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Modern swimming pools and whimsical walled gardens; the dream outdoor features still topping the charts

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For over ten years, we’ve been asking people looking to move home in the next five years what they want from their next property; what motivates them, what’s important to them, and what inspires them. Our Housing Futures survey leaves few stones unturned, from budgets and tenure types, to architectural and design preferences.

A person’s home is their castle – or so the saying goes – so we also like to find out what the nation’s ‘dream’ features are. Inside and outside, we ask about the dream items should one find themselves in ownership of their ultimate property.

Our gardens are an extension of the home, and a well-established one could even add 20% to your property’s value says Oliver Custance Baker, head of our Country House Department. While much of that value can come from individual plants, the garden features we most desire as a nation are those that require large upfront investment, adequate space, and that stand the test of time.

According to our Housing Futures survey, for the last eleven years the top spot for the dream garden item or feature has flitted between a swimming pool and a walled garden, says Matt Henderson, associate director in our research team. “This year, and every year since 2017, a swimming pool has topped the charts, with a walled garden taking second place” he explains.

There was a time when a swimming pool was seen as, perhaps, an inconvenience, taking up valuable lawn space, and ramping up running costs through heating and servicing charges. “There were definitely whispers of home buyers just filling them in upon moving to a new house to make more outside space,” explains Oliver, “but that couldn’t be further from the truth today.”

He puts their enduring popularity down to warmer summers, flexible working patterns, and that people are investing in their homes for lifestyle reasons rather than just with a view to make money. “People want their homes to fully complement their lifestyle.”

The style of swimming pool has evolved over the years, however. Gone are the days where the pools of dreams are lined with neon turquoise plastic, out of place in an English country garden or the grounds of a slick contemporary building. “Some of the best pools I’ve seen are those lined with dark marble, softly painted marbelite, swimming ‘ponds’ using naturally filtered water, or pools where the cover can double up as an entertaining space” says Oliver.

And sustainability plays a big part in our home aspirations; sought-after pools today are typically those with the smallest carbon footprint so it’s out with the old-fashioned pump and heater, and in with biomass boilers and air source heat pumps to get the perfect swimming conditions.

So, to the second most enduringly popular feature according to Housing Futures respondents, the magical walled garden. Evoking scenes of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden, and wisteria covered walls the backdrop for snatched unchaperoned meetings in episodes of Bridgerton, the walled garden certainly conjures a romantic image.

“It’s one of the garden features that many prime and super-prime country buyers set their sights on”, explains Oliver, who highlights that many he’s sold as part of a house or estate are Listed and were designed in conjunction with the main house.

“A walled garden provides a separate space for vegetable planting, flower gardens, and even small orchards, as well as giving keen gardeners a canvas to create parterres, winding paths, and seating areas: it’s really a separate ‘room’ to their gardens and grounds.”

The walled garden today complements 21st century outdoor living, be that in providing space for a kitchen garden or a secure space to house a swimming pool, something Oliver is quick to point out. “Many swimming pools I find in our country houses have been located in what would have historically been the walled garden; the space just works perfectly and keeps the swimming pool safely behind a wall and lockable gate, out of reach of young children.” Many buyers who have a swimming pool on their list will also have a walled garden, and sometimes the two go hand-in-hand.

And what if you’re not keen on either? Our survey puts the hot tub at third place this year, while ten years ago it was at seventh, indicating that we like the idea of relaxing outdoors more than ever before. Gardening has been a consistent top scorer in our survey, so a dedicated vegetable/kitchen garden has consistently achieved either third or fourth place since 2014 when we first asked this question. This year it ranks fourth, joint with a summer house or pergola.

Want to see some of the best homes on the market with swimming pools and walled gardens? Take 5 and read our latest round-up.


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