New homes are shaping our landscapes for generations. Yet too many are built with gardens that fail from the start – compacted soil, minimal planting and little connection to nature.
The New Build Manifesto exists to change that.
The New Build Manifesto is a call for better gardens in new housing. It brings together a clear set of principles to ensure that every new home is delivered with outdoor space that is healthy, usable and designed for the long term.
Because gardens are not an afterthought.
They are essential infrastructure.
When gardens are designed well, they deliver far more than visual appeal. When they are not, we lose all of that – and create spaces that struggle to recover.
Healthier, happier communities
Increased
biodiversity
Greater climate
resilience
Stronger connection between people and place
When gardens are designed well, they deliver far more than visual appeal. When they are not, we lose all of that – and create spaces that struggle to recover.
Healthier, happier communities
Increased
biodiversity
Greater climate
resilience
Stronger connection between people and place
Every new build garden starts with its own set of challenges. Perhaps you are looking at a completely blank plot and do not know where to begin. Maybe you are dealing with poor soil, awkward boundaries, overlooking or drainage problems. Or perhaps you simply want to make sure the decisions you make now will create a garden that gets better with time.
A New Build Manifesto Design Consultation gives you one to one advice tailored to your garden, your budget and the way you want to use the space.
Your new build garden does not have to look like everyone else’s.
With a little thought at the beginning, even the most ordinary blank plot can become a beautiful, individual and wildlife-rich garden that feels as though it belongs to you.
The UK is building at scale.
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get it right. By embedding better thinking from the outset, we can create landscapes that grow in value – environmentally, socially and economically.
Not everyone feels confident in their garden – especially in a new build. Our Beginner’s Guide to Gardening will provide simple, practical advice to help homeowners understand and care for their outdoor space from day one.
Most new-build gardens start life as bare turf and a fence on three sides. Our free month by month guide takes the guesswork away and helps you turn it into a garden for you, and for nature, one simple step at a time.
Andrew Jackson is a garden designer, writer and campaigner dedicated to transforming the way we think about new-build outdoor spaces. With a professional background in social housing, he brings a deep understanding of how people live and how thoughtful design can improve wellbeing, biodiversity, and a sense of place.
Britain will build 1.5 million new homes in the next five years, each one with a piece of outdoor space. Our report sets out the scale, the shortfall and the opportunity in the country’s newest gardens.
Download the report – shaping the conversation on new-build gardens.
