Surrenden Crescent, Brighton, BN1

GUIDE PRICE: £950,000--£1,000,000.

ANOTHER SALE AGREED BY BRAND VAUGHAN PRESTON PARK OFFICE.

IN NEED OF COMPLETE MODERNISATION AND REFURBISHMENT.

OFFERING CHAIN FREE.

INTERNAL VIEWINGS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.

A rare find in need of a fresh start, this charming 3 bedroom 1930’s house is a beauty, nestled at the heart of its vast plot where a big garden at the front has a long drive to a garage with a workshop next door, and the sunny grounds at the back just keep on going to reveal a secret garden behind a fabulous, mature fir tree. Inside, the bones of a dream home are there with 1828 sq. ft. (169.9m2) to inspire ideas great or small, complete with a conservatory, an open Art Deco fireplace in the drawing room, elegant dining room and eat in kitchen. In an exclusive location perfect for families and professionals, local primary and secondary schools are good or outstanding (and within a 4-minute drive) and the tennis courts, playgrounds and cafes of Preston Park or Blakers Park, as well as the al fresco lifestyle of Fiveways, are 2-4 minutes away, whilst and the station with direct trains to Gatwick and London is an easy walk or 4 minutes by cab.

Style Detached house, 1930’s ripe for development stnc
Type 3 double bedrooms, 1 bathroom + cloakroom, reception, lounge, dining room, conservatory, kitchen/dining room, workshop
Area Surrenden
Floor Area 1828 sq. ft.
Outside Space Extensive gardens at the front and back
Parking Garage, driveway
Council Tax Band E

Why you’ll like it:
Quiet and leafy with protected grass verges, this genteel, tree-lined crescent is lined with prosperous homes, many of which have been extended and improved, stnc. On the market for the first time in 62 years and nestled at the heart of an unusually extensive plot, this loved house has become a bit too much for the current owner but radiates charm despite its need for help.

The Approach and Entrance Hall:
You know you are somewhere special when you turn into the gate and into an enormous front garden and see this delightful, detached home at the heart of it all. The garage is at the end of a long drive, there’s a brick archway to the workshop, and the 1930’s front door is beyond a practical, quarry tiled porch.

Inside is inviting with an easy social flow, and a fuss free wood floor in the broad hall welcomes company. There is under stair storage and cloakroom tucked away, and radiating from this central space, the living rooms have retained their original doors.

The Living Room, Dining Room and Conservatory:
At the front of the house, the spacious living room has a broad south bay, an open Art Deco fireplace (which has not been used for a long time). A stylish wall of glass has central doors to the private dining room next door, where a hatch allows seamless serving from the kitchen, and French doors lead to a conservatory which frames the mature garden at the back.

The Eat-In Kitchen and Workshop:
At the far end of the hall, traditionally separate from the dining area, the large eat in kitchen has 17’1 x 13’4 (5.2m x 4.06m) of floorspace to play with and one option would be to knock through to the dining room stc to create a big kitchen diner. As it is, it has everything you need to start with, including plumbing for a washing machine, and it connects to the workshop of 14’11 x 11’1, which opens to the grounds.

The Garden:
Outside, the tranquil garden is a private refuge with some magnificent mature plants including scented buddleia, beloved by butterflies, and has a very large, level lawn by the house for play (a feature hard to find in a city built on the South Downs). With so much space, a paved dining terrace at the centre allows for al fresco dining whilst enjoying the fun, and there’s a big secret garden to explore behind the stately fir tree.

Three Double Bedrooms and Bathroom:
Returning inside, at the top of the stairs a spacious, if vintage bathroom is good to go with natural light, and it would be easy to transform into a more luxurious space as there is a generous 7’10 x 5’10 (3.04m x 2.83) to plan out.

Two family, double bedrooms at the back with fitted wardrobes have ample character of their own and are completely private as they look across a sea of gardens. At the front of the house, the principal bedroom is a romantic refuge with space and grace, private behind cleverly planted trees with a handsome period fireplace and restful proportions.

Agent says:
“On an exceptionally large plot, this charming home also offers an increasingly rare opportunity to create the home of your dreams within a few minutes of popular primary schools, Varndean College a four minute walk and easy access to a station with direct trains to London.”

Owner’s secret:
“A happy home for 62 years this house has lots of character. The relaxed layout inside is perfect for a boisterous family or for someone who likes to entertain with plenty of flexible space for all, so you could just work with the house as it is or create a fantasy home to rival the neighbours! Stnc. I have happy memories of playing in the garden as a child and surrounded by parks the area has a leafy, countryside feel. If you have children, life is made easy with a choice of good schools, shops and cafes nearby whilst the location is also perfect for a couple with dog walks and countryside runs on the doorstep as well as swift access into or out of the city for restaurants and theatres.”

What’s around you:
Shops: 4 minutes to Fiveways and to Sainsbury’s at Preston Village
Train Station: Preston Park Station 4 minutes by cab, about 25 on foot downhill!
Seafront or Park: Hollingbury Park with woodland walks, playground and tennis courts 2 mins walk, Withdean Park 2 mins by car, Preston Park 4, sea about 10 mins

Closest schools:
Primary: Balfour, The Downs Infant School, The Downs Junior School
Secondary: Varndean, Dorothy Stringer, Downs View Link College
6th form: Varndean, BHASVIC, MET
Private: Brighton College, Brighton & Hove High, Windlesham, Lancing Prep, Lancing (all have buses)

This prestigious location between Preston Park Village and the al fresco lifestyle of Fiveways – both given top spots by the Sunday Times Best Places to Live Guide - is just a short walk from the countryside walks of Hollingbury Park and Woods and only a short drive from the 63 acres of Preston Park which has football pitches, basketball courts, tennis courts, cycle velodrome, café and open spaces hosting arts events during our legendary festivals. Both the beach and the South Downs National Park are quick to get to and you have the best of all worlds with the vibrant arts venues, international restaurants and famous shopping of the city all easy to reach, as well as good local primary and secondary schools within a 4 minute radius. For those who need rapid and regular access to Gatwick, London or Lewes, Preston Park Station is 4 minutes by cab and there’s swift access to the A23/A27.