Tucked in between some of England’s biggest cities and major roadways, Oxfordshire is a tranquil haven. It has a rural feel, but with plenty of convenience and easy access to the wider region. If you’re interested in knowing this beautiful, historic county better, come explore some of the best new homes in Oxfordshire.
Where is Oxfordshire?
Oxfordshire is one of the counties of South East England. It sits roughly between the Greater London/Buckinghamshire area and the county of Gloucestershire. It also has Warwickshire and Northamptonshire to its north, while Berkshire lies to its south.
Why live in Oxfordshire?
Oxfordshire is one of the most desirable counties in the UK to live in. One of its major selling points is its stunning scenery. On three sides of the county, you can find areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs). There’s the Cotswolds to the west, the North Wessex Downs to the south, and the Chiltern Hills to the east.
Additionally, the River Thames also runs right through the heart of the county. This creates gorgeous rolling countryside, dotted with picturesque riverside villages.
Then, there is Oxford itself, one of the most attractive historic cities in the country. Not only is there the world-famous university, Oxford is also an excellent location for shopping, dining, riverside walks and general sightseeing. Oxfordshire is also a well-connected county, with both Birmingham and London less than an hour’s train ride away.
What are average property prices in Oxfordshire like?
In late November, the average house price for Oxfordshire was almost £531,000, according to Zoopla. This represents a slight fall of 1.66% during the past 12 months.
While this makes Oxfordshire relatively expensive compared to the England-wide average of around £271,500, it is a markedly cheaper prospect than buying in the capital, while offering all of the benefits listed above. Oxfordshire.gov claims that buying here is around 43% cheaper than in London, while renting in Oxfordshire is around 40% cheaper too.
New homes in Oxfordshire: 10 best developments?
With all of these pros and price tags in mind, let’s take a closer look at some examples of what Oxfordshire has to offer. The following is our list of the 10 top-ranked developments in the county, determined purely by the given scores of verified residents.
*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how recently reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. More recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance.
4.37 (17 reviews)
4.37 (17 reviews)
Our top-ranked development for Oxfordshire is Bellway at Kingsmere, and is surrounded by green open space in its village setting complete with a great community feel. It benefits from a great range of high-performing schools, a village centre, recreational and sports facilities, a health village, restaurant and hotel. It’s also a short walk from the designer shops and boutiques at Bicester Village, making it a shopper’s delight.
4.25 (11 reviews)
4.25 (11 reviews)
As a close second, Banbury Rise is a collection of 2-4-bedroom new homes for sale in Banbury, a rural location, with quiet cul-de-sacs and open green spaces. High-quality builds feature throughout, with aesthetically pleasing brick and stonework. Residents say that there’s also plenty of space to enjoy, with properties carefully placed to avoid overcrowding. It’s a great location for dog owners too!
3.75 (20 reviews)
3.75 (20 reviews)
It’s back to Bicester for number 3, as Bovis Homes is another Kingsmere development of brand-new homes. Again, this development is located just moments away from the sought-after designer outlet; Bicester Village. As well as this, there are great schools nearby and the M40 provides convenient commuter links to London, Birmingham and Banbury. In addition, there are two railway stations within walking distance of the development. All this makes Kingsmere a great family location. Bovis Homes are also offering a range of purchasing incentives, including Help to Buy and Part Exchange.
3.69 (10 reviews)
3.69 (10 reviews)
Next up, Alder View is a development located in the village of Harwell, with excellent transport links and easy access to the town of Didcot town nearby. Residents call it a very friendly neighbourhood with a great community spirit and an excellent management team to support them.
3.55 (15 reviews)
3.55 (15 reviews)
And Kingsmere grabs a third listing, at number 5. Also known as ‘Hawkswood’, this collection by Linden Homes is part of the wider Kingsmere development, which includes other housebuilders such as Bovis Homes. Linden Homes are offering a range of 2-5-bed detached and semi-detached homes for sale. In addition, all homes come with separate living rooms, a family bathroom and rear garden. Of course, being part of this development puts residents within reach of the popular Bicester Village ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted-rated schools and key commuter links.
3.26 (16 reviews)
3.26 (16 reviews)
At number 6, Heyford Park is a new development, also by Bovis Homes, located in an area of prime Oxfordshire countryside, just 6 miles from Bicester and within close proximity of Oxford itself. Residents here rate the design of the homes, the convenient layout and the presence of wide open green spaces.
4.28 (8 reviews)
4.28 (8 reviews)
The Mosaics is one of Oxford’s newest neighbourhood, situated on the very edge of the city’s picturesque countryside, and nestled amongst open green spaces and stunning views across the Bayswater Brook. The homes here are modern yet practical in design and completion. The management team are roundly praised by reviewers for their diligence and attention to detail.
4.18 (13 reviews)
4.18 (13 reviews)
Our 8th spot goes to Banbury Chase, a selection of 3-4-bedroom homes less than 2 miles from Banbury’s town centre. Homes here generally come with spacious living areas and rear gardens, along with plenty of storage space.
4.14 (9 reviews)
4.14 (9 reviews)
For our penultimate listing we move down to the village of Shrivenham, in the prettily named Vale of the White Horse, which is close to Swindon and the M4. As well as a highly convenient location, residents at Townsend Place say they are very happy with the management team, who are quick to rectify issues and keep them well informed of what’s happening across the development.
3.84 (8 reviews)
3.84 (8 reviews)
Our last entry is a joint venture between FABRICA and Crest Nicholson. Elmsbrook is a multi award-winning eco-town, which has a masterplan to grow into a thriving sustainable community with almost 400 new homes. Sustainability is bred into the bones of the development, with solar panelling, solar water heating and numerous green touches throughout. Residents love the green look and feel, and are looking forward to the development’s masterplan unfolding.
If this has inspired you to give Oxfordshire a go, then explore the area further in our dedicated guide. Here you’ll find more developments across the county. You can also review verified resident feedback, in the form of category scores and detailed comments.
HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to recognise high performers and help improve standards in the built environment.
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