Buying a new build - garden aspect

[Ninjamilo]

Afternoon

Hubby and I had our hearts set on a new build plot with a south west facing garden, which we were unfortunately beaten to by a couple of days! So we're back to square one...

I've always been told to go for a south facing garden, however does this really matter so much on new build estates where the houses are so closely packed together and overlooked?

The remaining plots have either a south east facing garden, however the garage and driveway is at the back of the garden which is not ideal, or north west facing.

The other alternative is a south west facing garden, but smaller house...

Has anyone bought a new build and can pass on some experience? I don't want to spend so much money on a house if we then hate the garden, but I also don't know if we're being too fussy!

Google hasn't been my friend with answers to this question where such small gardens are involved...

[EggsonHeads]

Honestly you need all the light you can get. New builds are so horribly depressing in themselves. As dark garden can make for a dark house which just makes it so much worse.

[Slightlyperturbedowlagain]

I think it depends on the layout of the house and windows tbh. We have a south-facing garden but that means the living room is north-facing and gets little light- I really miss the light from our last house that had a very sunny south-facing living room and north facing garden that was sunny at the far end. Easier to tell in the summer I guess when you can look at different times of day.

[Ninjamilo]

Whichever design we go for, the living room is at the front and kitchen / family room at the back. We're not expecting to use the living room a lot really, more the back of the house.

You're right, such a bad time of year to get an idea of what it will be like, but with a baby due in April we're in a bit of a rush sadly

[Slightlyperturbedowlagain]

So I guess sun at the back of the house is the most important maybe? Hope you find something that suits you soon.

[MissRainbowBrite]

We've been in our new build with a north west facing garden for almost a year and have no regrets. We moved from a house with a south west facing garden that had no shelter from the sun and to be honest being able to get away from the blazing sun on a really hot day is quite nice.
As for inside the house itself we're quite lucky that the living room runs front to back with a window front and side and French doors on the back and the kitchen gets lots of light from a huge glass fronted floor to ceiling panel in the hall/landing so it doesn't feel at all dark but I would imagine if we didn't have that it would make quite a difference.

[whiskyowl]

"ve always been told to go for a south facing garden, however does this really matter so much on new build estates where the houses are so closely packed together and overlooked?"

I think this is a really perceptive comment. The light that you get in a garden depends on very much more than aspect. Overhanging trees, buildings, hills, the slope of the ground etc. also play a huge role. It really comes down to the individual site in question.

You can make a stunning garden on any aspect of house, and on any exposure. It just involves planting differently.