If the thought of being trapped in the big city is too much to bear, then this is a region for you. Green, gorgeous and packed full of friendly faces, the South West is beloved by homemakers and holidaymakers alike. If you want to slow down and enjoy life, then come and explore some of the best new build homes for sale in South West England.
What counts as South West England?
South West England is essentially the ‘foot’ of the country, extending from Bristol all the way down to the very south-westerly tip of Cornwall, at Land’s End. Together, this official region of England takes in seven counties: Bristol, Cornwall, Dorset, Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire.
Why live in South West England?
For most people moving to South West England, the main draw is the chance to carve out some peace and quiet somewhere beautiful. The region is simply stunning from top to bottom. It has more than 700 miles of outstanding beaches that stretch from North Devon to Bournemouth. It has wild, windswept, majestic moors like Dartmoor National Park. And practically everywhere in between is a green, verdant belt of beautiful English countryside.
Even though South West England is the perfect antidote to frantic big-city living, it’s not a sleepy place to live. Cornwall is a vibrant UK tourism hub that offers constant excitement, along with the best surfing in the country. Bristol is a city that perfectly marries its rich, storied history with a modern sense of energy and opportunity. Across the region, you can have your clotted cream and eat it too, as it’s possible to enjoy a slower pace of life but also easily step back into the action at will.
As well as its specific attractions, South West England is also famed for its overall culture of friendliness and welcoming community spirit. This goes beyond showing surface-level niceties to tourists – studies show that people genuinely are friendly down here! The Office of National Statistics says that people living in the South West are generally happier, enjoy higher self-esteem, have less anxiety and find a better work/life balance. It’s one of the safest regions in the country too.
Transport in South West England
While road transport into and out of Cornwall is frequently a bit tricky, the region itself is very interconnected. Reliable A-roads criss-cross the coasts, connecting Plymouth, Exeter and the towns of Cornwall. The M5 then links Exeter with Bristol, which is the gateway to the east of the country.
Rail links are also improving across the region. In 2019, £5.7 billion was announced for the modernisation of the Great Western Line. Today, this is translating into better, faster and more reliable train services for everyone living across the South West.
Due to its success as a tourism hub, the region is also well served by national bus and coach routes. Getting down to Dorset, Devon, Bristol of Cornwall is an easy fix from almost any major UK city.
Property prices in South West England
South West England is undergoing a house price boom. Partly due to the after-effects of the pandemic, partly because of a lack of housing supply, property prices here enjoyed a 13.5% rise in a single year, from March 2021 to March 2022.
Admittedly, almost all UK regions are experiencing record-high property prices in early 2022. However, this was the biggest yearly jump experienced by any part of England.
In late May 2022, Zoopla’s house price average for South West England is £338,225. While this is markedly above the England-wide average of £296,000 (February 2022 ONS report), it still represents good value for money in many of the country’s most sought-after areas.
New build homes for sale in South West England: Top 10 developments
Armed with a better understanding of what this amazing region has to offer, it’s time to take a closer look. The following list is made up of the 10 new build homes developments in South West England with the highest overall ratings on HomeViews. These are the properties that offer the best overall experience across the five categories of
*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how many reviews a scheme has and how recently those reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. Buildings with a larger number of more recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance.
4.63 (60 reviews)
4.63 (60 reviews)
Top of the table for the South West of England is Box Makers Yard, a rental-only development located in Bristol and managed by Urbanbubble. It offers a great range of 1, 2 and 3-bed apartments on offer with a variety of furnished and unfurnished options. These come with courtyard or city views, extra storage and private balconies or terraces. In addition, there are a range of flexible tenancy lengths up to 5 years. Additional facilities include a resident lounge with a games area, an air-conditioned gym with weekly fitness classes as well as a private rooftop dining suite with an outdoor terrace.
4.49 (94 reviews)
4.49 (94 reviews)
In second, Spring Wharf is a Build to Rent development located in Bath. It offers a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments. The development is pet friendly and residents have access to a wide range of amenities, including a residents’ deck with a BBQ area and a gym, as well as an on-site concierge team. The development is only a 6-minute walk away from Oldfield Park station. This has links to GWR and South Western Railway services.
4.33 (14 reviews)
4.33 (14 reviews)
In a close third place, Bee Meadow is a new community in the town of South Molton in North Devon. It offers a collection of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes. Bee Meadow is surrounded by Devon’s countryside allowing residents to enjoy some unforgettable walks with many of the county’s best beauty spots nearby.
4.20 (54 reviews)
4.20 (54 reviews)
Our fourth spot goes to Canons Gate, an A2Dominion by Rental Only development located on Bristol’s Harbourside. The development features 101 rental-only apartments. Additionally, Canons Gate features include balconies, landscaped communal gardens and open plan living rooms. Furthermore, the Harbourside is full of great places to see and go, offering plenty of bars, restaurants, shops and visitor attractions. Plus, Bristol Temple Meads Station is only a 23-minute walk away.
Read reviews and details of Canons Gate by A2Dominion Rental Only, BS1
4.05 (16 reviews)
4.05 (16 reviews)
The middle ranked development of our best of the South West is The Helm, which offers studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments in Bournemouth. The apartments feature high-spec fittings, providing the best of modern living. The building also gives you exclusive access to bespoke amenity spaces and lots of fun residents-only social events.
3.96 (13 reviews)
3.96 (13 reviews)
In 6th, Earls Park is a development of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes within walking distance of the centre of Gloucester and the waterside setting of Gloucester Quays and docks. Gloucester is located close to the M5 motorway and Gloucester railway station runs frequent services to London, Bristol and Cardiff.
3.88 (94 reviews)
3.88 (94 reviews)
Another Bristol favourite, Redcliff Quarter is a mixed use development comprising 128 rental-only apartments. The development is only a short walk away from Bristol Temple Meads Station. This offers links to the capital and various other key locations across the UK. In addition, residents benefit from a range of facilities and amenities on site. These include a communal roof garden, a 24-hour concierge and cycle storage. Furthermore, Queens Square is only a short walk away.
Read reviews and details of Redcliff Quarter by A2Dominion Rental Only, BS1
3.85 (15 reviews)
3.85 (15 reviews)
In 8th, Broadleigh Park is located in Tavistock, Devon, and offers 2, 3 4 & 5-bedroom family homes. The 148 new homes are a mere mile away from Tavistock centre. There’s also a local hospital, doctor’s surgeries, post office, primary and secondary schools as well as independent shops and leisure centres nearby.
3.85 (10 reviews)
3.85 (10 reviews)
Sneaking into 9th, Romansfield is within easy reach of both Exeter and Plymouth. It offers three and four bedroom homes in Okehampton, a mile from the town centre and next door to a brand new primary school. Overall, Romansfield offers residents the opportunity to enjoy a quality home in an enviable location.
3.84 (21 reviews)
3.84 (21 reviews)
Finally, in 10th, Tadpole Garden Village is a new community in North Swindon. Once fully completed in the coming months, it will feature shops, schools, a village pub, sports facilities and children’s play areas. The development is ideally placed for transport links, including the M5, M4 and regular rail links to London Paddington.
Read reviews and details of Bellway Homes at Tadpole Garden Village, SN25
Did you enjoy our guide to the best new builds in South West England? If it gave you an appetite to explore the region more, then start with our dedicated area guide below. Here you’ll find a whole lot more information about the different areas within the region. There’s also the full list of top-rated properties to review, all from one easy location.
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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