Elements of the traditional village are being used to create some very desirable newly built communities, finds Johnny Turner.
The idea of what constitutes a village can vary from person to person, but the overriding image one has when picturing a village is the interaction of the people within it. The traditional village is a community of neighbours who all know each other - famously, this can be both a blessing and a curse. Today’s village, however, has moved on from the limited idea of a village as a small hamlet with a shop, church, post office and pub. What today’s home buyers want is the feeling of community and self-sufficiency that a village is known to provide. Modern additions mean even greater choice within the neighbourhood itself, and the quality of the homes being built these days in a village-type setting are the icing on the cake of what can be called ‘neo-traditional’ living.
One hallmark of this new type of village is that it is open to a wide range of influences in terms of design. A good example of this trend is The Hamptons, where North American influence pervades the design of the homes but where the provision of amenities is a modern take on the principles of community and shared experiences that are central to village life. Officially launched just a couple of weeks ago, The Hamptons is a development in Worcester Park, Surrey, where 480 brand new homes are being built, along with generous parkland and an impressive array of amenities.
Over half of the 60-acre site will be given over to landscaped parkland, called Mayflower Park. The Hamptons will also feature Maple Lodge, a central community building which will house a fully equipped gym, business suite and function room. Mayflower Park will feature a large sculptured hill incorporating a natural amphitheatre, 15,000 new trees and a sculpture park with pieces lent by the Royal Society of British Sculptors. A nature reserve, two tennis courts, cycle paths, children’s facilities, four acres of lakes and a fitness trail round out the very impressive amenities available to the resident. Homes at The Hamptons draw from the style of New England, with the timber-clad look in a combination of whitewash and a palette of complementary colours.
Prices in the first phase range from £380,000 to £750,000 for the three-storey four-, five- and six-bedroom houses with private gardens and garages. There are also apartments – and although all the one-bedroom apartments have been sold, there are two-bedroom apartments, located in landscaped grounds with parking, at prices from £305,000. Call 020 8337 3425 or visit thehamptonssurrey.co.uk to find out more.
For discerning home buyers looking to live in a country village with all local amenities and commuter links close to hand, Appledore Developments presents the Village Collection. This array of vibrant, villagey locations provides purchasers with a choice of high-quality homes with a quintessentially English character in a number of locations in Kent and Sussex. Yvette Brotherton, sales and marketing director at Appledore, says, ‘We have a wide selection of developments based on the “English Country Village” theme. All of these developments feature an impressive level of specification, combined with external rustic charm and the character from the original buildings they have replaced. Appledore takes pride in building a small number of select developments at any one time, and we believe that this helps us to achieve high standards of finish.’
A fantastic example of the Village Collection is Wheelwrights in Plaxtol, Kent, which represents the quality that is achievable when a developer with vision sets out to make a beautiful community out of brownfield land. The homes at Wheelwrights enjoy the setting of a small rural village between Sevenoaks and Tonbridge. The perfect rural retreat, these homes have the advantage of stunning views of the surrounding hills as well as a location that is perfect for commuting to nearby towns or the capital.
Also included in the Village Collection are Old School Court in Lindfield, Bourne Place in Hildenborough and Meadow View in Flimwell, as well as developments in the market towns of Wadhurst and Tenterden. Call Appledore Developments on 01732 469888 for more information.
From Redrow Homes comes The Eye in Chatham, Kent, a trend-setting collection of apartments on Barrier Road. The brand new fully furnished show apartment will give prospective buyers an idea of the standard of style available here – in the show apartment Redrow's in-house interior designer, Pôche, has created the ultimate bachelor-pad look.
The Eye is a development of 68 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments arranged to form a large crescent, surrounded by private terraced landscaped areas. All apartments have access to an external balcony or terrace and two levels of car parking will be provided. Current prices at The Eye start at £139,950 for a one-bedroom apartment and £174,950 for a two-bedroom property. Call the regional sales office on 01992 655800 or visit theeye.redrow.co.uk.
In the picturesque village of Fishbourne, West Sussex, Wilson Connolly has released a range of new homes called Flavian Fields. The latest phase consists of a flexible Boxgrove house type with an attractive starting price of £258,000. The three-storey, three-bedroom town house offers the purchaser spacious, flexible living space with the added luxury of south-facing rear gardens, plus views of a pond and an area of open space from the front of the house.
Building work has just begun on the Boxgrove, with completion due in 2004. However, the Stenning house type, a three-bedroom semi-detached home, is now ready for occupation and, due in part to a starting price of £245,000, is selling fast.
Flavian Fields offers homes ranging from three- to six-bedrooms – this development is ideal for families of any size. The six-bedroom Billingshurst is perfect for the larger family – but those interested in this house type should hurry as there is only one remaining. This home has enhanced security features; it is gated and located at the end of a cul-de-sac. Flavian Fields is situated approximately two miles from Chichester and 22 miles from Worthing. Find out more about the wide selection of homes available by ringing the sales office on 01243 775139.
Berkeley Homes is offering the Harvard Collection, a stunning collection of eight detached five-bedroom homes in the picturesque Leybourne Lakes development in Larkfield, Kent. Situated within 250 acres of parkland with 11 lakes, this scheme offers the perfect combination of stylish country living and an easy commute to the capital. The homes here are of American-influenced design and span three floors. The kitchen and family area opens out into a large garden to the rear, providing a very open feel which lends itself perfectly to entertaining, both large and small scale. The first floor has a master bedroom suite including en suite facilities and a walk-in dressing room. The fifth bedroom can also be used as a study, playroom, gym or even a shower room. The local area is villagey as well as convenient; there is a 24-hour Tesco just across the road and for those times when major shopping is necessary, Bluewater is only 20 miles away. Prices for the Harvard Collection start at £372,500. For further information call the Leybourne Lakes sales and marketing suite on 01622 791723.
Countryside Maritime is currently creating a range of highly contemporary new homes on St Mary’s Island in Kent. The striking apartments at The Fishing Village are a successful attempt to build a new development that reflects exactly what the name says – a traditional Kentish village. The one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments at The Fishing Village are now available for sale, with prices starting from £150,000. For sales enquiries contact Countryside Maritime’s sales centre on 0845 071 2070 or visit fishingvillage.co.uk.
Asprey Homes is selling an exclusive new development of four- and five-bedroom homes in Ickham, near Canterbury. Ickham Court Farm is set to be one of Kent’s premier addresses. Bruce Walker, chief executive of Asprey Homes says, ‘We are extremely proud of the homes at Ickham Court Farm, both in terms of the appealing external designs and the thoughtful and imaginative internal layouts.’
Each of the homes has a gated entrance and sits within a substantial plot. There are two country mansion-style properties, each with five bedrooms and four bathrooms, as well as two rustic barn-style homes offering four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The majority of the homes have a detached garage with additional accommodation above – this offers great flexibility for busy families or for those who wish to work from home.
That these homes are something special is evident in every aspect of the design and build quality. A state-of-the-art specification and appealing features such as vaulted ceilings, full-height windows and white shiplap boarding to the barn-style homes combine to put the homes at Ickham Court Farm into a category all their own. The location is extremely convenient, being only minutes by car from Canterbury and the M2, which leads to the coast and the M25.
Prices at Ickham Court Farm range from £750,000 to £1,135,000. For more information contact appointed selling agents Strutt & Parker on 01227 451123 or Cluttons on 01227 457441.