Dramatic countryside, beautiful beaches, friendly people and peaceful surroundings, what more could you ask for? If the thought of exploring the south western end of England sounds attractive, come and see some of the best new homes in Devon, according to the very people who live there.
Where is Devon?
Devon is tucked right down into the south west of England, also known as the ‘foot’ of Britain. It borders the ‘toe’ of Cornwall to the west and Somerset and Dorset to the east. It is a large, fairly open county with coastlines on both its north and south borders.
Why live in Devon?
Devon is an exceptionally popular place to live, offering stunning natural beauty, fresh air, beautiful towns and ready access to the coast. You can enjoy a slower, more tranquil pace of life here. Post-pandemic, this is a major plus for those escaping the big cities.
The county is brimming with characterful market towns (such as Ottery St Mary and Tavistock) and pretty villages like Thorverton. Both the north and south coastal area of Devon are packed with outstanding seaside resorts, like Plymouth and Torquay. And there are plenty of smaller coastal towns that are less touristy.
Exeter, the historical and administrative heart of the county, is also a great choice as a place to live. It’s a fast-growing city, with great transport links and a thriving tech sector and buzzing culinary and artisanal food scene. However, it hasn’t forgotten its roots, and the city centre is overlooked by the beautiful cathedral and all manner of architecturally impressive buildings.
One of the biggest plus points of this county, however, is the incomparable Devon countryside. Step outside the towns and cities and you’ll immediately be transported to a green, lush world that is the very essence of rural English living. You are massively spoilt for choice in terms of places to enjoy Devon’s natural beauty. Dartmoor National Park, the Blackdown Hills and many more outstanding spots are right on your doorstep.
What are average property prices in Devon like?
All these benefits do come at a price. Devon is comparatively expensive as a county. This is partially because of rapidly rising house prices in 2021, when access to space and nature is highly prized.
At the time of writing, December 2021, the average house price in Devon was nearly £330,000, according to Zoopla. This is a full £49,000 higher than the national average for England. It’s also £66,000 higher than the UK average, as recorded by the Office of National Statistics in August 2021.
While expensive, the property market here is broad, varied and offers no shortage of truly outstanding new homes in Devon.
New homes in Devon: top 5 developments
If the thought of cosying up to the country lifestyle in Devon appeals, then it’s high time you start searching. The ideal home may be easier to find than you think, and our top-ranked property developments list can give you a head start. As always, we determine these rankings purely by the scores submitted by verified reviewers on HomeViews.
These are the current top five developments in Devon on HomeViews. Be sure to check back on this growing list as we add in new homes in Devon, and residents submit more reviews!
*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.
3.70 (13 reviews)
3.70 (13 reviews)
Our top-rated development for Devon is Embden Grange, which offers a great range of 2-5-bedroom homes in the highly desirable ancient market town of Tavistock. Tavistock’s town centre is just a short walk away, putting residents close to an enticing range of independent shops, pubs and restaurants. There’s also easy access to Dartmoor from here, allowing residents to easily enjoy nature walks and cycling trips.
3.43 (34 reviews)
3.43 (34 reviews)
For a change of pace, we head down to Plymouth for our current 2nd highest ranking development, Saltram Meadow. This attractive development situated close to the countryside of the National Trust’s Saltram Estate, in the eastern end of Plymouth. There’s still excellent access to the city centre from here, however, and residents find the location extremely convenient overall.
4.07 (4 reviews)
4.07 (4 reviews)
And the current bronze medallist for Devon is Riverside Walk. This is a new collection of homes in Exeter. It features a range of high-quality 2-4-bedroom homes and is located close to Exeter city centre, opening up this delightful city for residents to explore at their leisure.
3.34 (9 reviews)
3.34 (9 reviews)
In 4th, Cloakham Lawns is a development offering 2-4-bedroom homes on the edge of the gorgeous East Devon town of Axminster. Once famed for its carpets, Axminster is now a haven for London-leavers, popularised by the celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who maintains a cookery school and 100-acre farm only a few miles from the town.
4.10 (based on 1 review)
4.10 (1 review)
And finally, PLATFORM_Exeter may only have one review at present, but it’s from one very happy customer! The is a rental apartment development in the heart of Exeter, within short walking distance of the cathedral and main retail areas. It offers modern design apartments with spacious layouts, but the building is set back from the main roads to enable peace and quiet for residents.
We are constantly updating our developments and their rankings duly change as more residents offer up their opinions and scores. Be sure to check back on exciting new homes in Devon via our area guide below.
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.
The post New homes in Devon: Top 5 developments appeared first on HomeViews.