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 build homes in Durham with us.
New build 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 new build 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.
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 considering the rising house prices of the past year and more, it’s possible to find great property prospects at affordable asking prices here. In March 2024, Zoopla recorded the average house price of County Durham as £144,500. This is little more than half the UK average house price of £285,000, as recorded in December 2023 by the ONS.
If you’re looking to buy a house in Durham itself, the average creeps up to around £220,000. The property market in the city of Durham is diversifying quite fast, and flats in Durham go for around £155,000. Terraced properties cost just £218,000, presenting a highly affordable option.
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.
