Wales

Buyers hunting for their first home in South Wales currently have a superb choice of new developments to choose from, in and around all of the region's key cities of Cardiff, Newport and Swansea.

The only way is up for some family new homes buyers in Wrexham, as they turn to the extra space available in three-storey properties at Pentre Bach, from Redrow Homes.

Redrow Homes, one of the UK's largest housebuilders, is launching another new development in North Wales this weekend (10th and 11th September 2011) when it unveils a new four-bedroom show home at Northop Park.

Fewer new homes in Wales could be built as a consequence of a new Welsh law making fire sprinklers compulsory in all new build homes in Wales, according to the head of housebuilding firm Redrow Homes.

While new homes in Cardiff can be expensive, within easy reach of Wales's capital, the South Wales Valleys offer a lot of potential for housebuyers - with many towns and villages offering excellent value for money compared with the premium-priced property found in Cardiff itself.

Here are our top five new developments near Cardiff, all within approximately 30 minutes' drive of the Welsh capital:

A new planning blueprint has highlighted the need for up to 830 new homes to be built in Snowdonia, North Wales, with at least half needing to be affordable homes.

New home builder Persimmon Homes has submitted a planning application to Peterborough City Council for the construction of 136 new homes in Peterborough

A new report released by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) today shows that action is desperately needed as the new homes shortage in Wales has hit 60,000, following a record low in new home building last year.

The Community Housing Cymru Group has offered to invest up to £40m to increase the supply of new affordable homes in North Wales.

The property organisation wants to stimulate the North Wales economy by building hundreds of affordable homes in the region.

All new homes in Wales will have to be fitted with automatic fire sprinklers after a new law was finally passed by the National Assembly this week, three-and-a-half years after being introduced by Labour AM Ann Jones.