New homes snapshot – New developments dotted within the rural splendour of Northumberland
As one of the UK’s most sparsely populated areas, Northumberland is treasured for its beautiful countryside, charming towns and villages and rich history, qualities which are attracting house-hunters keen on a new home to live in.
The county has a current population of around 316,000 – the same as the London Borough of Wandsworth, but spread over nearly 150 times more land! With no motorways or cities, the character of the county is defined by its small settlements and many miles of land protected on a national level for its natural beauty.
Understandably, such delightful surroundings are attractive to people looking for homes and while the established stock appeals to many, the many benefits of new build homes mean that there are a significant number of brand new properties being built to meet demand.
For the most part, these new developments are small schemes extending the county’s established towns and villages, with occasional ‘boutique’ sites bringing high-quality, substantial homes on more isolated plots.
One scheme that has recently caused controversy is a plan for 1,800 new homes on the Dissington Estate on the outskirts of Ponteland, just north of Newcastle’s airport. The development is backed by the local council, not least due to the 500 affordable homes that will be constructed, but there is opposition to the ‘garden village’ model being applied to this area.
It is by far the largest plan for Northumberland currently being considered, but house-hunters have plenty of choice across the county when it comes to new build.
New homes currently for sale in Northumberland:
In the heart of Ponteland village is Mill Rise from Linden Homes, an exclusive development of 18 luxury two-bedroom apartments. There’s lift access to all floors and each property has its own private balcony. Prices start at £247,500.
A few miles away in Bedlington, just three miles from the coastal resort of Blyth, Miller Homes is building a range of properties with from two to five bedrooms at The Acres. Priced from £133,700, these new homes are close to a range of family-friendly amenities, shops, leisure facilities and good transport links.
Stone Homes has won many times at the WhatHouse? Awards over the years, and currently has one property for sale at Fir Tree Copse in Hepscott, with the other two luxury properties already sold. Priced at £995,000, this high-specification home offers five bedrooms and 3,200 sq ft of accommodation, with underfloor heating, a handmade kitchen and oak staircase among many noteworthy features.
Not far away in the scenic town of Morpeth, Barratt Homes is offering a range of homes for first-time buyers and families at South Fields. Schemes such as Help to Buy and Part Exchange are available, though prices start as low as £91,350. The area has a range of good schools and is within easy commuting distance of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
An array of individual luxury homes has proven popular on the edge of Morpeth, with just one four-bedroom detached property currently available at Whalton Manor Farm Dairy. Builder Oakland Homes is offering Manor House at £720,000, a sandstone property with natural slate roof but a host of energy-efficient, modern touches such as double-glazed timber sash windows and oil central heating, complemented by a contemporary, high-quality internal specification.
In the coastal town of Blyth, Taylor Wimpey has two-, three- and four-bedroom homes priced from £109,995 at its large Crofton Grange development, again with a number of purchase assistance schemes available. The latest phase includes a host of popular house types and the development is within easy reach of a large supermarket and the town centre.
Developer Gentoo has a five-bedroom home for sale at Humbles Wood, Prudhoe, at £330,000. Designed by award-winning architects Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall Ltd, the development has homes with two to five bedrooms with a very ‘green’ feel to surroundings, including a central park area.