New homes snapshot – new build revitalising buyer appeal of North Wales 

North Wales, and particularly its coast, have long been a popular place to live and a major tourism destination, with lovely beaches, countryside and mountains offering an appealing long-term lifestyle as well as a short holiday break.

The latest Welsh government research shows increasing tourist numbers, and undoubtedly housebuilders in this part of the country have one eye on second-home buyers as well as those simply looking for their main home.

There is no doubt, too, that with the Northern Powerhouse plans still forming, that the access from North Wales to cities like Manchester and Liverpool will be an added attraction to some buyers – the ‘best of both worlds’ setting that many crave, tranquil and attractive surroundings but within easy reach of work, leisure and other amenities.

While Brexit may never be far from the top headlines across the press, it was recently announced that Wales is to receive money from EU funds [to support infrastructure and business growth to back up local economies and reinforce the appeal of the region as a place to live.

Though rents in Wales are among the cheapest in the UK, according to the March figures from Your Move, announced by its lettings director Valerie Bannister, “Away from the capital, Wales saw the strongest outright performance. Rents across Wales increased by 7.7% in the last year, more than anywhere else in the UK.” This may encourage those not put off by increasing stamp duty and taxes for buy-to-let property to look at North Wales as somewhere to consider placing their money.

Among the new homes for sale in North Wales now are:

Parc Aberkinsey is a development of three- and four-bedroom houses from Anwyl Homes situated on the south-eastern outskirts of Rhyl, surrounded by open countryside. Prices currently start at £141,950. Besides great views, residents are also within easy reach of the amenities of Rhyl and Prestatyn and a convenient transport link in the A55, with access to Chester, Liverpool and Manchester. 

From the same housebuilder, Sychnant Pass is a development of spacious four- and five-bedroom houses located on the outskirts of the historic town of Conwy. Priced from £308,950, these homes are well connected along the North Wales coast and into England and there are even direct trains to London from nearby Llandudno Junction station.

Bryn y Mor is a development in Old Colwyn under construction by Macbryde Homes. The scheme with comprise 76 homes in all and there is currently a broad choice of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes to consider. As how home and marketing suite are open daily from 10.30am to 5.30pm, and with prices from £103,320, Help to Buy Wales is widely available.

The UK’s leading specialist retirement developer McCarthy & Stone is launching its Lido Grange development in Prestatyn this summer, with 23 one-bedroom and 16 two-bedroom apartments on offer. There will be a number of communal facilities too, and these retirement living properties are designed with older buyers in mind, to bring ease-of-use as well as a brand new, low-maintenance setting. Prices will be announced at launch, and the first buyers are expected to move in this autumn.

At £284,750, there’s just one property currently for sale at Castle Fields, a Morris Homes development in Ewloe Green, just a few miles west of Chester. The four-bedroom ‘Malham’ is a detached home with a master en suite, family bathroom, kitchen/breakfast room, utility, and separate lounge and dining rooms.

National housebuilder Taylor Wimpey is bringing a range of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes to Penyffordd in Flintshire, at The Groves. Help to Buy Wales is available on these homes, priced from £171,995, - but bear in mind they are on leasehold, not freehold, so make sure you are fully aware of how ground rent and service charges may change and what effect it has on your mortgage and the re-sale of the home.