A COMMUNITY hub, jogging trail and more than £1 million for local schools are among the benefits of 290 new homes being built by the Edenstone Group in Ross-on-Wye.

Work on the new St Mary’s Garden Village will start imminently, with the first phase of homes due to be released for sale in the summer.

Close to the historic centre of Ross-on-Wye, the development east of the A40 will offer a choice of two, three and four-bedroom homes from the company’s two housing brands – Edenstone Homes and Bluebell Homes.

But the scheme will offer more than just housing, with the company investing more than £2 million in the wider local community and providing facilities for residents to enjoy.

Martin Taylor, managing director of the Edenstone Group, said: “Ross-on-Wye is a prime example of how we balance the need for new homes with ensuring that the development is sustainable and includes the community facilities and infrastructure people want and need from a neighbourhood.

“At this new garden village we will build on around half of the 23 hectare site so that there’s an abundance of open space for residents to enjoy. At the heart of the new neighbourhood will be a community building with on-site gym, providing a focal point and somewhere people can come together perhaps for residents’ meetings, yoga classes or parent and toddler sessions. We will also invest in existing facilities, including more than £1 million for the local schools; with funding also allocated for transport, sports and recycling provision.”

The public open space within the development will include a pond and wetland area, formal and informal play areas; plus a mile-long jogging trail around the site perimeter with gym equipment at various points so that people can pursue an active lifestyle.

Financial contributions will include £1,396,000 towards pre-school and primary education; £435,000 for a bus service and other transport measures; £143,000 for sports facilities and £15,000 for recycling.

The creation of the community facilities and investment in the local area will be triggered by the progress of the development.

“As an independent housebuilder we are able to diversify our product mix and respond to local housing demand by taking a more flexible approach than some other businesses,” Martin added.

“Because of the scale of the development in Ross-on-Wye we have taken the decision to offer a choice of housing styles under the Edenstone Homes and Bluebell Homes brands so that whatever stage of life you are at there will be a home that’s the right size and style for you.

“Over the coming months and years we will be building homes suitable for every segment of the market – from first time buyers, to growing families and downsizers, and everything in between. There will even be a rare opportunity to purchase a brand new bungalow.”

The new homes will offer superb access to the beautiful Wye Valley and wider countryside, plus the county towns of Gloucester, Hereford and nearby Monmouth.

Potential purchasers can register their interest in the properties via https://edenstonehomes.com/ross-on-wye/ or https://www.bluebellhomes.co.uk/ross-on-wye.