New homes in greener environments

Barratt North London is planting hundreds of new trees and thousands of plants and shrubs on its local new developments every year – the equivalent of creating a small wood from scratch.

Last year, the company not only planted over 420 trees and more than 3,000 shrubs, it created well over 5 acres of new green public space.

Barratt’s Southern Region managing director Gary Ennis said: “We are best known as builders of new homes, but these days we see our job much more as creating outstanding living environments.

“That means building homes and communities that integrate and enhance the landscape and, where possible, open up new green space. Planting new trees and shrubs - and preserving existing ones where we can – is a key part of that.”

Last year’s planting took place on 17 new developments across Barratt North London’s area of operation across the Home Counties, from suburban London in the south to Bishop’s Stortford in the north.

Among them is Willow Grange in Watford, where a redundant office building once stood on private land. This is a now a development of 174 homes and Barratt has planted over 30 new trees, preserved existing ones and replaced others that had to be felled, as well as adding around 400 new shrubs. A new half-acre play area has been provided for residents and local people and bird boxes provided to encourage wildlife.

The final phase of refurbished apartments has just been released with prices starting from £189,500 for a one-bedroom apartment and £232,500 for a two-bedroom apartment. For further information, contact the sales and marketing suite, open Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm, Monday 2pm to 6pm and Tuesday 10am to 6pm.

In Harlow, Essex, Barratt North London is continuing work on its award-winning Fifth Avenue development. Here, more than 150 new trees have been planted and another 400 shrubs introduced along with an acre of new public green space and a pond.

Prices start from £132,500 for a one-bedroom apartment. A new release of houses has just been launched at Fifth Avenue, with prices for a three-bedroom house starting from £250,000 and four-bedroom houses from £288,000. For further information contact the sales and marketing suite, open seven days a week from 10am to 6pm.

Further north, Riverside Quarter in the heart of Bishop’s Stortford, Herts, is a development of 104 homes in a distinctly urban setting, yet Barratt has planted over 25 trees and shrubs.

Prices start from £140,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and from £184,500 for a two-bedroom apartment. For further information contact the sales and marketing suite, open Monday to Saturday 10.30am to 5.30pm and Sunday 10am to 6pm.

Information on all Barratt developments is available on the website: barratthomes.co.uk