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| Live in a beautiful designer house and protect the
environment |
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We’re hearing a great deal these days about climate
change, dwindling oil resources, and the urgent need for millions
of new houses. But while many mainstream developers merely
pay lip service to government guidelines on eco-building,
award-winning Living Villages has been busy creating beautiful,
environmentally-friendly houses in the delightful Shropshire
countryside. |
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The Wintles
With this unique development, Living Villages has brought
eco-houses out of the woods and into the vanguard of modern
architecture and innovative design. Each of the
forty houses on The Wintles is different. They range from
two-bedroom houses at £305,000 to six-bedroom houses
at £500,000-plus. |
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All of them far exceed the new national standard for energy efficiency.
Built to an exceptionally high specification, every house
has solar panels and high performance double-glazing. Heat
generated by kitchen and bathroom use is recycled, maintaining
a constant temperature throughout the house. For cold snaps
a flue for a wood-burning stove has been installed, and under-floor
heating is also provided using an LPG gas boiler. So these
homes are not only kind to the environment – they’re
also kind to your pocket, with electricity bills totalling
as little as £3 a month.
The houses also feature an internal vacuum cleaning system
(a huge benefit for allergy sufferers), a broadband connection
for home-workers, and a private garden. |
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The village green
 In
an era where soulless housing estates contribute to the breakdown
of our communities, Living Villages developments are designed
to promote conviviality and a sense of neighbourliness. Clusters
of twelve houses are centred around a village green, so that
people can easily get to know each other. Car ports are positioned
behind the houses so there is no traffic in the village itself.
It is very safe for children - they are in no danger from
cars, and are never out of sight when they’re playing
on the green. Elderly neighbours are often happy to act as
surrogate grandparents, while the community as a whole pools
its resources to everyone’s benefit.
The residents enjoy the landscaping of the eighteen-acre Wintles
site with its pleasant woods, orchards and garden allotments.
Scenic pedestrian and cycle routes connect the neighbourhood
to the centre of Bishop’s Castle and other local amenities.
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Bishop’s Castle
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Wintles is set in unspoilt countryside with spectacular views,
and is only a short stroll away from Bishop’s Castle. This
lovely old town is crammed with interesting shops and award-winning
pubs. There are good primary and secondary schools nearby,
and excellent sports and leisure facilities for children and
adults alike. Ludlow is only a 20-minute drive away, and Telford
can be reached in an hour. |
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The philosophy
Bob Tomlinson, director of Living Villages, explains the philosophy
at the heart of its developments:
‘People want
to live in a place like The Wintles not just because the houses
are energy-efficient, beautiful and built to an exceptionally
high standard – they also love the friendly atmosphere.
We design places where people feel safe, and are part of the
community. I believe that we’ve succeeded in combining
ultra-modern, energy-efficient building techniques with the
feel of an established traditional village.’ |
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