New homes agency group speaks up for Garden Village plans

A new body set up to forge links between developers and estate agents has spoken up in favour of the government’s Garden Village proposal, which has been poorly received by many within the property industry.

Kevin Ellis - founder of the Land and New Homes Network, which we reported on last month - says that the re-announcement of the Garden Village proposal provides opportunities for agents. “

“There’s been a lot of scepticism about the news from some people about whether the government can or will hit its targets. But any amount of new homes represents opportunities for agents” says Ellis.

“The opportunities for agents are fairly self explanatory...from an agent’s perspective it’s about being proactive rather than reactive once site specific proposals are advancing. Agents need to tune in to the respective house builders and land promoters early on and demonstrate expertise and credible advice both in terms of values, product demand and specification which can be substantiated” he advises.

He says that a pro-active agent could secure a presence on the site of one of the 14 proposed Garden Villages or three Garden Towns. These sites typically have few appropriate commercial units so securing one would provide “an anchor position” and help make the firm “the agent of choice” for the development when it happens. 

“Addressing the housing shortage is quite rightly a government priority and leading agents can position themselves as their area’s new build experts and benefit from new and ongoing business” concludes Ellis.

The Land and New Homes Network view comes after a contrasting response from the National Association of Estate Agents: NAEA managing director Mark Hayward welcomed the Villages announcement in principle but said the government had made “promise after promise, and pledge after pledge” about new homes, and until they were built “we won’t hold our breath.”