CAMBRIDGESHIRE’S NEW TOWN IS IN DEMAND THANKS TO HOMEBUYERS’ INCREASING VALUE FOR GREEN SPACE DURING LOCKDOWN
The housebuilders behind the new town of Northstowe are attributing a surge in interest from homebuyers during lockdown to the growing demand for more outdoor space, gardens and sustainable living.
Collectively, Barratt Homes, Bovis Homes, David Wilson Homes, Domovo Homes, Linden Homes and Taylor Wimpey have revealed a significant increase in reservations since the beginning of lockdown in England.
The majority of housebuilders have received more than a 60% increase, with Barratt Homes, Bovis Homes and Linden Homes noting 125% increase in reservations and for new homes. This is supported by research from Rightmove which shows that Cambridge came second in the top 10 locations searched by potential first time-buyers in the second two weeks of lockdown*.
A sign that more first-time buyers want to live near a river or the coast, says Rightmove. Searches for gardens, by the same group, also increased by 16%, the highest percentage growth Rightmove has seen this year*.
With 24 areas of green space available including a central square named The Green, the 14.8Ha Western Park including allotment and orchard land, a lake, 18 play areas and pocket parks and a Northern and Southern greenway, Northstowe is designed to encourage active lifestyles, independence and wellbeing and provides excellent facilities for people to socialise, play and keep fit.
Northstowe’s open spaces and buildings have been created to enhance biodiversity, creating green corridors all around that link to the wider Cambridgeshire area. The new town will support a low carbon community lifestyle with buildings that use less energy, provide carbon savings and are economic to run. It will also have fibre optic connectivity, great public transport, cycle lanes, walkways and electric vehicle charging points.
On behalf of the Northstowe housebuilders Paul Murfin, Marketing Manager at Domovo Homes says, “The national lockdown was a huge shock to the system for the whole country. At times like this we all reevaluate the things that are important to us and think about the life we want to build in the future. “It's no surprise that during lockdown homebuyers were searching for homes with good-sized gardens and close to lots of green, recreational space. We can also assume that people have considered their environmental impact during lockdown and are looking at ways to rectify this.
At Northstowe we have seen these things as a clear motivator for new buyers, also reflected in the increase in reservations made via our virtual viewings during lockdown.”
As well as being a great place for people to call home, Northstowe will provide for a mixed and balanced community with an accent on health and wellbeing. NHS England is providing continued funding for a ‘Healthy New Town’ programme and work has been commissioned to look at the accommodation needs of older people.
Find out more about new homes available at Northstowe here