For many people who live in cities, the idea of finding a peaceful home with a larger plot and garden in the countryside is an appealing vision.
Escaping the rat race for a quieter, simpler life away from the hustle and bustle of urban life, perhaps at the same time as settling down with a partner and starting a family, offers the chance to put down new routes as you grow older.
With more options of working from home or starting a new career or retiring to the country, rural life offers all sorts of possibilities and opportunities.
The types of properties available also vary considerably. Not every home in the countryside is a luxurious mansion with lush gardens in the middle of rolling countryside, but the selling point of moving to the country is generally a garden, a rural outlook, nice views and access to the countryside.
The UK is a small island but in every corner of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland there are still wonderful secluded areas that provide many of the benefits of country living.
Around 80% of the population live in towns and cities, so it is unsurprising that many yearn for something different at a time of life when they have enjoyed the trappings of single life in a city and have established their career and hopefully made a good living to set themselves up a few rungs of the property ladder.
There are many reasons why a growing number of people look to move to the country. Living in a rural area offers more space, privacy and tranquillity, waking up to the sound of birdsong rather than traffic.
Country living allows homeowners to feel closer to nature and allows their children to play outside in a safer environment. In most rural areas there are not many factories and industry so the air is generally cleaner, also due to lower amounts of traffic.
Other factors that attract people to moving to the country include the ability to grow their own produce in their garden or an allotment and lower crime rates and a slower pace of life.
WhatHouse? has selected five new developments that feature new homes built in different parts of the countryside across England. Each of these properties has been nominated in different categories for the WhatHouse? Awards 2016.
Hall Farm Estate, Knowle, West Midlands (Spitfire Bespoke Homes)
This estate regenerates the site of a redundant farm and retains the original buildings to create a stunning development of 13 residential properties set within the rolling greenbelt countryside.
The properties are cleverly designed to complement their rural surroundings. The renovation of five retained barns has provided the reference point for the overall design. They have been creatively transformed to utilise the original period features and heritage materials.
The development, just one mile from the sought after village of Knowle, is entered through a gated entrance and sweeping driveway. Each building is individually conceived and builds on the existing palette of materials including Warwickshire red brick, slate and timber
Price: Sold out
Find out more at Spitfire
The Kenilworth at Carleton Manor Park, Penrith (Cumbrian Homes)
This development is nestled on the edge of the beautiful Lake District. A development of 31 detached properties and 13 luxury apartments, Carleton Manor Park is designed to link period architecture with modern design.
The newly built manor house evokes the splendour of the original building once owned by the Carleton family who lived near the site in the 16th century. The manor is now home to one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
The development is home to five house types and The Kenilworth is the perfect mid-market choice for a family as it is a four-bedroom detached home.
Cumbria is blessed with many natural building materials including slate, sandstone and timber and locally sourced materials have been used wherever possible.
Prices: From £364,000
Find out more about Carleton Manor Park from Cumbrian Homes
The Laureates, Cockermouth (Lovell Homes)
This large scale residential development in Cumbria uses its surroundings to the full using the planted landscape originally designed to screen the area from the A66 trunk road.
It provides an effective wildlife corridor as well as a visual and acoustic screen from the road behind the homes. Known as Fitz Park, it gives woodland along the eastern boundary to the site and remains untouched which encourages uneven aged woodland around the development with benefits for landscape, screening and wildlife diversity.
The front of the site has been planted to create a semi-naturalistic grassland/spring meadow look and feel which will encourage colour all year round and attract a range of local wildlife.
Price: From £229,950
Find out more about The Laureates from Lovell Homes
Bealieu, Chelmsford (Countryside)
Set against the backdrop of the Grade I listed New Hall School, once King Henry VIII’s hunting estate, this 610 acre development offers premium housing set within a large area of parkland for around 10,000 residents.
It consists of a series of individually designed, yet complimentary neighbourhoods linked together by an extensive network of parkland and open spaces totalling 176 acres.
Various landscaped areas have been incorporated including recreation areas with a pond, mature oak trees, areas to encourage wildlife, a village green and links to cyclepaths, bridleways and footpaths.
The townhouses at the entrance to Beaulieu feature blue coloured weatherboarding and steep pitched roofs inspired by the New England style of architecture.
In total, the 3,600 mix of traditional and contemporary properties, range from one bedroom apartments to five bedroom executive homes.
Price: POA
Find out more at www.countryside-properties.com
'The Blenheim', Hartford, Cheshire (Redrow Homes)
'The Blenheim' is one of the homes at Hartford Grange, a new development from Redrow Homes in the heart of the Cheshire countryside in the historic village of Hartford.
The development is a collection of 37 four and five-bedroom homes, all top of the range designs from Redrow’s Arts and Crafts influenced Heritage collection.
Each home is set within gardened grounds with tall hedgerows and mature trees providing security and seclusion with a village green as a focal point.
The design of the homes is influenced by English architect John Douglas, whose eclectic architectural styles can be seen throughout Cheshire.
Price: From £734,995
Find out more about 'The Blenheim' at Hartford Grange from Redrow Homes