Blending ancient woodland, salt marshes, reed beds, wild expanses of heathland and pretty beaches, the Suffolk Coast offers an idyllic place to live for nature lovers - and buyers there have a good choice of new developments to consider.
Much of the coastline is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, packing in three National Nature Reserves, many Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and endless walks. There are also lively resorts nearby such as Felixstowe, and good road connections to larger towns such as Ipswich.
Southwold area
In the pretty village of Reydon, less than a mile north-west of the popular coastal town of Southwold and its lovely beaches, Hopkins Homes has created Nightingale Place. Offering three- and four-bedroom homes priced from £349,995, the development has a good set of local amenities close by while at the same time offering easy access to some of Suffolk's most beautiful coastal landscapes - including the beaches of Southwold, Walberswick and Aldeburgh, and the sandy cliffs, heathland and forest of Dunwich. All the shops, pubs and restaurants of Southwold town centre are just down the road, as is the town's attractive harbour and pier - while the large town of Lowestoft is only about 13 miles away.
Aldeburgh area
For buyers who don't mind living a little bit inland, but still less than 10 miles from the coast, Saxmundham is an option. This historic market town is within easy reach of the Heritage Coast, including the coastal town of Aldeburgh, which is only about seven miles away. The location offers quick access onto the A12, while the local railway station offers excellent commuter connections to London and beyond.
One current development there is Mayflower Green, a collection of 60 two-, three- and four-bedroom homes from David Wilson Homes that will appeal to a wide range of buyers.
Another is Abbotts Grange, from Hopkins Homes, which incorporates two-, three- and four-bedroom houses, two-bedroom apartments, and one two-bedroom bungalow, priced from £249,995.
Taylor Wimpey also has a range of new properties coming soon to a site called Heritage Gate in Saxmundham, offering a choice of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes, and prospective buyers can now register their interest online.
Felixstowe area
Moving further south to the attractive Victorian seaside town of Felixstowe, Hopkins Homes has a collection of 40 one- and two-bedroom apartments and 18 two-, three- and five-bedroom houses at The Martellos. Priced from £139,995, the homes are set in landscaped gardens and there are a number of purchase incentive schemes available, including Part Exchange and Assisted Move.
Bloor Homes also has new apartments and townhouse-style properties in Felixstowe at Martello Park. Priced from £210,000, the properties are situated right on the sea front within Maritime Park, a redeveloped area of the town which was officially opened at Easter in 2014. It incorporates public recreational spaces, children's play areas, picnic benches, and attractive landscaped areas, while within walking distance there are also schools, shops, supermarkets, leisure centres, and many other local amenities.