With the housing shortage continuing to dominate headlines, some believe that garden villages could be the answer to finding the badly-needed homes required. Here with Arbordeck, supplier of timber decking, we take a look at the regional implications these villages could have and what they could look like for new buyers.
What is a garden village?
Some people may not know exactly what a garden village is. Well, it’s an area of brownfield land that has been used to create housing for new communities. They are usually smaller projects and will comprise between 1,500 and 10,000 homes. They have their own facilities, such as schools, shops and transport stations and are popular with families and first-time buyers.
While there isn’t a clear definition of a garden village, they do allow each new community to establish its own identity and create its own rules. They must be a settlement outside a town or city and not be closely attached. The British government is supporting 17 locations around the country – £6 million will fund 14 new garden villages and £1.4 million three garden towns.
There are, and are set to be, garden villages in Cumbria, Lancaster, Cheshire East, Merseyside, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Stratford-on-Avon, East Northants, Oxfordshire, Essex, Devon, Runnymede and Surrey Heath, Hampshire and Cornwall.
There are plans to build garden towns in Aylesbury, Taunton and Harlow and Gilston which are expected to provide an extra 200,000 homes.
What are the regional implications?
There is a popular misconception that they will put a strain on the resources of residents living nearby, such as school places for their children and obtaining doctor appointments. This will be avoided as garden villages are built with their own facilities such as schools and general practices. This will also create more jobs.
What will these garden villages look like?
We know that there’ll be plenty of greenery around the new homes as the garden villages are built on brownfield sites. Also, the homes are likely to have their own gardens, prompting a demand for garden furniture.
What are the current trends?
One garden craze that has swept the nation in recent years is the rise in the popularity of hot tubs. Over the past few years, it seems like more and more people are purchasing hot tubs for their garden. In North Wales, a businessman has had to double the size of his hot tub showroom to keep up with demand. These are a great addition to any garden, especially if you have a rural view of the surrounding countryside.
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