Having moved to Cornwall from Manchester in 2010 to be nearer their two sons, the couple settled in Kestle Mill where they spent the next eight years.
In order to save money, the Marshalls, who have been married for 45 years, struck upon the idea to downsize their home but feared nothing suitable would turn up.
That was until a new development in Nansledan presented them with an opportunity to set up home in a brand new flat – and they jumped at the chance.
“We got a phone call one day and went had a look at the flat. It was perfect and we took it immediately,” said Mary, 64.
“We rented a house for seven years and it does eat away at your finances. So we decided to go for a flat and it will save us lots of money.
“The flat is so well insulated and we feel we will save £4,000 a year which will save us £40,000 over the next 10 years.
“It gives us security for the future.”
The Marshalls feared their age would prove a barrier to finding suitable accommodation as they felt young families would be ahead of them in the queue.
Mary added: “We never felt discriminated against because of our age.
“LiveWest didn’t treat us any differently to anyone else and gave us exactly the same opportunities.
“We thought it might go to a younger person so we have been pleasantly surprised by the whole experience.
“LiveWest has been absolutely brilliant. They have treated us with dignity, respect, and thoughtfulness.
“They have followed up things when they said they would and been a pleasure to deal with. My experience of LiveWest over the past 12 months has been brilliant.
“We feel blessed to live in this part of the world.”
Nansledan lies two miles outside of Newquay and, although the scheme will eventually have 3,880 new homes coupled with a supermarket, a school, and public spaces, it has retained its rural feel.
As the National Housing Federation celebrates Rural Housing Week, with its tagline of Building for Rural Communities, Mary has hailed efforts by housing associations to preserve rural communities by providing suitable accommodation.
She said: “It is great that LiveWest has concentrated on rural areas because I have worked with older groups for Age UK and a lot of people become isolated when the buildings are spread out.
“So this new community will give people, who ordinarily might have become socially isolated, a new lease of life.
“Rural communities have to thrive otherwise the massive shopping giants are going to take over. The facilities in rural communities bring choices.”
The investment plans for Nansledan will sustain jobs in the building and supply chain, protecting livelihoods and offering fresh opportunities.
Graham, 67, said: “It will bring prospects to the area. Builders, teachers for the new school and jobs in the other amenities being planned for the area will be needed.
“It is exciting for the young people in the area because there will be more opportunities for them and it is more about them.
“Nansledan has been designed in line with how you imagine a Cornish village would have looked when it was first built years ago.”