Icknield Way, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 4TT

In a prime position opposite Norton Common and only 450m from the town centre and mainline station is this wonderful Garden City home, offering heaps of potential, off-road parking and a garage, plus a south-facing garden.

The Property

An Ebenezer Howard home built in 1905, this property was an exhibition cottage in the 2005 centenary of Letchworth Garden City. The residence appeals today for the same reasons it did 120 years ago: exemplary architecture, ample accommodation, and an aspirational location. The current owners purchased the property in 1986, and have cherished it for nearly 40 years, as have their children and grandchildren.

New owners are granted a wonderful family home, featuring open living areas, a separate reception room, four bedrooms, and both a bathroom and a shower room. There’s heaps of potential here, subject to planning and permissions, and providing any amendments adhere to local design principles, in place to preserve the town’s character.

That being said, the property has been extended previously to increase the living space and add more bedrooms. The living space consists of a lounge, a dining area and the kitchen, open to each other, yet distinct for their individual uses. The dining area is flexible, however, and a family could use this as a play area, with parents able to watch the kids from the kitchen.

The kitchen is a good size, with more than enough storage to cream cabinetry and pull-out pantry cupboards. There’s plenty of surfacing to wood worktops, inset with a wide ceramic sink. Integrated appliances include a Bosch five-ring gas hob and a Neff oven and grill, and there are gaps for a freestanding fridge/freezer and dishwasher. Two sets of French doors from the living space open onto the garden for taking food outside to eat al fresco.

The reception room at the front of the house is currently set up as a dining room, so if you’d like to host family and friends for formal meals and dinner parties, this is perfect. If not, this could be a secondary lounge instead for some separation when needed. There’s wood flooring in here, a fireplace alcove in the corner, and a bow window with leafy outlooks.

To the first floor, the front bedrooms also benefit from outlooks over trees. Two of the four bedrooms are large doubles, the other two small doubles. A three-piece bathroom is on the ground floor, set off the hall, and there’s a shower room upstairs next to the primary bedroom. A door could be fitted between the landing and the shower room to create a private primary suite.

The Plot

With the house set back from the road, the frontage is generous. It’s mostly lawned, with mature planting including a rose bush, a cherry tree, and a glut of wild garlic. There’s off-road parking for three cars – two tandem on the tarmac driveway, one the other side of the house – and the garage offers an extra space away from the elements. The back of the garage has been sectioned off into a utility room, also accessed via a door from the garden. A side gate gives access between the frontage and the rear garden.

The rear garden is delightful. Directly from the house is a wide deck, under cover for British summers, and affording options for outdoor seating arrangements. Beyond the deck is a lawn, bordered by more pretty pink roses and a selection of established shrubs, and interspersed with apple and pear trees, plus taller trees providing privacy.

Tucked away to the left is a ‘secret garden’. The owners purchased the land to enlarge the plot, and this area has been a well-loved allotment. There’s lots of possibility to grow your own, and it’s secluded for pottering away in peace while tending to your vegetable patches. There’s space for composting too, as well as for sheds to store all the equipment you need.

The Position

Letchworth was the first Garden City, designed to accommodate daily needs while maintaining connection to countryside. It does exactly that. Icknield Way is a prime location just 450m from the town centre. Here you’ll find everything from shops and businesses, to places to eat and drink, to arts and culture offerings. There’s entertainment for all ages and interests, and events are held throughout the year.

Alongside an array of amenities and a bustling atmosphere, the town centre has a mainline station. Fast, frequent rail services into London and Cambridge are ideal for commuters, and commuting by road is also convenient from Letchworth, with access into the capital down the A1(M)/A1.

The property sits along the south side of Icknield Way, opposite 25-hectare Norton Common. This has greenspace, sports facilities, play areas and picnic spots, and is great for wildlife-watching. Letchworth is encompassed by stunning Hertfordshire countryside, so fresh air and abundant nature are never far. The town has gyms, a golf course, a leisure centre and a lido for staying active, as well as lots of choice for a family day out.

For families, local schooling is walking distance from Icknield Way, and independent education in the town includes St Francis’ College and St Christopher School.