Three key players in Balfours residential team have been recognised for their success within the company.

Scott Kemsley, who heads up the Ludlow Estate agency becomes a Partner at Balfours. From the Shrewsbury agency in The Square, Abigail Barker, sales office manager, has become an Associate Partner and working from the same office, Paula Wells, Lettings Team Manager is now an Associate.

Scott joined Balfours in May 2015, to develop sales in South Shropshire and borders into Wales, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. His success led to the opening of the Ludlow office in 2018. Scott comments: “I have a great support team at Ludlow, plus the infrastructure of the Shrewsbury agency and head office at New Windsor House. All in all, this has enabled us to build on the established and well recognised brand. Becoming a partner is a coup for us at Ludlow, and I’m rather pleased too.”

Balfours ethos to encourage staff to develop on the job is much the case for Abigail Barker and Paula Wells. Abigail joined the company in 2015 since that time with Balfours support she has studied and passed four exams to be a Member of the National Association of Estate Agents, NAEA PropertyMark. As a result, is now fully involved in appraisals, valuations and negotiating.

The latest recruit, Paula Wells, stepped into the letting team in 2018. MARLA qualified in Residential Lettings and Property Management, Paula has flown through the ranks putting to use her experience, both in the UK and abroad.

Head of sales and lettings and a Balfours partner, Alistair Hilton, says: “These are three very deserving promotions. Scott, Abigail and Paula are all driven team players who we are very proud of. They go that extra mile always wanting the best for our clients and achieving the best for Balfours.”

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A three-bedroom country house with studio and more than two acres has been launched to the market by Balfours.

The Cottage is in the idyllic rural setting of the Teme Valley at Burford, bordering three counties and only two and a half miles from Tenbury Wells. This attractive property has been sympathetically renovated, while retaining great character, including two inglenook fireplaces with wood burning stoves in the principal reception rooms.

The ground floor also provides a generous reception hall where natural light floods in. There is a generous and well-equipped kitchen breakfast room, utility/boot room, with wc off. The master bedroom benefits from a large ensuite and dressing room, while two additional double bedrooms share the family bathroom with bath and shower.

Balfours Ludlow sales manager, Scott Kemsley comments: “The Cottage is superbly appointed surrounded not only by picture perfect countryside, including its own paddocks, but exceptionally well-presented grounds surrounding the approach to the house, together with landscaped private gardens.”

The package includes a double garage with studio above, a potential annexe subject to planning. The artisan market town of Ludlow is just six miles, while the county towns of Hereford and Worcester are some 24 miles each. Balfours are marketing The Cottage with a guide price of £865,000, for more information call 01584 707100.

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Balfours has appointed two Rural Enterprise Land Management students to join the team for their placement year. Jasmin Teague and Sophie Jones are third year students at the Royal Agricultural University and Harper Adams respectively.

Sophie Jones grew up South of Shrewsbury attending the Priory School and Shrewsbury College Group. She admits to a long-standing interest in property and land. “I have enjoyed a wide range of modules at Harper from forestry to compensation and utilities. I am really pleased to have joined Balfours whose rural asset management services are exceptionally diverse.

“I am starting in the lettings department where it is hugely satisfying following properties through from launch to let, co-ordinating between the various parties as the process progresses,” Sophie adds.

Jasmin lives in Mid-Wales, where she has enjoyed significant equestrian success, competing in both the Pony Club and National Schools Championships.  Her love of all things rural drew her to study at The Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester.

She reflects: “It has been interesting to get to know the Cotswolds area and see at close quarters different types of agriculture. On my course property economics has been particularly fascinating.” Now based at New Windsor House, Oxon, Jasmin is working with Associate Partner, Jack Cooper, where her work takes her out onto a variety of estates in Shropshire and the neighbouring counties.

Business manager, Craig Varley says: “We are delighted to have Sophie and Jasmin join us. Providing experience and training for our students is an important part of Balfours ethos. Several partners in the business are assessors for the Rural Institute of Chartered Surveyors APCs and for the Central Association for Agricultural Valuers. This means they are exceptionally well placed to guide our students and to achieve best outcomes.”

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Issue by and more information from Joy Fox 07841 763 530

A house in the heart of Shrewsbury’s popular Belle Vue area is a rare find; add that this five-bedroom home was built less than ten years ago, making 58 Oak Street an exceptionally desirable and well-designed property.

Now launched to the market by Balfours, Number 58 has a generous hallway giving access to three good sized reception rooms, plus the kitchen, dining room and a downstairs cloakroom. The well-equipped and presented kitchen opens out to a fabulous dining space where bifold doors billow natural light through and provide access to the terrace and garden.

The largest reception room also opens to the terrace, this is with French doors and glazing to two aspects. A wood burner provides the focal point for cosier times. To the front of the house are rooms currently used as a sitting room and children’s playroom, though the latter would make a spacious home office. Both have large bay windows.

The master room overlooks the rear garden and has two fitted wardrobes, plus a luxurious ensuite bathroom with bath and shower. Two bedrooms benefit from a Jack and Jill shower room, with the one these rooms having a pair of fitted wardrobes. A family bathroom serves a further two bedrooms.

Head of sales at Balfours, Alistair Hilton, comments: “Number 58 was built by Shropshire Homes, so it is stamped with quality and is very well presented, in a great location at the end of a quiet cul-du-sac. Its location not only puts Shrewsbury town centre within walking distance, but also provides an excellent choice of state and independent schools.”

To the rear is a split-level garden, with a double detached garage alongside the house, plus off-street parking for several cars. Balfours are marketing 58 Oak Street with a guide price of £835,000. For more information call 01743 353511.

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A wonderful opportunity to enjoy the virtues of riverside life has been launched to the market by Balfours.

Two-bedroom, Anglers Cottage, will make a wonderful home, or holiday rental. With river views and the medieval market town of Ludlow a short walk, it is unlikely the new incumbents will tire of spotting Otters, Kingfishers and much more.

Recently renovated the accommodation provides a fully fitted oak kitchen, opening through into an open plan living area, with log burner. There are two double bedrooms on the first floor both with river, or town views plus a family bathroom.

Ludlow sales manager, Scott Kemsley, comments: “This is a rare opportunity, properties on the riverbank are so few and far between. Add to this the refurbishment, it is not just well presented aesthetically, but those important items, such as windows, combi boiler with remote controls and wood burner are all new.”

The south facing garden runs down to the river where cantilevered riverside decking puts you on a par with Watership Down. Two covered south facing seating areas provide alternative lookouts, or a place to enjoy catch of the day, as fishing rights are, of course, with Anglers Cottage.

Balfours are marketing Anglers Cottage with a guide price of £350,000, call 01584 707100 to view.

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Issued by and more information from Joy Fox Pr 07841 763 530

A stunning and secluded six-bedroom farmhouse, set in seven and a half acres with a range of outbuildings has been launched to the market by Balfours.

Longswood Farm, is found in the hamlet of its namesake, some five miles from the M54 at Telford and thirteen miles from Shrewsbury. Set in an idyllic slightly elevated location, with far reaching views to the front. The grade II property which extends to 5000 square feet offers generous sized rooms throughout and has undergone refined renovations which are almost complete, leaving the buyer opportunity to decorate to their taste.

In true farmhouse style there are three generous reception rooms with fireplaces, the entrance hall intercepts giving access to the main rooms, including the large kitchen which has been fitted with quartz top island and there are French doors to the terrace. Service rooms include a utility off the kitchen, cloakroom, boot room and study with feature corner windows.

The significant master suite is on the first floor equipped with a large dressing room, ensuite with shower and feature bath, plus magnificent views. A second bedroom benefits from ensuite facilities. On the second floor are a further four bedrooms, another ensuite, plus a family bathroom with walk-in shower. From a second staircase to the first floor is a room currently used as a library, but equally providing a second generous homework or hobby room. A pair of cellars complete the main house.

Across the way from the main house is a one-bedroom annex, together with a games room and gym. Charlie Giffard, Balfours Associate Partner, Country House Sales, comments: “There are a significant number of brick barns and steel frame modern agricultural buildings. The whole provides a canvas from which a multitude of opportunities could arise subject to planning. Extensive plans are currently being drawn up to convert some into residential units, however the whole could be re-purposed as an equestrian centre, or this would be an excellent site to run any business where both internal and external space are required. Particularly with its proximity to the M54 and the national motorway network.”

Balfours are marketing Longswood Farm with a guide price of £2,500,000. For more information call 01743 353511.

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Issued by and more information from Joy Fox Pr 07841 763 530