There are lots of advantages to owning a new home – everything’s new and under warranty, there are no repairs or renovations to worry about and it’s likely to be much more energy efficient than an older property.
However, we know that when it comes to choosing where to live, the design of the wider surroundings is as important as the individual homes.
At Redrow, we’re creating new neighbourhoods for 21st century life. Our success depends upon our reputation for improving the environment and lifestyle on offer not just for our homeowners, but for everyone who lives in the area.
From creating woodland walks and nature reserves, to providing allotments and community centres, we’re helping to shape new communities as well as build homes.
In 2015 we committed £128 million to fund investments in local communities – supporting schools, health services and highways improvements, amongst other things.
We also created 209 hectares of public open space to be enjoyed by local residents.
For example in Leegomery, near Telford, we’ve created a nature walk within an existing woodland next to our development The Coppice. The idea is to encourage residents to take an interest in the natural environment.
In the London Borough of Bexley, as a direct result of our Ratio development, we’ve invested £1.7 million in the community. The money has helped provide a new library, an impressive community centre, outside multi-use games area and has seen two primary schools extended.
As part of our Barton Park development in Barton Seagrave we’ve agreed to extend an existing allotment site to provide an additional 27 allotments, which will be managed by the local council. We’ll also be protecting and enhancing a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’ and providing areas of public open space and two children’s play areas within the development itself.
This is just a snapshot of some of the additional benefits we’ve been delivering for communities. There are lots more ways we’re helping to enhance the neighbourhoods in which we’re building.
In addition to the physical attributes of a new development that add up to creating somewhere that’s a great place to live, one of the best things about buying a new home is the fact that you are becoming part of something more. Everyone moving in is starting out together, meeting new people and bonding over a shared sense of community. That’s what really makes living on a new development pretty special.
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Dave Bexon is Group sales and marketing director for Redrow Homes.