Backford Hall, Blencowe Close, Chester

Offers over £230,000
Council Tax Band C | EPC D | Leasehold, 114 years remaining | No onward chain

Key features
No onward chain
First floor apartment within the main body of Grade II listed Backford Hall
Approximately 71 sq m (764 sq ft)
Vaulted ceilings rising to approximately 4.5 metres
Original fire surround, wooden window shutters and period detailing
Sitting and dining room of 21'10" x 16'0" (6.7m x 4.9m), open to the kitchen
Two double bedrooms and a large modern shower room
Three allocated parking spaces, two within a secure gated residents' area with remote-controlled gates
CCTV, alarm system and video entry
Two basement storage units plus a bike store
Mature private grounds with walking paths

Description
For those ready to move to something easier to manage, without giving up space, character or a sense of occasion, this is a rare opportunity. The apartment sits within the main body of Backford Hall, a mid-19th century Grade II listed country house in the Jacobean-revival style, listed for its special architectural and historic importance.

The Hall is a striking building: red brick on a stone plinth with stone dressings and quoins, Dutch gables and tall decorative chimney stacks, set in beautifully maintained private grounds and approached by a sweeping driveway.

Inside, the scale of the rooms reflects the apartment's position in the original house. Vaulted ceilings rise to approximately 4.5 metres, giving a sense of light and proportion rarely found in modern homes.

The sitting and dining room (21'10" x 16'0") comfortably takes a full dining table and generous seating, so favourite furniture from a larger home can come too. It features an original fire surround, wooden window shutters and tall windows looking out over the grounds, and opens to the kitchen (12'2" x 9'0"). The antique chandeliers are available by separate negotiation.

The principal bedroom measures 13'1" x 10'4", and the second double bedroom (12'6" x 8'8") is ideal for visiting family or as a study. A large modern shower room completes the accommodation. The apartment has electric heating and double glazing throughout.

This is lock-up-and-leave living at its best. The building has CCTV, an alarm system and video entry, and the residents' car park is accessed by remote-controlled gates. The apartment has three allocated parking spaces, two of them within the secure gated area, plus two basement storage units and a bike store. Whether travelling, spending time with family or wintering abroad, owners can leave with peace of mind.

The grounds are a genuine part of daily life here, with mature trees, lawns and walking paths around the Hall, giving the feel of a country estate without any of the upkeep.

Location
Backford is a peaceful village with a 13th-century church, yet everything is close at hand. Chester city centre, with its shops, restaurants, theatre and racecourse, is a short drive away along the A41, and Chester Zoo and Cheshire Oaks are within a few minutes. The M53 and M56 give easy access to the Wirral, North Wales and Manchester, and rail services from Little Sutton and Hooton run into Liverpool, while Chester station offers direct trains to London.

Service charge and what it covers
The service charge is currently £363 per month. It covers, among other things:

Buildings insurance for the whole Hall (sum insured c. £23m), including public liability
Security: CCTV monitoring of the exterior and gated access to the residents' car park
Fire safety: annual inspection, quarterly servicing of the fire alarm and emergency lighting, and weekly alarm testing
Grounds and exterior: landscaped grounds, external lighting and window cleaning
Communal areas: cleaning and upkeep of the Hall's interior shared spaces
Planned maintenance: gutter and gully cleaning, plus sinking funds for building maintenance and redecoration
On-site waste water treatment, so owners pay for water only, with no sewerage charge
A contribution to estate charges for the private development

Owners' own outgoings are therefore limited to contents insurance, electricity, water, council tax and repairs within the apartment.

Ground rent: £225 per annum.

Early viewing is highly recommended.