Low property prices, outstanding natural beauty, rich history and culture – Durham has it all. The lure of the northern regions of England is only growing stronger as house hunters look for more access to green space and tranquillity. If that’s what you’re after, come explore some of the best new homes in Durham with us.
Where is Durham?
Durham is a county in the North East of England, with a city of the same name. It has a North Sea coastline, and shares borders with Northumberland and Tyne and Wear to the north, North Yorkshire to the south, and Cumbria to the west.
Why live in Durham?
Ask someone who lives in Durham what they love about their county, and they will likely start with the scenery. More than a third of North East England is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and Durham covers part of the truly stunning North Pennines AONB. The rest of the county is no slouch visually either. It offers everything from windswept heaths and ancient forests to market towns and cathedral cities steeped in history.
Looking for specific days out? You can find so many amazing things to do across Durham. Check out Raby, one of England’s finest medieval castles. Or The Bowes Museum, which is a spectacular French chateau built into the heart of the county. If you want natural splendour, then you need to see High Force, one of England’s biggest waterfalls.
There’s also the city of Durham, which is a great place to live, work and visit. It’s an architectural marvel, with truly inspiring buildings ranging from the cathedral to the botanic gardens and even individual homes. It’s such a looker, that in 2019, National Geographic ranked Durham as one of the most beautiful cities in Britain.
Wherever you are in the county, you’re not far from both natural and manmade beauty. You’re also not far from great transport links to surrounding counties and major cities. As for education, Durham University is one of the most prestigious in the UK, with international recognition as such.
Another big advantage to living in Durham is that it is a county that offers exceptional value for money. Not only are living costs low (especially compared with southern England), the price of residential property also remains extremely competitive.
What are average property prices in Durham like?
Even against a national backdrop of rising house prices, it’s possible to find great property prospects at affordable asking prices here. In December 2021, Zoopla recorded the average house price of County Durham as £155,389. This is a rise of 2.18% in 12 months, but is still more than £114,000 cheaper than the UK house price average. This was recorded in September 2021 by the ONS.
If you’re looking to buy a house in Durham itself, the average creeps up to around £176,500. The property market in the city of Durham is diversifying quite fast, and flats in Durham go for around £159,000. Terraced properties cost closer to £134,000, presenting a highly affordable option.
New homes in Durham: 10 best developments
If you’re considering moving to Durham, you’d best see what actual residents think of where they live. The following is a list of the top-ranked property developments in the county.
As always, we set this list entirely based on the scores provided by 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.
4.41 (10 reviews)
4.41 (10 reviews)
Our number one development for Durham is Peerfields, which offers a range of 2-4-bedroom new-build homes just outside of Chilton. This gives it a very convenient location just minutes from the A1M and right next to the A167 and A689. This makes Peerfields ideal for commuters and for days out to Durham city and nearby Bishop Auckland. Residents love the open, spacious design of their homes, and praise the developers for handling snagging issues so quickly and efficiently.
4.08 (12 reviews)
4.08 (12 reviews)
In 2nd place, The Green is a development of build-to-rent homes in the port town of Hartlepool. The developer, PlaceFirst, has sympathetically refurbished three streets of Victorian terrace houses close to the town centre. Residents say that the homes retain their historic character while still providing the comfort and convenience of modern living.
4.06 (20 reviews)
4.06 (20 reviews)
Next up, Barley Gate takes 3rd place, and offers a range of 3-4-bedroom new homes for sale in Chester-le-Street, near Birtley. It is only an 8-mile drive to Durham and just 10 miles to Newcastle, making it ideal for commuters and for city days out. One happy resident describes Barley Gate as being: “Well laid out with greenery in the street and pleasing aesthetics.”
3.60 (12 reviews)
3.60 (12 reviews)
We now move over to Wingate, which is up the road from Hartlepool and very close to the Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve. Wood Avens Village offers a range of 3-4-bedroom new homes for sale, while the village of Wingate has many local amenities including shops, a cafe, pub, post office and medical centre.
3.13 (12 reviews)
3.13 (12 reviews)
For our final entry in the list, Hampton Green offers a tranquil countryside setting but the centre of Coxhoe village is just a few minutes’ walk away, and the city of Durham lies just 5 miles away. Residents here love the convenience of their location, and the modern, spacious layout of their homes. Issues and repair works are attended to promptly too, according to reviewers.
Interested in reviewing more new homes in Durham? Be sure to check back on this regularly updated list. We also have a dedicated area guide below, which has even more developments to explore.
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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