Couple’s new shared ownership home ‘exceeded expectations’

Carl & Kim Goldsmith, who have lived in the village of Lewes for the last 24 years, have expressed their amazement at the standard of their new home at Stonewater’s Bishops Way scheme, in East Sussex.

The couple have downsized from their family home, a farm cottage in the neighbouring village of Lewes, to an energy efficient 3-bedroom home in Ringmer.

Carl and Kim contacted the team at Stonewater and construction partner, Thakeham, to express their gratitude for their new home, describing it as ‘amazing’.

Carl said: “We lived in Laughton (half a mile away) for 24 years and raised our two boys there. We only intended to be in the house for a few months – we were going to buy a home – but our circumstances changed and we ended up staying. We enjoyed living there and felt like it was our own house, however it had a large garden, which got too much to keep on top of. Our boys are grown up now and have homes of their own, so we knew it was time to downsize.

“Kim suggested shared ownership, so we came and viewed a home at the development and thought it was a nice spot. We’re approaching retirement and Kim works locally, so she’s very much integrated into the community. Both our boys went to the local school, so we felt a real connection to the village.

“The property has exceeded our expectations and we’ve had great support from the developers. The team has done a really great job with the homes – we had some minor issues with the heating and gutter but they sorted it out straight away.

“Our previous home was 270 years old and hard to heat, but the new house is very energy efficient, with solar panels and an air source heat pump – we can’t believe how warm it is!”

The 68-home scheme, due to be completed in June 2026 in partnership with Thakeham, has received support from Homes England funding.

Marie Riordan, Director of Development (South & Central), said: “It’s fantastic to hear how happy Carl and Kim are in their new home at Primrose Way. This scheme is a great example of what we can achieve when we work closely with trusted partners, like Thakeham, to deliver high-quality, energy-efficient homes that meet customer needs.

“Shared ownership gives customers the chance to stay connected to the communities they love and we’re proud to have been able to support Carl and Kim to find a new home to suit them in this next phase of their lives.”

Once complete, the scheme will offer homes across a range of tenures, from shared ownership to social rent and affordable rent across a range of properties, from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses. All homes will feature renewable and efficient heating via air source heat pumps, solar panels will be installed, where roof elevation allows and all properties will benefit from electric vehicle charging points.

Stonewater is committed to delivering public art across developments to enrich shared spaces and create a unique central feature, helping to foster a lasting sense of place and pride for 
customers.

As part of this commitment, Stonewater has commissioned Sussex-based chainsaw artist Dave Lucas of Lucas Carvings to design and create a range of bespoke seating for the development in Ringmer. The handcrafted benches and stools will be installed in the on-site play area, providing practical seating and engaging visual features.

The designs celebrate the local flora, fauna and wildlife found on Ringmer’s doorstep, while reflecting the area’s village character. Sustainability has been a key consideration throughout, with all timber used in the seating responsibly sourced.

The seating is due to be installed early summer of 2026 and will provide a shared, welcoming space for customers to enjoy.