While the north and south of England have plenty to recommend them, what makes the middle of the country appealing to both buyers and renters? Accessible, prosperous yet affordable, let’s see why this part of England has such a dynamic property market, by looking at some of the best new homes in the East Midlands.
New homes in the East Midlands: Top 10 best developments
From gleaming inner-city towers, to quiet rural suburbia retreats, let’s look at some of the best new homes in the East Midlands. As always, these rankings are determined entirely by the reviews given by the people who actually live there. This gives you the insiders’ guide to the best developments on HomeViews.
*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.
The top-rated development in the East Midlands is The Wullcomb. This Build to Rent development is managed by Way of Life and located in the heart of Leicester. The building offers 297 apartments with a mix of spacious Manhattan studios alongside one and two-bedroom apartments. Residents have the option of choosing a furnished or unfurnished apartment. Additionally, there is a wide range of facilities and amenities on site. These include 24h concierge, secure car park and cycle storage, a rooftop terrace, a shared kitchen and dining space with modern lounge and a private theatre room.
Second-placed Bluebell Woods, by Lioncourt Homes, is a new development set on the edge of the hamlet of Drakelow, conveniently located just minutes from the centre of Burton-upon-Trent. Comprising a range of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes, the development is a short drive from the neighbouring village of Stapenhill, which offers a range of local shops, a pub, a medical centre and other amenities.
Located in Bushby, Leicestershire, Bushby Fields was built by Bloor Homes. Comprising of two, three and four-bedroom houses, the development is situated near a variety of local amenities including a post office, supermarkets, a small selection of independent shops and traditional pubs.
Woodland Valley by Persimmon Homes is a collection of two, three and four-bedroom homes located on the outskirts of Rothwell. Taking fourth place in the East Midlands, the development is situated in a highly sought-after location. The market town of Rothwell is in a good location for Kettering, Market Harborough, and Corby, and the A14 is very close to Woodland Valley, creating a convenient link with both the M1 and the A1.
In fifth place is Kingsgate Mews, a new development of two, three and four-bedroom homes in Crowland, Peterborough. Crowland is a small town offering a mix of amenities which include local shops, pubs restaurants and tea rooms. Trains run from development into London Kings Cross in 48 minutes.
Scarsdale Green is a new development of two, three and four bedroom detached homes and bungalows. Each home benefits from high specification finishes throughout. Located close to the rural town of Bolsover and also the market town of Chesterfield. The M1 motorway can be reached within a few minutes, giving easy access to Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham.
Taking seventh place, River View is the second phase of Redrow’s development at Barton Seagrave. River View has a selection of three, four and five-bedroom homes. Residents have a range of amenities nearby, from dining to leisure. For example, nearby Kettering has a variety of restaurants, Kettering Golf Club is located on the Headlands and the Odeon Cinema can be found on Pegasus Court. Additionally, the historic houses and estates Broughton House, Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens and Kirby Hall are all close by.
Taking number eight, from Mulberry Homes, comes Meadow View Fields. This is a new development offers three, four and five-bedroom homes in the village of Moulton. Meadow View Fields compliments in countryside setting, offering residents a rural escape on the doorstep.
Situated just outside Kettering in Barton Seagrave, Cranford Chase is a new development that enjoys the countryside of Northamptonshire and over time the original village has become a popular suburb of Kettering. Taking ninth place on our list, it has the benefits of Kettering’s town centre, offering a wide selection of shopping and leisure facilities and is close to the A14.
Rounding off our top 10 in the East Midlands is Rambler’s Gate. The development offers three, four and five-bedroom homes, located close to the Peak District as well as Ashbourne High Street which is a 15-minute walk away. The A52 and A518 road links connect you further afield should you need to travel for work.
As the name suggests, the East Midlands make up the middle of England, stretching out to the east. Sitting right in the centre are the counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. Northamptonshire is to the south, and easterly part of the East Midlands covers almost all of Lincolnshire, except the north and north east areas of the county.
Why live in the East Midlands?
One of the biggest attractions of the East Midlands is the region’s economic prosperity. It’s a major logistical hub, with hundreds of major companies based across its various counties. Not only does this provide good job prospects, it also makes the region very accessible, with solid transport links.
There are also plenty of big cities to choose from, many of them rich in history, such as Lincoln and Northampton. As well as the convenience of city living, the East Midlands counties have no shortage of attractive towns and villages that make the most of the rural beauty on offer. The Peak District, which is mostly in Derbyshire, is perhaps the most stunning example of this.
Also, your money goes further in the East Midlands than the South East or South West of England. Particularly when it comes to buying property.
What are property prices in East Midlands like?
Property prices in the East Midlands remain steady at the time of writing (December 2022), with a slight upward trajectory over the year to date. Zoopla has the current average property price as being a little over £250,000. Several major reports point towards the East Midlands outpacing other UK regions on house price growth in the coming years. So if you plan to buy here, factor this trend into your calculations.
A recent report from PwC shows that when it comes to renting, the East Midlands are a more affordable prospect than other parts of the country. Young renters here – agreed between 22-29 – spend around 25% of their monthly earnings on rent. This is a full 5% below the 30% threshold that is generally considered affordable.
If you want to know more about the East Midlands, our dedicated guide can help. Here you’ll find more information on the region’s geography, and plenty more developments to explore at your leisure.
Easy access to London and the national motorway network ensures the economic prosperity of the East Midlands, UK. A dedicated airport also serves to connect this central region to Europe and the world, with key cities Leicester and Nottingham also providing financial stimulus and Read more about East Midlands
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.
