New-builds for London commuters: the developments awarded for bringing style and good design to homes near the capital

By City & Country

This “imperial country-style home in suburban London” is one of 22 residences carved from a magnificent Grade One listed mansion designed by renowned Georgian architect John Nash.

Boasting 13 original ceiling paintings, grand arched windows, ornate decorative plasterwork, wall panelling and Adam marble fireplaces, the meticulous restoration has yielded genuinely unique apartments, including one in the formal ballroom with a highly unusual circular drawing room opening on to a splendid terrace.

What makes the property even more special is the splendid location overlooking Sundridge Park Golf Course, near Bromley. The mansion is reached via the lodge entrance and a half-mile drive alongside fairways, making for a fantastic sense of arrival.

The grounds were laid out in the 19th century by landscape designer Humphry Repton. Edward VII attended shooting parties at the estate, before a private golf course was cut out of the valley. The domed mansion later became a hotel and conference centre.

Reincarnated, the homes are selling for between £425,000 and £2.5 million.

By Thomas Sinden Developments

Hertfordshire is in the right place for commuters. Fast rail links to King’s Cross and Liverpool Street combined with quick road access to the countryside and pretty villages make the county a favourite with buyers working in the capital.

Family homes are cheaper than in Berkshire or Surrey, and the M11 business corridor is becoming as important as the M4 commercial zone.

At one end is Cambridge, with its high-tech and bio-med industries, and at the other is Docklands and Canary Wharf. Luton, Stansted and Heathrow airports are also easy to get to.

As well as trophy houses for execs, developers are building imaginatively designed homes with wow factor. Ellison Park near the village of Hunsdon is one such project. All 11 homes are a contemporary take on the classic barn conversion.

The Catlin is the largest, spreading to 2,515 sq ft over two floors, with extensive glazing and a vast, freeflowing open-plan kitchen. Prices from £745,000.

Call 01992 248028.

By St Edward

This could become an exemplar for coronavirus-era housing. Set in a 70-acre county park, this new address will eventually have 1,500 homes promoting a healthy lifestyle.

St Edward is creating a traditional village with a mix of apartments, cottages, semis and detached houses, all with fast-fibre broadband for efficient home-working. There will be a school and community hall, shops, cafés and village green, while entry to this new village is across a humpback bridge over an ornamental lake.

For relocating Londoners seeking fresh air and value-for-money property, Hampshire is a compelling choice. In general, prices decline steadily as travel times to the capital increase — the further out, the cheaper it is, especially beyond Home County hotspots in Surrey, Bucks and Berkshire.

Leapfrog these and you can find more distant areas with open countryside, great value property and efficient commuter links. Yet from nearby Fleet and Farnborough stations, trains to Waterloo take under 40 and 34 minutes respectively.

Surrounded by natural woodland, residents have access to six miles of trails and a mountain bike course, play areas and a linear park The Oak is a big, 2,579 sq ft five bedroom Arts and Crafts-style home with an open-plan super-room combining kitchen, dining and relaxation spaces. Price £999,995. Other homes cost from £318,500.

Call 01252 755 337.

By Millwood Designer Homes

Millwood uses reclaimed materials to build architectural variations of traditional yeoman houses and farmhouses in the Kent, Surrey and Sussex countryside.

Though new, the homes have a mature, weathered look. Ewhurst nestles at the foot of the Surrey Hills, and is a gateway to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It’s one of Surrey’s best kept secrets.

Built on former paddocks, 32-home Cherry Tree Lane, right, has the feel of an embedded hamlet, with a central lane ending at a farm-style courtyard.

There is a mix of homes — from one to five bedrooms — with Dutch gabled roofs, porches and double-height feature windows. Prices from £415,000.

Call 01732 770991.