Top 5 new homes schemes near Cardiff ideal for commuters

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:

1. Grant's Meadow, Tongwynlais

Woodstock Homes has just opened a show home at their attractive Grant's Meadow development in the small village of Tongwynlais, about six miles from Cardiff. Already most of the 22 four-bedroom homes have been snapped up - with just three plots remaining, priced from £272,000 to £325,000. With a cul-de-sac location yet just minutes from the motorway network, these homes offer easy access to Cardiff and the whole South Wales region, and come with a ten-year NHBC guarantee and some great extras as standard. The village is also on the beautiful Taff Trail, which offers a quiet route from Cardiff Bay right through to leafy Brecon.

2. Kingfisher Rise, Magor

Within a 30-minute drive of Cardiff, Bovis Homes has a new development on the edge of the large, historic village of Magor, within the commuter belts of Newport, Bristol and Cardiff. Kingfisher Rise offers a choice of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes from £135,995, with purchase assistance schemes to help first time buyers get their foot in the door. The village offers a good range of amenities including local shops, restaurants, a post office and a school - while Junction 23a of the M4 is less than a mile away.

3. Parc Penrhos, Caerphilly

About 20 minutes' drive from Cardiff, the town of Caerphilly offers some competitively priced new homes. Parc Penrhos, just outside Caerphilly, is a development of two-, three- and four-bedroom semi and detached properties from Llanmoor Homes, well-located for working in Caerphilly or commuting to Cardiff. Priced from £156,995 to £269,995, special offers on these properties include their 'Quality Living, Unbeatable Value' scheme, which offers buyers extra benefits such as cash discounts, carpets included, or help with legal fees.

4. Cwm Calon, Hengoed

A little into the Valleys, yet just 20 minutes by train to Cardiff, the stylish New Heritage Collection at Cwm Calon from Redrow Homes is located on a former Penallta Colliery site. There's a choice of three- and four-bedroom house styles with heritage-inspired designs priced from £144,995 to £266,995. Located directly opposite Parc Penallta Country Park, and with a brand new road link and a new Welsh speaking primary school, this 'urban village' offers an attractive environment for family life.

5. Ninian Park, Cardiff

For buyers who would rather live in Cardiff itself rather than outside of the city, Redrow's Ninian Park development, is less than two miles from the centre. With two-, three- and four-bedroom homes from £143,995 up to £201,995, buyers will have all of Cardiff's shops, restaurants and entertainment close by, as well as a choice of schools and other facilities.

The homes at Redrow's Cwn Calon development are from the company's New Heritage Collection of home styles, and are currently priced from £144,995 to £266,995