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Published: 23 October 2019

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Housing minister Esther McVey has revealed government backing for a major house building project in Kent that will add 15,000 new homes to the nation's property market in a single stroke.

After nearly five years of planning and political ping-pong, Ebbsfleet Garden City is to come to life with a new central urban area called Ebbsfleet Central.

Land for the new 310-acre conurbation has now been secured and, at a launch event at Ebbsfleet train station, it was revealed that the government has spent substantial sums buying up the estate needed to build the residential and commercial area.

"Projects such as Ebbsfleet Central have a key role in making sure we deliver the homes this country needs while protecting the countryside. The development will make the most of brownfield land and make a big contribution to delivering quality new homes for families within the garden city, at least 30% of which will be affordable.However, it is not enough just to build new houses,we need to ensure we build proud communities with a sense of place. That's why developments such as these are so important, providing facilities and homes for families in a thriving new urban centre at the heart of the community," says McVey.

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Published: 16 October 2019

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Nearly half of people have been put off buying or renting a property by the condition of the garden, a survey has suggested.

Some 47 per cent of people surveyed had been put off by shabby gardens in the past, property website Zoopla and the Society of Garden Designers found. Half of the 2,000 people surveyed believe a good garden layout is as, or more important than, a well-designed bathroom or kitchen. Nearly nine in ten home owners surveyed said they consider their outside space to be either very or extremely important.

The survey also asked people to rank their favourite garden design features, with having somewhere to relax coming out top. Here is the list of desirable garden features ranked in order of popularity.

1. Somewhere to sit and relax.

2. Maximum sunlight throughout the day - South facing.

3. Somewhere for children to play.

4. Flowers/shrubs.

5. A space for pets.

6. Somewhere to entertain.

7. A plot for growing fruit or vegetables.

8. Extra storage space, e.g. a shed.

9. A water feature.

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Published: 25 September 2019

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To give real service, you must add something which cannot be measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.

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Published: 28 August 2019

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Chancellor Sajid Javid needs to be a little more cautious when it comes to announcements.

He was supposedly considering a change to house buying rules so that sellers pay stamp duty instead of buyers. Two days after the announcement, he denied ever suggesting such an idea.

This kind of whisper can stall the property market for months as buyers and sellers wait to see what happens - so in future Mr Javid may want to stamp out any unsubstantiated rumours a little more swiftly.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Victoria Bischoff

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Moneymail