A nearby supermarket, corner shop and pub rate more highly for today’s homebuyers than a church or family doctor’s surgery, according to a new report.

The research, investigating how homebuyers rate the importance of being close to a selection of amenities, revealed that a supermarket and local shop scored five out of a possible five on the average homebuyers’ wish list.

Linden Homes, who published the research to coincide with New Homes Week (20 – 27^th March), said easy access to a train station, bus stop and motorway junction followed closely behind, suggesting that people value good public transport links as highly as access to the motorway network. Many people are clearly willing to commute to work as long as there are good transport links available.

It appears that the local pub, an intrinsic part of British culture is still secure in the hearts of our communities, with those surveyed rating it at four out of a possible five.

Easy access to green open spaces also ranked highly, demonstrating how much people still value communal areas where they can exercise and where children can play safely outside. However, healthy pursuits in general do not do so well, with gyms and cycle routes only achieving one out of five, where one is the least important.

Philip Davies, chief executive of Linden Homes said: "Homebuyers are increasingly looking for good quality local amenities on their doorstep when buying a new home, with the local pub and shops still playing an important role at the centre of the community. However it seems that gyms and other facilities, although still important, appeal to a more select group."

"These findings reinforce our commitment to building communities rather than just housing developments, with communal spaces, mixed use units, facilities and excellent transport links."

Linden Homes is launching Watercolour, a new flagship community in Redhill, Surrey, consisting of one and two-bedroom apartments, family homes, live-work units, a nursing home, shops, a crèche, designated bus routes and wildlife sanctuaries. Guide prices are from £180,000 for a one-bedroom apartment to £700,000 for four and five bedroom family homes.