Pictured in the showhome at Broughton Court in Wiltshire is the kitchen/diner, with the table laid for dinner guests.

The appeal of a fully-furnished showhome in an exclusively private enclave of just ten brand new homes in the heart of rural Wiltshire is proving to be a draw for first-time buyers.

With half of the ten homes already sold – primarily to young couples who are first-time buyers – the housebuilder Cotswold Homes says that, for most of them, it was ‘love at first sight’ when they inspected the company’s Broughton Court development in what has been described as the ‘timeless chocolate-box village’ of Broughton Gifford near Melksham.

‘In most cases they were living in rented accommodation, or at home with their parents, but when they visited us they realised that they could afford a home of their own,’ reports Terri Hayes-Pugh, head of sales and marketing at Cotswold Homes.

The initial buyers will move into their new homes off Newleaze Park well before Christmas and the scheme will be fully completed in the new year.

‘Some buyers were drawn to Broughton Gifford by the olde worlde charm of its 28-acre common with its grazing sheep, duck ponds, cricket pitch and the old village pub,’ says Terri.

‘Clearly these homes appeal to those wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of town or city living. They offer “the good life” in a relaxed rural setting which is only minutes away by car from the Waitrose and Sainsbury stores in Melksham.

Ranging in size from two-bedroom terraced to four-bedroom detached properties, the new homes are expected to appeal also to buyers wishing to down-size as well as growing families needing more space.