Some new research has revealed where the nation’s homebuyers currently have the strongest appetite for new build homes, with up to 68% of new homes stock already snapped up as we start the new year.
The survey by the new build sales optimisation platform Unlatch analysed current demand for new build homes across 22 major cities across the nation to reveal where the sector was seeing the largest level of activity, based on the ratio of new homes already sold subject to contract or under offer as a percentage of all new build stock listed for sale.
The research shows that across the UK as a whole, 34% of new build homes currently on the market have already been snapped up by eager homebuyers.
At city level, this demand is as its greatest in Plymouth, where 68% of all new builds listed for sale have already agreed a sale or received an offer. The south coast also accounts for the remainder of the top five hottest new build markets. At the other end of the table, Aberdeen is home to the lowest level of new-build demand with just 2% of stock sold subject to contract or under offer. Liverpool (14%), Newcastle (15%), Leicester (15%), Glasgow (15%) and Birmingham (15%) also rank amongst the lowest.
Lee Martin, head of UK for Unlatch, said: “A new year and there’s certainly been no let-up where homebuyer demand for new homes is concerned. The sector has played a pivotal role in servicing the tidal wave of market activity seen over the last 18 months and the influence of the pandemic remains clear to see with coastal locations remaining the most in demand areas of the current market.
“This is only to be expected given the spread of the Omicron variant which has caused us to take a bit of a step backwards but, as the booster rollout intensifies and we strive to return to a greater sense of normality, demand for new homes across more central major cities is sure to increase.”
Here are the top ten cities in the survey and some examples of the new build homes currently for sale there.
Plymouth, 68%
Saltram Meadow is a Persimmon Homes development in Billacombe, to the east of the city. Now on Phase 4, the current range of two- and three-storey, three-bedroom homes are priced from £269,995.
Tilia Homes is building in Woolwell on the north-eastern fringe of Plymouth. Its development The Oaks has three- and four-bedroom homes for sale right now, priced from £345,000 to £475,000.
Find out about current new homes for sale in Plymouth.
Canford Paddock, David Wilson Homes
Bournemouth 65%
Canford Paddock is a development where Barratt Homes has just one home remaining for sale, a three-bedroom house priced at £375,000. David Wilson Homes is also building there and has a range of two- and three-bedroom properties for sale, priced between £362,500 and £365,000.
West Cliff Mansions is a scheme from Bournemouth Development Company which offers one- and two-bedroom apartments, all with their own private balcony or terrace, with prices starting at £275,000.
Find out about current new homes for sale in Bournemouth.
Bristol 60%
Boulevard View provides house-hunters on a modest budget to part buy-part rent a one- or two-bedroom apartment within easy reach of the city centre. Through Home Reach, prices start at £60,000 for a 40% share, based on a full market value of £150,000.
For buyers over 60-years-old, specialist developer Pegasus offers a collection of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments at The Vincent in Redland. Prices at this age-exclusive development start at £375,000.
Find out about current new homes for sale in Bristol.
Novo, Dandara
Portsmouth 58%
In the Drayton district in the north of Portsmouth, multi-award-winning Dandara is currently selling contemporary-design three- and four-bedroom houses at its Novo development, where prices range from £375,000 to £475,000.
Linden Homes has a current development in Waterlooville, just a few miles from the centre of Portsmouth. Catherington Park offers a selection of two-, three- and four-bedroom houses priced from £287,000.
Find out about current new homes for sale in Portsmouth.
Southampton 51%
Churchill Retirement Living is an award-winning specialist developer which is building a collection of 73 one- and two-bedroom retirement apartments for over-60s at Spitfire Lodge. Prices start at £238,950
Home Reach is a ‘part buy-part rent’ initiative where eligible house-hunters can purchase a proportion of the new home and pay a subsidised rent on the rest. Over time, they can purchase further shares until they own 100%. This scheme is available on a two-bedroom apartment at Centenary Wharf, on the banks of the River Itchen, from £114,000 for a 40% share (full market value £285,000).
Find out about current new homes for sale in Southampton.
Sheffield 46%
Cloverleaf Court is a development from Erris Homes in Wharncliffe Side , to the north-west of the city, which is currently offering some four-bedroom houses priced from £350,000.
In the Birley Edge area of Sheffield, around four miles north of Sheffield city centre, Guinness Homes is offering a host of two- and three-bedroom houses on Shared Ownership. Prices start at £67,500 for a 50% share (full market price £135,000).
Find out about current new homes for sale in Sheffield.
Chapel Fields, Barratt Homes
Swansea 43%
Barratt Homes’ Chapel Fields is in Loughor and offers a range of three- and four-bedroom houses, with Phase 2 now available. Prices range from £281,995 to £387,995.
Situated close to Singleton Park is Fern Court, a retirement development from specialists McCarthy Stone. It will comprise 14 one-bedroom and 31 two-bedroom apartments and residents have access to a communal lounge and landscaped gardens. Prices on application.
Find out about current new homes for sale in Swansea.
Nottingham 36%
Woodyard Park, from Avant Homes, will comprise an impressive range of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom new homes in the Wollaton district. Prices for the current selection of four- and five-bedroom houses start at £464,995.
A three-bedroom house can be purchased through the Home Reach part buy-part rent initiative at Edwalton Fields, on the outskirts of the city. The ‘Magnolia’ is available at £157,498 for a 50% share, based on a full market value of £314,995.
Find out about current new homes for sale in Nottingham.
Timber Works, Hill
Cambridge 34%
Trumpington Meadows is one of Cambridge’s most notable new neighbourhoods at David Wilson Homes is currently selling a range of four-bedroom, two- and three-storey houses priced from £639,995 to £679,995.
Former WhatHouse? Housebuilder of the Year Hill is building a distinctive range of apartments and house types at Timber Works, close to the city centre. They are part of a new neighbourhood of some 500 homes. Prices for the current available home range from £339,950 to £679,950 and there’s a special offer for reservations during January.
Find out about current new homes for sale in Cambridge.
Leeds 31%
Located around 15 minutes from the city centre in Seacroft is Identity, a collection of two-, three- and four-bedroom houses from developer Strata. Current availability starts at £190,000.
To the south of the city in Morley is St Andrew’s Place, a Barratt Homes development where just four properties remain for sale. Prices for these three- and four-bedroom homes range from £339,995 to £379,995. One of them is the ‘Ennerdale’ show home, complete with fixtures and fittings, for £374,995.
Find out about current new homes for sale in Leeds.
Data has sourced from the major property portals (December 2021) with demand based on the number of new build properties already sold subject to contract or under offer as a percentage of total properties listed.