Historic, inviting and green as green can be, the South East of England takes in many of the country’s most desirable places to live. But what is it like to live here, and what can the property market provide? Read on, as we display the best new build homes for sale in the South East of England, according to HomeViews reviewers.
What does the South East of England cover?
The South East of England is the third-largest official region in England, one of the nine that make up the country. It takes in nine counties – Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey and West Sussex. Together, these make up a broad ‘boot’ shape, where the Isle of Wight is the heel and Kent is the toe.
Major towns and cities in the region include Canterbury, Brighton, Milton Keynes, Southampton, Portsmouth, Reading and Oxford.
New build homes for sale in the South East of England: Top 10 developments
If the thought of living in this prime part of the UK appeals, then take a closer look. The following new build developments in the South East of England are ranked entirely according to their review scores from verified residents. This shows off the current state of new build home quality and availability in some of the best towns and cities in the region.
This list also discounts developments that are ‘rental only’. These are developments with units specifically for sale.
*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how many reviews a scheme has and how recently those reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. Buildings with a larger number of more recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance.
Why live in the South East of England?
Because of its size and wide coverage of different counties, the South East of England is very diverse. If you want to be close to the action, it’s easy to live within striking distance of London. Also, the likes of Brighton, Oxford and Southampton offer their own unique city living experiences.
Alternatively, if you prefer a more peaceful, rural existence, then there’s plenty to choose from. The long sweep of countryside that makes up most of the region’s counties is stunningly beautiful, and Kent is known as the ‘Garden of England’ with good reason. Other natural beauty highlights include the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) The New Forest National Park and the High Weald AONB.
More generally, wherever you choose to live in the South East of England, you’re likely to be somewhere affluent, well-connected and with immediate access to good and outstanding schools. Be aware that house prices can be steep, particularly in desirable market towns and historic cities. Still, the region is also the site of major housing development schemes, which are boosting supply and providing more options for buying and renting new builds in the South East of England.
Transport in the South East of England
Many of the most important arterial A-roads and motorways run through the South East of England. The north and west of the region are well served by the M1, M40 and M4. The M23/A23 connects Brighton to London, as does the fast and direct train connection.
The M20 and M2 run out from the capital down to the major Kentish hubs of Canterbury, Folkstone and Dover. There’s also another direct high-speed train link between Canterbury and London. It’s also easy to pick up Eurostar train services from Ashford.
South East of England house prices
The South East of England experienced a house price surge in 2021. In some areas, prices rose by over 10%. While South East of England property prices were still rising in 2022, 2023 has seen them ‘top out’ and they may even be on the way back down as interest levels bite into the market’s appetite.
Now, in August 2023, the average house price for South East of England is £484,400, according to Zoopla. While significantly higher than the national average for England at £306,000 (ONS stats for June 2023), this accounts for plenty of high-cost areas and cities. For example, Oxford is the second most expensive UK city to live in, and comes with a huge property price tag.
Depending on where you want to live in this diverse yet desirable region, you may be able to find cheaper property deals that lie well below this average.
Did any of the listings strike your fancy? If so, click for a closer look. If you need more information on this exceptional region, then our area guide below should be your next stop.
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.
