Former professional rugby league player Anderson Okiwe is officially the first homeowner to settle in at The Rise, a development by Stagfield Group in Southwell.

Currently working across Europe, as a consultant at Arla Foods, Anderson Okiwe – who previously played for Sheffield Eagles – moved with his wife and local teacher, Jane Okiwe. The family are the first people to buy one of the homes through estate agent Gascoines.

Anderson said: “Although I am a native of Hampshire and the Dorset coast, I have lived in Nottingham since the 2000’s and moved to Southwell around 10 years ago. My previous sports career was the original motivation to move north, and then I met Jane and we settled in Yorkshire for a while before ending up in Southwell.

“I graduated in Nottingham and often visited Southwell because it’s just such a lovely place. The people are great and we felt it would be a wonderful environment to raise a family and also be a part of the local community”

Based in the heart of the minster town, The Rise comprises of 38 properties, offering a mixture of apartments, and two and three-bedroom homes. The development is being delivered by partners nmcn plc and Stagfield Group.

Jane added: “We love living in Southwell, it’s an ideal location and great to be a part of thriving, close-knit community. We had been looking for the perfect home however, struggled to find the right location as we didn’t want to move from the town, but we needed good transport links for commuting.

“The Rise is close to amenities like my workplace and my son’s school, and major road networks to suit Anderson’s travel requirements. Once we visited the development we instantly felt it fit all our criteria, the character the developer has consciously added gives the property more personality than a standard new build, making it feel homely. Plenty of green space has been included within the development, as well as sustainable aspects of modern living, which also contributed to our decision to buy.”

Despite moving during the Covid-19 pandemic, which caused some delays due to restrictions, the family were not deterred by the circumstances. Jane said “We were supported every step of the way by Gascoines, who clearly communicated with us throughout the entire process. The team were helpful and had a positive influence on our buying process, everyone has gone the extra mile to ensure we are comfortable and happy in our new home.”

There are currently homes still available at The Rise for purchase and walk-in viewings are open on Saturdays, from 10am-3pm, and Sundays, from 11am-1pm.

For more information about the development or Gascoines, visit: https://www.gascoines.co/new-home/the-rise.