Going Green: Share to Buy’s Top 5 Sustainable Homes
More and more buyers are prioritising sustainability when it comes to their property search. The latest survey from leading first time buyer property portal Share to Buy of over 2,600 potential purchasers identifies this growing priority, with 72% of house hunters revealing a high energy efficiency rating is important to them.*
By incorporating energy-efficient features such as better insulation, modern heating systems, and renewable energy sources like solar panels and air source heat pumps, homes with green credentials have a reduced impact on the environment. Beyond this, sustainable homes tend to offer lower monthly energy costs as a result of reduced consumption. For many first time buyers, this dual benefit of sustainability and cost efficiency makes energy-efficient homes an increasingly attractive option in today’s housing market.
For eco-conscious first time buyers in the Midlands and the South, a number of first time buyer developments offering sustainable features are available, from Warwick to Dorset. Share to Buy has rounded up five of the top Shared Ownership homes prioritising sustainability which are coming soon or currently available on sharetobuy.com. The majority of properties listed on the portal are new-build homes, many of which incorporate newer building materials and a wide range of eco features.
Hart Grove, Thundersley
Essex
Located in the Essex countryside setting of Thundersley, Hart Grove is a development underpinned by a commitment to sustainability from Legal & General Affordable Homes. Set to launch in early 2025, Hart Grove will deliver a collection of one and two bedroom Shared Ownership homes, offering a more affordable route onto the property ladder for young professionals and growing families alike, without compromising on quality or sustainability.
Every home will have an EPC rating of A, whilst 90% of the homes are expected to achieve Net Zero Carbon Regulated energy. Key features include air source heat pumps for heating and hot water, and timber frame construction contributing to a lower carbon footprint. A communal food-growing trial will also run at the development, encouraging residents to engage in sustainable living practices.
Pricing for homes at Hart Grove is coming soon – keep an eye on the Share to Buy website.
SO Resi Farnham, Farnham
Surrey
SO Resi is offering an exciting new collection of one and two bedroom Shared Ownership apartments in Farnham, Surrey. The development has been designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating a natural living wall and roof, helping provide clean air and an ecosystem for a variety of local wildlife. Communal green areas run throughout the site too, further promoting biodiversity.
Additionally, double glazing features throughout the homes, whilst the development uses electric energy only, significantly reducing the site’s carbon footprint.
Pricing for homes at SO Resi Farnham currently begins from £68,125 for a 25% share of a one bedroom apartment (full market value: £272,500). Register your interest on the Share to Buy website.
Beauchamp Park, Warwick
Warwickshire
Surrounded by pockets of woodland and lush English countryside, a new collection of two, three and four bedroom Shared Ownership homes is coming soon to Beauchamp Park, Warwick.
Energy efficiency is at the core of this L&Q development throughout the design and construction process. Each home has been built with timber frames, decreasing the development’s carbon footprint, whilst a closed panel system helps trap heat and ultimately save on energy costs. A sustainable development offering the best of both worlds, Beauchamp Park is ideal for green-minded buyers looking to set down roots close to the historic town of Warwick.
Shared Ownership homes at Beauchamp Park are coming soon – find out more on the Share to Buy website.
Lindsay Oaks, Poole
Dorset
Brought to the market by Abri Homes, Lindsay Oaks is a new collection of two and three bedroom homes nestled between the coastal towns of Poole and Bournemouth. With homes ready to move into now, each plot features an EV charging parking space, whilst heating is supplied by an air source heat pump, extracting heat from the air outside and transferring it into energy for the home.
Ideally located within walking distance of a range of local amenities, homes at Lindsay Oaks also offer convenient access to several public transport connections, including regular bus services, and train links from Branksome Station.
Pricing for homes at Lindsay Oaks currently begins from £104,250 for a 30% share of a two bedroom apartment (full market value: £347,500). Register your interest on the Share to Buy website.
Holmhurst Gardens, Hastings
Kent
Southern Housing New Homes is offering a unique collection of two, three and four bedroom Shared Ownership houses, where sustainability and low carbon usage play a significant role. Homes at Holmhurst Gardens in Baldslow, Hastings are gas-free, and energy is supplied by an air source heat pump. EV charging points and dual-channel Hive active heating systems are implemented throughout the development too. Combined, these sustainable features lead to a 31% reduction in CO2 emissions.
Holmhurst Gardens is also trialling the innovative Clean Air initiative, using titanium dioxide to break down harmful pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, improving local air quality. This scheme reduces the amount of Nitrogen Oxide/Dioxide equivalent to 13,181 car journeys annually. What’s more, huge effort has been taken to ensure the site is ‘green’, with wide tree-lined roads, significant amounts of land dedicated as open space, and strenuous work undertaken to maintain the onsite woodland.
Pricing for homes at Holmhurst Gardens currently begins from £90,000 for a 25% share of a two bedroom apartment (full market value: £360,000). Register your interest on the Share to Buy website.
Visit the Share to Buy website to discover more.
*Survey of Share to Buy users, conducted December 2023.