New Homes in the South West

Welcome to the South West

Whether you’re uncovering ancient history, entertaining the little ones or browsing boutique shops, the South West is a region of incredible diversity. Encompassing the cities of Bristol, Bath, Exeter and Plymouth, the region stretches as far north as Gloucestershire, as far south as Cornwall, and spans an impressive 9,200 square miles.

A quick history

The South West has evidence of human life before the Ice Age, in places such as Kents Cavern in Devon and Cheddar Gorge in the Mendip Hills, while artefacts from one of man’s closest ancestors have been found in Westbury-sub-Mendip. In Roman times, Gloucestershire was heavily occupied, but more remote regions of Cornwall and Devon were largely free from Roman rule. In fact, the Cornish language was first used in Iron Age and Roman times, growing in popularity during the Middle Ages.

Fast forward to the 17th century, and many areas of Bristol and the surrounding villages had been flooded by the Bristol Channel. Then, during the English Civil War, the region saw fighting as the Royalists fought the Parliamentarians. Exmoor was named one of the first national parks in Britain in the year 1954, shortly after the Second World War which saw the loss of many soldiers from the region. Today, the South West is just as diverse as it ever was, from the quiet seaside villages of Devon to the bustling cities of Bristol and Gloucester.

Businesses and industry

The South West is home to a number of different industries, including a big naval base in Devonport, energy generation at Hinkley, and aeronautical engineering near Bristol. Tourism is a major contributor to the economy in Cornwall and Devon, while dairy farming is common in many parts of Devon and Dorset.

There are many big employers in the South West, mainly concentrated around the M4 corridor which provides an easy route in and out of London. Businesses in the area include Imperial Tobacco Group in Bristol, NPower in Swindon, Airbus Operations in Bristol and Intel Corporation (UK) in Swindon. EDF Energy Nuclear Generation is based Gloucester, Honda of the U.K. Manufacturing is in Swindon, New Look Retail Group is located in Weymouth, and Dyson in Malmesbury. Other big names include Screwfix Direct, Wessex Water, BAE Systems, GE Aviation Systems and Magners GB.

Things to do in the area

The South West is home to some of the most iconic historical sites in Britain, with perhaps the most well-known being the mysterious monument Stonehenge. Other sights include the Roman baths in the city of Bath, and numerous castles throughout the region such as Tintagel Castle in Cornwall and Castle Drogo in Devon. Other historic sites include the Roman Baths, SS Great Britain in Bristol, Salisbury Cathedral and Wells Cathedral.

If you love getting out in the great outdoors, the South West provides plenty of opportunity for walks and cycle rides in Dartmoor, Exmoor and the Cotswolds. One of the most popular routes is along the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall and the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, where you’ll find Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. Other places of interest include Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre, Glastonbury Tor, Fistral Beach in Newquay, the Eden Project and Longleat Safari Park.

Travel and commuting

The M5 runs all the way through the south west, from Gloucester to Bristol and past Weston-Super-Mare and Taunton, all the way to Exeter. Bristol and Swindon are well-connected to London via the M4, while A roads connect the rest of the region.

Travelling or commuting by public transport, there are direct train services from many of the towns and cities in the South West, including Bristol, Swindon and Stroud. The journey time from Bristol to London is just 1 hour 45 minutes. There are also main line train services between Plymouth, Exeter and Bristol.