"For generations, our family has concentrated on providing for people's needs; that used to mean just growing food, but at the moment it also includes holiday properties," says Simper.
"People don't just want cheap food, they want access to the countryside and second homes." Primarily arable farmers, the Simper family has set aside 82 acres of land on top of a hill on the Suffolk Heritage Coast close to Bawdsey to build a range of properties, with prices starting at £200,000 for a two-bedroom house.
The development, called The Manor House Estate, includes 22 new homes, a swimming pool and tennis court and landscaped grounds. Owners will be offered services including cleaning, gardening, maintenance and food delivery. There will even be a letting service where owners can earn income from their vacant properties.
Permission was granted for the development on the basis that these properties are for holiday use only. Each home has a covenant that states they must be unoccupied each year from 6 January for six weeks, and as a result the asking prices are slightly lower than with unrestricted occupancy.
Nearby facilities include sailing, golf, horse riding, and the Snape Maltings Concert Hall. While this scheme is novel, the idea of a purpose-built holiday place does have some famous precedents in Suffolk - not least the black-and-white timbered village of Thorpeness, built at the turn of the 20th century.
"For many years, the Suffolk coast area has been very popular with holiday-home buyers and early responses to this new project have been phenomenal," says David Boxall, of estate agent Bidwells.
"Of course, people do like to be in villages, but on the Manor House Estate there is the tremendous attraction of being surrounded by more than 80 acres of rolling countryside, which leads down to the River Deben. We've had enquiries from potential buyers who want to sail locally and from several others who have horses; the management may consider providing equestrian facilities."
The Bawdsey scheme is centred on existing farm buildings. Simper's grandfather lives in the main Elizabethan manor house, but the surrounding ancient timber-frame barn, brick-built dairy, open cart lodge and more outbuildings will be converted into homes.
Close by, two new courtyard collections of traditional-style buildings are being built from scratch as purpose-made holiday homes, designed by architect Mullins Dowse & Partners of Woodbridge.
There was some local opposition to the scheme, largely because residents were concerned about increased traffic and feared the place would be overrun by incomers who would send property prices sky high. In response, Simper reasons that by offering purpose-made holiday properties, the village will be left for the locals.
He adds that the project will also provide more local jobs. "For most people, diversification conjures up images of farmers making wicker baskets, but life isn't like that.
This will provide real jobs for locals." The homes range in size and style. Phases one and two have already been snapped up and nine homes in phase three, ranging from a £200,000 lodge conversion to a £416,000 four-bedroom barn conversion, have just been released.
They are brick-built homes with large, well-lit living spaces. The first properties will be ready for occupation in April/May.
Sales are being handled by Bidwells (01473 611644, or visit www.themanorhouseestate.co.uk).
