A new home is shaped by more than the rooms inside it.

The view from the window, the route taken on an evening walk and the amount of greenery around the streets can all influence how a neighbourhood feels to live in.

At Loddon Rise, landscape and nature have been considered as important parts of the development from the outset. More than five acres of planned open space, an established woodland shelterbelt, wildflower planting, wetland habitats and carefully positioned wildlife features will create a greener setting around the homes.

More than five acres of planned open space

Loddon Rise is planned with over five acres of open space.

These shared areas will include informal green space, amenity areas and an inclusive children’s play space, giving residents more room to walk, play and spend time outdoors beyond their own garden.

The benefit is not simply having grass between the homes. Well-planned open space can create longer views, soften the streets and provide places where neighbours naturally begin to see familiar faces.

An established woodland walk

Along the eastern edge of Loddon Rise, an established woodland will be retained.

The belt includes an informal woodland walking route. Existing trees give this part of the neighbourhood a maturity that newly planted landscaping alone cannot provide immediately.

For residents, the route will provide somewhere close to home for a short walk, a little exercise or time outdoors among established trees.

Inclusive play close to home

A Local Equipped Area for Play forms part of the planned open space at Loddon Rise.

Inclusive equipment is intended to give children with different needs and abilities more opportunities to play together. The surrounding landscape will also provide families with space to meet and spend time outside.

This reflects Hopkins Homes’ wider approach to creating play areas where accessibility is considered from the beginning, rather than being added as an afterthought.

Discover how Hopkins Homes is raising the bar for inclusive play.

Habitats connected across the development

The ecological measures at Loddon Rise are designed to work as part of a wider landscape.

Native hedgerows, trees and wildflower meadows will create food, shelter and movement routes for wildlife. The scheme also includes a 20% biodiversity gain specifically in respect of hedgerows.

Swift bricks and integrated bat boxes will be positioned on selected homes, taking account of the open flight paths and darker conditions those species need. Small openings at the base of suitable garden fences and walls will allow hedgehogs to move between gardens and green spaces.

A sensitive lighting strategy will help preserve a darker route for bats through the development.

Rainwater managed through the landscape

The landscaped swales and attenuation basins at Loddon Rise form part of the development’s Sustainable Drainage System.

They are designed to collect, slow and manage surface water, but their role does not end there. Wet-meadow planting, reeds, marginal vegetation and wildflowers will help turn these practical features into new habitats for amphibians, insects and other wildlife.

This is a good example of thoughtful placemaking: infrastructure needed to manage rainwater can also contribute to biodiversity and create a more attractive setting.

A neighbourhood designed to mature

New planting naturally takes time to establish.

As the trees grow, hedgerows thicken and meadow areas develop, Loddon Rise will become greener and increasingly established. The intention is to create a neighbourhood whose landscape continues to add character over time.

That approach is central to Hopkins Homes’ belief that the spaces between homes deserve the same care and consideration as the properties themselves.

Read more about placemaking at Hopkins Homes.

Explore the homes available at Loddon Rise and discover the landscape planned beyond your front door.