Cookswood

Me and my husband found the Cookswood development on the internet when looking to relocate to the UK from France. The images on the website and our initial discussion with the project team were so exciting and encouraging that we reserved a plot at a cost of 5k. However, as the process continued, things quickly went wrong. Firstly, Cookswood deleted the plot that we have reserved. The new plot they offered had a different orientation but they assured us that we would be able to continue with the design modifications we have previously agreed and required for us to make the house work. We continued the process and incurred significant costs with solicitors. At this point the project manager informed us that the only way to get what we had agreed was to buy back a portion of our previous plot! This had been by them deemed to be unusable for development yet price they quoted was equivalent to building land. At this point we decided to visit the place. The brochure images we had seen did not reflect reality with a regard to property layout and woodland setting. Given that we could not see the value of purchasing the additional land required to fix the problem that they have caused by removing the originally reserved plot, we had no choice but to stop the purchase. From this point Cookswoods attitude changed for the worse. At least for 6 weeks we have been trying to resolve the matter with respect to the reservation fee but they are very unresponsive. Overall, a very frustrating experience lacking professionalism which leaves us in doubt that they could have ever delivered.
Oct 17th, 2022

As soon as we visited Cookswood, we knew that this was going to be the dream home we had been searching for. Rick, Daniel, Olivia and team couldnt have been more accommodating helping us with the exciting bespoke design of our property and answering all of our questions. It has been exciting to watch the build process. This is a truly luxurious development set in a beautiful part of the country. This development is unlike any we have ever visited before and we are excited to be a part of it.
Apr 14th, 2023

If youre thinking of buying look elsewhere. Bad and sad experience with Rick and family Wanted to purchase plot 2 as my home and agreed with Daniel and Rick to buy it in one lump sum with a mortgage. Spent over 2K with a mortgage advisor which found me a mortgage for the agreed price and having a deadline of three months to get the house ready but nothing moved towards finalising the property and lost this mortgage offer. My solicitor pointed out later that the house needed to be purchased in stages (land and then a building contract to build the house/ finish it) which I have never agreed in the first place. As due to this fact you dont pay VAT or stamp duty. This was first agreed to buy the house in one lump before I signed a non return deposit of 5K which initially was refundable subject to finding a mortgage. Everything was wrapped nicely to make you sign the contract and not explained clearly what are the steps towards the purchase of a property that was 85% built. Dealing with Rick and separately with Olivia who in the end went traveling. I have lost the first mortgage offer and now I am pushed to find another one with built in stage to which I never agreed in the first place. This for me is impossible as for this type of contract for a bank to lend you money ( found only one bank) you need to own your own residential property as this cant be your main residence. Next step was another meeting with Rick and having a Gentlemans handshake agreement to return to my first mortgage offer and to buy the house with one lump sum. Few weeks later he comes back to me saying the is not possible to do this as his solicitors would not let him do it!!!
Apr 19th, 2023

Beautiful place!
Apr 13th, 2023

Well, it's been a while so i thought i would update this review. Cookswood did indeed stick to their policy of minimum engagement and hoping that a situation goes away. It won't. They refused my offer to arbitrate the issue, which i guess says something about their attitude to clients as well as their degree of confidence in success. They did offer 1000 pound for me to go away and take down my review......not really how this works if you ask me. Off to court we go!:) , Be very careful before signing anything as if things don't go well Cookswood's response seems to be to simply 'ignore and hope it goes away!' If you are considering this development then my advice would be to 1) check their schedule against what they have actually achieved. 2) compare the marketing photo's with the location and what they are actually building 3) take a look inside any completed houses and satisfy yourself that these buildings are being fitted out to a high end specification. Good luck.
Mar 12th, 2023