NEW HOMES WEEK
CREATING THAT ALL- IMPORTANT COMMUNITY Laura Markus, Policy and External Affairs Manager at the Home Builders Federation explains why new build developments are not just about the homes but building a community
see each individual council across England receive an average of £13m for schools, almost £10m in council tax contributions, and more than £4m for community open spaces to benefit local people. Just imagine the impact the impact this could have. DESIGNING FOR COMMUNITIES Developers understand that building a home goes beyond the bricks and mortar of a housing development. The strength of a community is intrinsically linked to mental health. Rightmove’s Happy at Home Index consistently finds that the happiest places to live are the ones with a sense of community and essential services, such as good schools and transport links. And this is baked into the initial design of new developments. Many home builders are going beyond investment in essential infrastructure like schools, transport links, and open spaces. New developments often feature spaces for people to get outside and communities to connect, including parks and playgrounds, walking routes, community gardens, sensory spaces and allotments. There are also fantastic examples of shared office
education services, improve community facilities and open spaces, and provide affordable housing, all of which are funded through the contributions home builders make to local authorities as part of the process to secure planning permission. Recent research published by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) explores the benefit of development to local communities. It finds that the 221,000 homes built in England last year generated over £6bn in spending for local shops, £620m for local schools and £200m invested in developing local open spaces. The new Government aims to deliver 1.5 million new homes over its term in Parliament. If these ambitious housing targets are achieved, the next five years will
So often when talking about housing and home building, the focus is on how many homes are being built and how much they cost. Of course, these things are extremely important, and as a country we simply have to be delivering more homes and ensuring the younger generation can get on to the property ladder and access decent housing as previous generations have done. But these discussions often mean we overlook the wider benefits that new home development brings to local communities – and homeowners. New build estates don’t just deliver homes, they also help create thriving communities across the UK. When builders deliver new developments they support local economies and shops, boost local
34 First Time Buyer February/March 2025
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