Showhome Spotlight: The Thespian at Oakfields Park, Halstead

In the latest edition of Showhome Spotlight, we’re giving you a look inside a Bellway showhome that is so special, it’s award winning. The 3-bedroom Thespian showhome at our Oakfields Park development in Halstead, Essex, scooped the prestigious ‘Showhome of the Year’ prize at the Showhome Awards 2024, thanks to its inclusive and innovative interior that features a delightful children’s sensory bedroom.

When planning this showhome in partnership with Bellway Essex, the expert interior designers at Stanza Style imagined a young family with a child that has additional needs, such as autism, and how their home could be designed to provide a safe, comforting, and calming environment. To achieve this, Stanza Style worked in consultation with a parent of an autistic child to ensure that their design choices were well-informed.

The result is a peaceful and soothing home, with its stand-out feature being the beautiful children’s bedroom; furnished with captivating bubble tube lamps, tactile toys, plush soft furnishings, and muted lighting, it is the perfect sensory sanctuary in which a child can relax and regulate.

Other areas of The Thespian showhome have been considered in the same way, including the living room and the open-plan kitchen and dining area, which have been decorated in neutral shades to provide serene spaces in which the family can spend time together. The master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom, giving parents a private retreat, while the second double-sized bedroom was styled as an inviting guest room – ideal for when friends, grandparents or relatives providing support or respite care come to stay.

The benefits of a new-build home for families

The Thespian showhome at Oakfields Park is a great example of how a home can be personalised to suit your individual family lifestyle – and if you buy a new build home, you could begin adding your own individual touches long before you have your keys.

When you reserve a new Bellway home, you will typically be able to choose elements of its interior such as the kitchen units, bathroom tiling, and flooring, so your home will immediately feel like yours – and not somebody else’s. When it’s time to move in, your home will be complete with brand-new appliances, and an immaculately clean and freshly-painted interior, so you don’t need to worry about redecorating, carrying out expensive and inconvenient renovations, or uncovering any nasty surprises. That means you and your family can unpack, and start making happy memories straight away in your new home.

What’s more, your energy-efficient Bellway home will save you a significant amount of money on your utility bills when compared to a second-hand property, offering peace of mind for families who want to stay in control of their household budgets. However, the savings can begin before you move with a range of fantastic offers and incentives available to make your Bellway home even more affordable, including buying schemes exclusively for first-time buyers.

The judges of the Showhome Awards 2024 said that The Thespian represented “the creation of a beautiful and practical showhome telling a unique story, with a commitment to creating an inclusive space for a young child with autism.”

Emma Hawkins, Sales Manager for Bellway Essex, said: “The whole team is ecstatic after the Thespian was chosen as Showhome of the Year and we are delighted to receive this accolade.

“We would like to thank the design experts at Stanza Style for their detailed research, wonderful interpretation and impeccable delivery. The resulting property provides a peaceful and comforting home environment which also nurtures engagement through an innovative sensory bedroom that a young child, especially one with additional needs, will love.

“We are proud that the Thespian showhome is one of the first in the region to consider the requirements of a child with special needs, helping to raise awareness of differing needs and promote inclusion.”

To see more of The Thespian showhome, visit the dedicated Oakfields Park development page on the Bellway website. You can also visit our first-time buyer hub, for more information on getting onto the property ladder with Bellway, and find out why a new build is a great choice for your very first home.