Gloucestershire’s rural villages are proving popular with first time buyers, who are rejecting the urban lifestyle of Gloucester and Bristol in favour of a more relaxed pace of life.

Local estate agent Matt Tanzer, Branch Manager at Allen & Harris in Chipping Sodbury, has noticed a clear increase in first time buyers moving from rented properties in urban areas to new-build homes in the Gloucestershire countryside. He comments: “We are seeing our busiest year since our branch opened in 2007. Many of the house-hunters we speak to work in Bristol or Gloucester but are looking for a home in a quieter, rural location to help them relax in the evenings and at weekends. With the average first time buyer in the UK now aged 31*, many first-time buyers have an eye on the future of their families so local amenities are an important consideration, for example the provision of good schools nearby.”

Earlier this year, award-winning developer Crest Nicholson launched Kingswood Fields, a collection of two, three and four-bedroom homes. Over 60% of first time buyers at this rural development have moved from rental properties in Bristol’s city centre.

Sandra Dixon, Sales and Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson South West, comments: “In response to the growing demand for homes in the Gloucestershire countryside, we have tailored our Kingswood Fields development to offer everything a first time buyer could need. The development has a village feel with excellent schools within easy reach, including Charfield Primary School, rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, and Katharine Lady Berkeley's School rated ‘Good’.

“We currently have three and four-bedroom homes available using the government’s Help to Buy scheme, making these properties more affordable for first time buyers and second steppers alike.”

Three-bedroom homes at Kingswood Fields are available from £310,000. Homes are available using the government’s Help to Buy scheme. To find out more, visit https://www.crestnicholson.com/developments/kingswood-fields/