South Wales is a beautiful region that offers a diverse range of lifestyles for house-hunting families - from convenient city living in Cardiff and Newport, to quieter options in the suburbs, the Vale of Glamorgan, and the South Wales Valleys. With an impressive choice of new developments to suit a wide range of tastes and budgets, South Wales also boasts lush countryside, gorgeous beaches, and fantastic city centre shopping and entertainment.
Riverfront properties are available from Redrow just a mile from the city of Newport at Alexandra Gate. This selection of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes are from the housebuilder's New Heritage Collection, blending traditional design features with family-friendly modern living. Available from £117,995, the homes are less than two miles from Newport's train station, and they enjoy easy road links East and West via the M4 - placing Cardiff 20 minutes away, and Bristol 40 minutes away.
In the much quieter South Wales Valleys town of Blackwood, not far from the larger town of Caerphilly with its famous castle, Charles Church Developments has a range of three- and four-bedroom family homes at Nant y Coed. This compact, quaint development of 27 homes has been designed to create a friendly living environment with a strong sense of community. Prices start from £180,000.
In the desirable Penylan suburb of Cardiff, just five minutes from the city centre, Barratt Homes has created a collection of four- and five-bedroom family homes at Scholar's Gate, priced from £306,995. The local area is popular with families thanks to its good selection of primary and secondary schools, as well as a good range of activities for mothers and babies. There are plenty of amenities for day-to-day living in Penylan, while the city centre is conveniently close by for a wider choice of facilities, shops and entertainment.
A little higher up the price ladder, Wynndel Property Management has a striking collection of limited edition four-bedroom detached homes at Naturally Woodlands, which scooped the Silver award for title of Best House at the latest What House? Awards. The development's sought-after village setting offers good local facilities for residents' everyday needs, and the surrounding area has fantastic opportunities for outdoor pursuits - while all the entertainment of Wales's capital is only 16 minutes away by train. The homes themselves - priced from £399,950 - offer luxurious, open-plan living with well thought-out interiors and their own grounds. Commuters enjoy easy access to the M4, just five minutes away, offering quick links to Cardiff and Swansea, and nearby the train stations at Llanharan and Pencoed give easy access to Cardiff, Swansea and many other regional towns.
Amongst other developments to watch out for is Channel Heights in the leafy Vale of Glamorgan from Taylor Wimpey - a collection of 90 three-, four- and five-bedroom homes at Rhoose (prices yet to be released).