh, yeah.
08:08There's an island there.
08:09It's very nice.
08:10It's got a lovely finish on it.
08:11Very well done.
08:12Long and thin.
08:13It is long and thin.
08:14I'll tell you what I'm thinking.
08:16Yeah.
08:17Certainly, there's plenty of surface space, so that's important.
08:21Okay.
08:22Well, let's keep going.
08:26Now, when it comes to space, I don't think you're going to be disappointed because you've
08:30got this beautiful little sitting room.
08:32Through there, now at the moment, the formal dining room, but let's say children's playroom.
08:39This I'm going to come back to because I want you to see in here first.
08:43See, this works beautifully and you've got lots of rooms here.
08:46I love the fireplace.
08:48It's beautiful.
08:49What's the feeling you're getting as we're walking around?
08:52It's cosy.
08:53Yeah.
08:54I don't like too much open plans, so it's nice having separate rooms.
08:58Yeah.
08:59I can imagine in the evenings with the curtains drawn and the fire, it looks really cosy.
09:06If three reception rooms and a study weren't enough, this light-filled garden room was
09:11added 18 months ago.
09:14It's beautiful and bright.
09:15It's more kind of what I had in mind for a family space as well.
09:19It's lovely.
09:23We're heading upstairs now to check out the bedrooms.
09:26This double with fitted cupboards and the twin room next door both have access to a
09:31separate loo.
09:32At the far end of the house, there's a spacious double with an en suite shower and at the
09:37opposite end, the largest of the four bedrooms.
09:42So here we have the main bedroom with en suite.
09:46It's lovely and bright, isn't it?
09:48Beautiful.
09:49This bedroom is probably smaller than our main bedroom at home and our en suite has
09:54got a bath and a shower.
09:57And we were probably looking for a little bit more space in our bedroom.
10:01Yeah.
10:02So this is a bit smaller.
10:03Is this where we bring up the word compromise, compromise?
10:06Yes.
10:07It's the whole package.
10:08It is.
10:09It's not just, yeah.
10:10It is.
10:11The tick box.
10:13There's no compromise outside, however, for here we have the half an acre plot that Andy
10:19and Claire requested.
10:21It's pretty, isn't it?
10:22Yes.
10:24And it comes in the shape of this south facing garden with uninterrupted views across the
10:29Norfolk countryside.
10:32The house looks beautiful from the back, doesn't it?
10:34It does.
10:35There's something about the yellow and the green and the cherry blossoms, just country
10:39all over it, isn't it?
10:40It's lovely.
10:41It is a beautiful house.
10:42Yeah.
10:43And we can't forget Nan, can we?
10:44I was just thinking that because that at the back of the garden would be ideal for Nan,
10:50that view, I mean it would affect our view of it, but she would have that beautiful view
10:54over the fields there, which I think is secretly what she would love.
10:57But what are we thinking when it comes to the price?
11:01I would say probably £795,000.
11:05Okay, £795,000.
11:07Interesting.
11:09What are we thinking?
11:10I'm going lower.
11:11I'm going £750,000.
11:12Okay, well, you're both under the asking price.
11:15You are the closest.
11:16Okay.
11:17This is actually on the market for offers in excess of £800,000.
11:21Okay.
11:22A good start, do we feel?
11:23Good start.
11:24Yeah, absolutely.
11:25What I love is that it's totally different to anything that we would have chosen.
11:28Yeah.
11:29And that's what we wanted, you know, just a totally different perspective and that's
11:32been lovely just to see.
11:34This chocolate box thatched detached cottage has a contemporary kitchen breakfast room,
11:40three reception rooms, a bright garden room and four double bedrooms.
11:45On a plot of half an acre in a quiet village just two miles from the beach, it's on the
11:50market for offers in excess of £800,000.
11:56It's a lovely house.
11:57It's very pretty.
11:59I suppose my concerns is does it give us enough space, particularly upstairs?
12:05And ideally we're looking for bedrooms that are a little bigger.
12:10I think this property probably doesn't work on a practical level, on a functional level,
12:14getting us all in the rooms together, but this is a brilliant start.
12:29Cromer, a traditional seaside town known as the gem of the Norfolk coast.
12:36Cromer's a fantastic place.
12:37I mean, I've been coming here for years for the paddling trips and ice cream and it's
12:41just a lovely little town.
12:43It's really friendly.
12:44Loads of people here in the summer.
12:46It's a lovely atmosphere.
12:50Renowned for its beach, the beautiful Victorian pier with its 500-seater theatre perched above
12:56the waves and, of course, its crab.
13:00Cromer is popular with both tourists and families who live in the outlying villages, so we're
13:06sending Andy and Claire to investigate.
13:09It's really coming down now.
13:10Hello.
13:14Despite the great British weather, the draw of the town is plain to see.
13:20The kids will love that beach.
13:23With major motorways over an hour and a half away, the local A and B roads are the way
13:28to get around.
13:30Driving into Norwich takes around 50 minutes and it's a similar journey time on the direct
13:34train from Cromer Station.
13:37In recent years, the town's winding streets have seen a resurgence of local businesses
13:42pop up.
13:44Most of the shops in Cromer are independent.
13:45It's a really nice little town.
13:47All the other business owners are all really friendly.
13:49We all get on really well together.
13:50Yeah, it's a cool little place to have a little business.
13:55Becky Robinson opened a coffee shop on the promenade six years ago and she's kindly agreed
14:00to fill Andy and Claire in on what makes Cromer so special.
14:07It's a really friendly place.
14:08I think we've got a really good sense of community.
14:11It's one of those places where people will say good morning to you even if they don't
14:15know who you are.
14:16Part of me that thinks further down the coast towards Burnham Market and that way is beautiful
14:21and really lovely scenery but people don't necessarily live there.
14:25Whereas I feel like we've got the school, the hospital, the train station, there's jobs
14:30and a proper sense of community which is really, really lovely.
14:33What's Cromer like in the winter when the tourists have gone?
14:36Does it take on a different feel?
14:38I think it's not as seasonal as it used to be.
14:40We've got a little coffee shop on the east end of the prom.
14:42We're open every single day apart from Christmas Day.
14:45So there are businesses that stay open.
14:47It's not one of those places that shuts down in the winter.
14:50Actually there's stuff going on all the way through the year.
14:52And definitely Cromer used to be one of those slightly downhill seaside resorts.
14:57A bit tired.
14:58Yeah.
14:59But it's been what Artie said.
15:00Completely.
15:01Yeah.
15:02It feels like people that actually live here are invested in the community.
15:05It feels like it's kind of loved.
15:07Yeah.
15:08People that have invested in it.
15:09Yeah.
15:10They kind of identify with the town.
15:12And want it to work.
15:13Yeah.
15:14And want it to be a nice place.
15:15Care about it.
15:16Yeah.
15:17Our pit stop in Cromer at an end.
15:20Our caper across Norfolk continues as we head to the town of North Walsham.
15:26Home to a weekly market, a great mix of independent businesses and high street chains,
15:33a couple of primary schools plus a secondary,
15:35as well as a train station on the Norwich to Sheringham line,
15:39the whole family is well catered for.
15:42A mile and a half out of the town centre, off a quiet country lane,
15:46sits the second property we've lined up for Andy and Claire to view.
15:55Just look at all this space.
15:58Wow.
15:59Wow.
16:00It's incredible, isn't it?
16:01That is amazing.
16:02Now, believe it or not, the original part of the house does date back to just before the Victorian times.
16:07Really?
16:08But it has been lovingly extended over many years.
16:12It's also got this fabulous garden and plenty of space for a much-loved mother,
16:19much-loved mother-in-law.
16:20Stick her right at the end.
16:22She's thinking the same so she can get away from you.
16:25Yeah.
16:26You're right.
16:27You're right.
16:28You're right.
16:29First impressions?
16:30It's stunning.
16:31Yeah, it's very different, isn't it, to the last one?
16:33Yeah.
16:34But, wow, OK, it's going very well.
16:36Come on, then.
16:37Yes, it is.
16:38Let's do it.
16:41On a plot of just over half an acre,
16:44this period farmhouse marries character features with contemporary styling.
16:49We're beginning the viewing in one of the newer additions to the property.
16:55So we've got the family room here, television, everything set up.
16:59Works perfectly for that, but I'm thinking this could be the kids' room.
17:04Yeah.
17:05It's a great size, isn't it?
17:06Yeah.
17:07It's a good room, yeah.
17:08Because I've got an extra special room for you.
17:11Wow.
17:12Oh, my goodness.
17:14That was unexpected.
17:16That is really nice.
17:18As you walk in, it's like, whew, space, isn't it?
17:20Yeah, that is lovely.
17:21I love all the windows.
17:23Just look.
17:24Amazing.
17:25Yeah.
17:26Lovely.
17:28The door nearest this fantastic Ingle Nook fireplace,
17:31complete with bread oven, leads into a bright modern kitchen.
17:37Oh.
17:38Oh.
17:39Beautiful.
17:40I love that.
17:41I love wood.
17:42I love the colour that they've used.
17:43It really works for me.
17:44Yeah.
17:45Yeah.
17:46Beautiful, yeah.
17:47That's a winner.
17:48It's a bit of a relief.
17:49Oh, no, this is nice.
17:51You're waiting for the, oh.
17:53Oh, that's cool.
17:54Well...
17:55That's the deal-breaker.
17:56It's all hand-worked, and then we've got the dining room here,
17:59semi-open plan, so, again, while you're cooking,
18:02they can be playing in there, they can be doing their homework.
18:05Yeah.
18:06Or you can put them in the other room and they're on their own
18:08playing their games.
18:09That's a winner.
18:12This property's flexible layout is really appealing to the couple,
18:16and I'm sending them off to explore the rest of it on their own.
18:20The dining room flows into a spacious reception hall.
18:24Wow.
18:25Oh.
18:26It's nice, isn't it?
18:27Wow, lovely.
18:29Off which, and up a couple of steps,
18:31is what could become a bedroom with its own loo next door.
18:36Look, there's a little toilet.
18:38Oh, that's nice.
18:39They've done that in a lovely colour.
18:41Oh, I like that, yeah.
18:42Yeah.
18:43Oh, OK.
18:44Oh, wow.
18:45It's unexpected.
18:46You can see Jacob in here.
18:47Yeah.
18:48Yeah, he'd love this.
18:49That's really nice.
18:50Oh, he'd feel so grown-up, wouldn't he?
18:53The three remaining bedrooms are all upstairs.
18:56This one, with an en-suite, is the largest.
19:00This is a good size, isn't it?
19:02Yeah, I've got a good feeling about this.
19:04Yeah.
19:05And at the other end of the house, there's another en-suite double.
19:10Oh, this is nice again.
19:12Yeah.
19:13Oh!
19:14I've only got an en-suite.
19:15There's another room.
19:17Oh, that's lovely.
19:18Look at the size of that shower.
19:20If Jacob's got the room downstairs with the en-suite,
19:23Jessica's going to want this one...
19:25Yeah.
19:26..because it's got that shower room.
19:28I can hear them chatting away. They're already working out,
19:31well, who's going to have which bedroom, etc, etc,
19:34and in my book, that is a really good thing.
19:39A third generous double, complete with a spacious study area,
19:43was created by knocking the two smallest bedrooms together.
19:47I think I'd rather leave it as it is...
19:49It's a big room. ..than make it too small.
19:51It's nice having that... It's a nice big room.
19:53..with the two windows, and that view is amazing.
19:57And it has sole use of the beautifully appointed family bathroom
20:01just across the landing.
20:04Oh, my goodness!
20:05Wow.
20:06You were talking about a roll-bath, weren't you?
20:08Yeah, we were talking about having one of these.
20:10And then there's a shower.
20:11And you've got a shower.
20:12How many showers is that in total?
20:14Three. Three.
20:16Viewing done, there's only one thing left to discuss.
20:21So, we've hit crunch time, really, haven't we?
20:24Yeah.
20:25I am going to have to ask you to guess the price.
20:27Mm. So, what are we thinking?
20:29I think it's... Expensive.
20:31Yeah, I think it's... It's probably over budget.
20:33..at least... Yeah, I'm going to go for 830.
20:35830,000.
20:37Your top budget is... 825.
20:39OK. I think it's slightly over.
20:41Andy?
20:43Optimistically, I'm going to go 815.
20:47OK.
20:48You love the house.
20:50The asking price is...
20:54..£695,000.
20:56How much?
20:57What?
20:58695?
20:59Yes.
21:00Now, here we are.
21:02This is the reality check.
21:04It's only just gone on the market
21:06and serious conversations are being had with other people.
21:11So, if you are interested in this house,
21:14it's not a property that you can say,
21:16we'll come back in six weeks' time and have another look.
21:18No. I don't want to put you on the spot.
21:20We need to make a decision.
21:22Quickly.
21:24This detached period farmhouse has two reception rooms,
21:28an open-plan kitchen-diner,
21:30four bedrooms and sits in a rural position
21:33on a plot of just over half an acre.
21:36It's on the market with a guide price of £695,000.
21:44That went really well, didn't it?
21:46Yeah, it's beautiful. It really is.
21:48So, we need to make a quick decision,
21:50but we also don't want to only think it through.
21:53But we don't have a great deal of time to do that, really.
21:56No.
21:57One final look. You can dream of it tonight.
22:00A lot to think about.
22:02And we'll start again tomorrow.
22:04LAUGHTER
22:20If you're contemplating a new life in Norfolk,
22:23here's the lowdown on property prices.
22:26The average cost of a detached house here is just under £427,000.
22:32Some £31,000 below the UK average.
22:36Of course, there's something to suit all budgets.
22:39Take a look at what's on the market right now.
22:46£250,000 could secure you this two-bedroom semi-detached bungalow
22:51on an exclusive development for the over-60s,
22:54just a short walk from the centre
22:56of the ever-popular North Norfolk market town of Holt.
23:03Double the budget,
23:04and this detached traditional Norfolk brick-and-flint cottage
23:07in the village of Gresham has three bedrooms
23:10and uninterrupted countryside views.
23:15Or how about a weekend break in this beautifully converted windmill?
23:20It's ten individual rooms.
23:22This is one in the old barley store.
23:24All have king-size beds and luxury en-suites.
23:28Prices start from £215 per night for two people for a midweek stay.
23:36Now, yes, they went rather well with Andy and Claire.
23:39We showed them old, traditional.
23:41We showed them contemporary, slightly new.
23:44And they could see the merits in both,
23:46definitely leaning more towards the contemporary.
23:49So today is a new day, and we have got the mystery house lined up.
23:53And with that in mind, I think this could really appeal to them,
23:57their mother and the children as well.
23:59But before we show it to them, I've got a bonus.
24:02Yes, we've added in another property.
24:06And it's on the outskirts of Old Cossie, seven miles north-west of Norwich.
24:13On a quiet country lane surrounded by fields,
24:16we found this immaculately presented detached period property
24:20which we thought might pique Claire and Andy's interest.
24:28Oh, what a day. Look at that.
24:31Blue skies, sunshine.
24:33And we couldn't let this property go by
24:36without finding time in our busy schedule to show it to you.
24:40It is in the most incredible setting.
24:42I mean, it's not often I can offer that as a view to people.
24:45Amazing.
24:46However, we're only 15 minutes from Norwich.
24:49Yeah.
24:50It's incredible.
24:51And I'm going to tell you how much it's on the market for up front,
24:54because this is a bonus one.
24:56OK.
24:57£725,000.
24:59OK.
25:00So way under the budget and it's not listed.
25:03Good.
25:04Brilliant.
25:05So why don't you explore on your own with that in mind?
25:08I'll meet you outside when you're ready.
25:10OK, thank you.
25:11Enjoy.
25:13I want a full report.
25:17This house, thought to date back to the 18th century,
25:20lies on a plot twice the size of the houses we saw yesterday
25:24with one acre of land for the whole family to make use of.
25:29It's a lovely spot, isn't it?
25:30Yeah.
25:31Oh, this is nice.
25:33I like this workshop.
25:34It's cosy, isn't it?
25:35Yeah.
25:36Oh, beautiful units.
25:38It's got that country cottage feel, doesn't it?
25:40Yes.
25:41Yeah.
25:42It's a smallish space.
25:43Yeah.
25:44But because they've got units over here.
25:47Yeah, they've used it well.
25:48You've probably got quite a lot of units, actually.
25:50Yeah, yeah.
25:51And you've got a little window seat as well.
25:53That's lovely.
25:54Yeah.
25:55Yeah, look at that.
25:56You just look at that view from there.
25:57That is just stunning, isn't it?
25:58I mean, that's what we're looking for.
26:02The property is blessed with three reception rooms.
26:05This one, next to the kitchen, is used as a dining room.
26:09This is nice.
26:10Again, it's compact, but it's lovely,
26:13cos it goes with the whole country cottage feel.
26:16And leads through to a sitting room with double doors
26:19out onto the garden.
26:22This would be great for the kids.
26:24It's big enough for them to have their toys
26:27and to chill out and watch the telly away from us.
26:31Then there's a more formal living room.
26:35Oh, that's beautiful.
26:37I love the high ceilings.
26:38That's nice, yeah.
26:39This is much bigger than I expected it to be,
26:42going by the other rooms,
26:44but lovely double aspects, open space,
26:47and you've got a nice fireplace there as well.
26:52Upstairs, a large family bathroom
26:55with separate bath and shower
26:57serves four double bedrooms.
26:59This one is the largest.
27:03Oh, my goodness.
27:05Wow.
27:06This is very cottagey, isn't it?
27:08Yeah.
27:09I think this is the type of room
27:10that I'd be very happy to spend a week in on holiday.
27:13Yeah.
27:14Whether I could live here 24-7.
27:17It's just we lose quite a bit of the room height-wise.
27:22With a guide price of £725,000,
27:25this superbly presented period home
27:28with an acre of land
27:30is £100,000 under Claire and Andy's top budget.
27:36So how did you both get on?
27:39Well, it's beautiful,
27:41but practically speaking,
27:43the rooms were a little bit on the small side
27:45and I just can't see how it's going to work
27:47with quite large children and a large dog, unfortunately.
27:50Growing family.
27:51Growing family, that's right.
27:52I guess for me, give us 20 years,
27:54maybe in a different position now.
27:56Get off our hands.
27:57Yeah.
27:58Well, the good news is
27:59we always have other options up our sleeve.
28:02Let's see what you make the mystery house.
28:05Can't wait.
28:07Our final property stop is in the village of Bracken Ash.
28:11It's a small community that's popular with families
28:14who have access to a pub, a supermarket,
28:17a pharmacy and a fish and chip shop
28:19in the village of Mull Barton,
28:21just a mile down the road.
28:23As you might expect,
28:24our mystery house offers something quite different.
28:29Up until now,
28:30all the property was owned by a family
28:33Up until now,
28:34all the properties we viewed have been period homes,
28:37with only one seeming to give our couple
28:40the practical living space they desire.
28:43So now we're going modern
28:45with a great big uber practical 1970s property
28:49that also has two front doors,
28:52one for the family and another door for Nan.
28:55Because whatever Andy says and jokes,
28:58with this property,
28:59Colette could live within the whole family unit.
29:06If they're not keen on this idea,
29:08there's still room on the ample half acre plot
29:11to stick with their plan
29:12of building something bespoke in the garden.
29:14But I'm banking on there being nothing to dislike
29:17about the practical and flexible downstairs layout.
29:22So you've got this fantastic sitting room here,
29:24you've got another area there that you can cordon off,
29:27and then the piece de resistance,
29:29my favourite part, is the kitchen.
29:32It's L-shaped,
29:33so you've got the youngsters here working away at the table
29:36while mum and dad around the corner
29:38can always keep an eye on them.
29:40But everybody's got their own little bit of space as well.
29:43Are you sold?
29:44I think you are, aren't you?
29:46I hope they are.
29:49The quiet lane of our mystery house
29:51is already home to several other families
29:53with growing children,
29:55so a ready-made community awaits Claire, Andy
29:58and the rest of the family.
30:03Ah!
30:04Welcome to your mystery house.
30:06Wow.
30:07And here it is.
30:09That's nice, yeah.
30:10Bit more modern, this one.
30:11It is.
30:12It looks a good size.
30:14It does.
30:15It's a great size.
30:16Two doors, which is unusual.
30:18Well, you do get 10 out of 10 for observations
30:20because there are two doors,
30:22so you've got the main family home.
30:24It's got an annex, hasn't it?
30:25And it's got a built-in annex as well.
30:29Shall we?
30:30Yes, please.
30:34Our mystery house has received a cooler reception
30:37than I'd hoped for,
30:39but I reckon they'll warm up once they see inside.
30:42So we have here a semi-open plan-ness about it.
30:47Yeah.
30:48So you've got a dining area there leading to the kitchen,
30:51but follow me through.
30:52Yeah.
30:53We've got a nice, large sitting room.
30:56Beautiful view from the lounge when you're just chilling.
30:59Fireplace as well.
31:01It's a nice, cosy family area there,
31:04but then you've got this as well to enjoy your view from the garden,
31:08and you could have the kids spit down this end.
31:10Oh, yeah.
31:11Come through here.
31:13So you've got your informal dining room here,
31:16but such a massive kitchen.
31:19You could actually put another table in.
31:20Wow.
31:21Lovely.
31:22Lots of space.
31:23Plenty of work surface as well.
31:25It's a good size, yeah.
31:26Yeah.
31:30At the far end of the kitchen is a self-contained annex.
31:34You see, this, I think, is the hidden gem.
31:38It has a bathroom and a double bedroom
31:41that both overlook the front of the house,
31:43a small kitchen cum utility room,
31:45a second double bedroom and this living room.
31:49It's even got its own conservatory.
31:51I think for Colette, she would actually love it.
31:53Yeah, there's certainly a lot of options here,
31:56and this annex is not a compromise.
31:58I mean, this is like a bungalow.
32:00She's got everything here she could possibly want.
32:05Upstairs, there's a family bathroom and two double bedrooms,
32:09both of which look out over the back garden.
32:12At the front of the house, there's a single and opposite,
32:15the largest of the four first-floor bedrooms.
32:20This is a nice size.
32:22There's no en suite, though. No en suite, no.
32:24That's the only problem.
32:26Although you could probably use that bedroom as an en suite.
32:29Yeah, knock it through. If you knocked it through.
32:31Do you think that's something we could take on?
32:34We both said we wanted a house that was ready.
32:37Ready to move in.
32:39Ready to move in and was almost a finished article
32:42because of my lack of...
32:45Practical skills. Practical skills.
32:47But that said, it's definitely not a no,
32:50but it's not a yes either. Yeah.
32:52In all honesty, just listening from upstairs,
32:55I'm not quite getting the reactions that I wanted or hoped for,
32:59and it doesn't seem to be fitting.
33:02I don't know what's really putting them off.
33:04Is it the decor? Is it the finish?
33:06Is it the way the house is?
33:08I'm getting the feeling they just want to find a house
33:11that is absolutely perfect for their needs,
33:14that they can move into tomorrow.
33:17That's tough.
33:20Of course, there's one crucial piece of information left to discuss.
33:28Let's talk about the price.
33:31What are you thinking? Final time?
33:34I think we're probably about £800,000.
33:37£800,000? Yes.
33:39Andy?
33:40£795,000.
33:42Oh, you're very close.
33:44Claire is actually bang on the money.
33:46It's on the market for £800,000.
33:48OK.
33:49Would you like to go round and have another look,
33:51or do you feel you've seen enough?
33:53No, I'd like to have another look. Lovely.
33:55Trying to get the vision thing going downstairs.
33:57Really want to, because it is perfect on so many levels.
34:01I don't want you to answer this.
34:03I'm just going to say to you, is the perfect home out there?
34:06Or are you going to have to make a very small...
34:08Compromise.
34:09Compromise. The chap has compromised.
34:11God, I love showing you properties, you two.
34:13Off you go. Thank you.
34:17This substantial detached family home
34:19has a lovely open-plan layout,
34:22a stylish kitchen-diner,
34:24a self-contained two-bedroom annex,
34:27four further bedrooms in the main house
34:29and sits on a plot of just under half an acre.
34:32It's on the market for £800,000.
34:37I think the area certainly works.
34:40The views are beautiful.
34:42There's just quite a lot of work that we would need to do
34:46to make rooms the right sizes and...
34:49I hate sounding picky. I don't want to sound picky.
34:52Because it is so perfect in so many ways,
34:55but, yeah, I don't know if perfect, you know,
34:58in inverted commas, I don't know if that exists.
35:00So I think we will have to compromise.
35:02It depends where the compromise is.
35:11I'm heading to the village of Hemsby now, on Norfolk's east coast.
35:18Here in Britain, we are blessed with miles and miles of this.
35:22Sandy beaches and gorgeous coastline,
35:25but, being an island, we're also at risk from the elements.
35:33These aerial photographs show all too clearly the effects
35:37of coastal erosion on Hemsby's shoreline over the past three decades.
35:42Three weeks ago, more strong winds and high spring tides
35:46saw another five metres lost in one night.
35:50No longer safe, the beach was closed,
35:53several residents were evacuated
35:55and five more homes had to be demolished.
36:01Coastal erosion is a national threat.
36:05Coastal erosion is a national problem,
36:08but East Anglia's coastline is vanishing at a far greater rate
36:12than the rest of the country because it's predominantly sand.
36:16I've come to see for myself the extent of the most recent damage
36:20with Ian Brennan, chairman of the charity Save Hemsby Coastline.
36:26We've lost 20-odd properties in the last ten years.
36:29Ten years ago, we were told that the storm surge we had,
36:32which took away seven properties, was a once-in-a-lifetime event,
36:35and we've had three now.
36:37So it's not a once-in-a-lifetime event,
36:39it's an ongoing process that needs to be addressed.
36:42If nothing is done, the future is that 92 homes will be gone within 25 years.
36:4692? 92.
36:48We've lost five right now in the last storm.
36:50That will just continue,
36:52but, really, we need to have some sort of sea defence to buy us time.
36:55We're not looking to hold back the water,
36:57we're looking to buy time for the people who live here
37:00and for the communities.
37:04The campaign is lobbying central government
37:07to provide a 1.4km sea defence,
37:10similar to those that exist on neighbouring stretches of coastline,
37:14but progress is painfully slow.
37:18Kevin, a resident who has mobility issues,
37:21was one of those evacuated from his home in the latest storms.
37:26So you really are isolated from the whole of the village?
37:29Yes.
37:30And that coastal path is pretty perilous.
37:32When you're walking along, I mean, there's hardly any of it left.
37:35I don't go down that way.
37:37He's back in his home for now,
37:39but it's on a road that's at very real risk of being washed away by the sea.
37:44How long have you actually lived here?
37:47This is my 14th year.
37:49And I bet when you first moved in,
37:51you had no idea just how quickly the cliffs were going through a road.
37:54No fault.
37:55When I was purchasing the place,
37:57I got expert advice on the coastal erosion here.
38:02And I was told where I am, we had about 100 years.
38:06So I thought, oh, that'll do me.
38:09And no-one could have predicted what was going to happen.
38:13Kevin's neighbour Lance had already saved his house once before,
38:17back in 2018,
38:19after a breathtaking effort from the entire community
38:23helped him physically pull his house back to safety.
38:26Three weeks ago, Lance found himself doing it again.
38:33The back of my house was right here, where this black fabric is.
38:36And so we had to move it,
38:38because if we hadn't have done it, my old house would now be in the sea.
38:41So it literally was teetering on the edge.
38:44And it's hard to believe it's there,
38:46and now you've managed to move it back to here.
38:49It's a fantastic achievement,
38:51couldn't have done it without the people of Hemsby.
38:54Farmers, civil engineers and builders from neighbouring communities
38:58jumped in to assist the Hemsby residents,
39:01who rushed to Lance's aid and saved his house for a second time,
39:05pulling it back a further five metres from the cliff edge.
39:11It is an incredible story,
39:13and obviously this has bought you some more time.
39:15How quickly do you think you can get back and live here?
39:18Well, we're hoping three to four months.
39:20We're hoping to get some kind of livable conditions in there within a month,
39:24so we can get the electric and the water pud back on.
39:28And then we've just got to crack on with it.
39:30I just can't be thankful enough to the people that have helped and assisted in everything that we did.
39:35You know, we are here today because of what the people helped me achieve.
39:41I'm deeply moved by the experiences that Lance, Kevin and Ian have shared with me today,
39:47and by the strength and spirit of the Hemsby community
39:51as they continue their fight to secure sea defences
39:55for this unique and beautiful stretch of coastline.
40:05Well, we've certainly had some very interesting discussions and conversations,
40:09haven't we, with Andy and Claire?
40:11What it is they do want, what it is they don't want,
40:14and trying to find that middle ground.
40:16But have we actually found them the house of their dreams?
40:19Let's go and find out.
40:23We've found a nice spot to have a quiet catch-up and find out how you've got on.
40:29It's been an education, certainly,
40:31and we've looked at things we probably wouldn't have looked at before.
40:35Property 2, which we loved, I wouldn't have looked at that.
40:39I don't think either of us would have looked at that when we were looking online.
40:42We would have swiped past that one.
40:44I feel like I've left my heart behind in that house.
40:46Do you?
40:47Because it was just...
40:49If I imagine an idea in my head of how I would love a family home to look,
40:53it would be just like that.
40:55But there's no community.
40:57And although this movie's about us,
40:59it's massively about the children's future,
41:02and Jacob is different,
41:04and he's going to need access to a local community,
41:07somewhere where he can walk by himself,
41:09where he can go to a shop by himself.
41:11I would like a little bit of isolation, if I'm honest.
41:14But I found through this process
41:16that actually my son's needs trump that,
41:20and I didn't really appreciate that fully before.
41:23We did view two properties a while back,
41:26and I think we were probably one of them we will go back and view again.
41:31Yeah, with different eyes, you know,
41:33I think we were a little bit too just wanting what we want.
41:36But, no, it is actually a lot more complicated.
41:39Yeah, but that's understandable, and it's only taking the time, isn't it?
41:42Absolutely.
41:43And it's been brilliant taking you around.
41:45And all the best with the search.
41:47Get your skates on, keep looking,
41:49and invite us back to see how you got on.
41:51We will. Thank you so much.
41:53Thank you, both of you.
42:00So that's the end of our property search here in Norfolk with Andy and Claire,
42:04and I'm particularly proud of all the properties we showed them.
42:08They had their merits.
42:10Now, sadly, it wasn't quite right for the couple
42:12or didn't really work for the family as a whole,
42:15but what has transpired over the last few days
42:18is they're now going to go back and really think and consider
42:22what it is they want from their wish list.
42:24They're really going to prioritise
42:26and perhaps a little bit of a compromise along the way,
42:29and I feel pretty confident that they will find their dream home,
42:33and I'm really looking forward to an invite
42:35to see what it is that they do actually buy.
42:37And I'll see you again very soon.
42:41After we left them, Andy and Claire returned to a house
42:44they'd previously discounted.
42:46Second time round, the small village community felt just the right fit,
42:51so they made an offer which was accepted.
42:54We wish them all the very best with their new life in Norfolk.
43:00If you would like our help to escape to the country
43:03in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales,
43:06apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.