Whether you want the big city lights of Manchester and Liverpool, the idyllic charms of the Lake District, or something in between, North West England can likely provide it. Explore this diverse and appealing part of the country with us, as we review some of the best new homes in North West England.
New homes in North West England: Top 10 best developments
If the idea of house hunting in the North West appeals, the following list can be a starting point. You can find the 10 top-ranked property developments for the region listed on HomeViews. As always, we determine this list purely based on the scores given by verified reviewers. This gives you an entirely informed opinion in each case.
*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.
At the time of writing, Erie Dock Apartments (Eda for short) is the top of the table for the North West with an incredible 4.99 overall rating. From parcel signing to private dining, workplace to WiFi, Eda’s developers claim that it’s “all sorted for you”. All Eda’s furnished apartments include king size beds with ottoman storage, corner sofas and TV units to name a few.
Read reviews and details of Eda, M50In at 2nd place, The James Liverpool is a vibrant community located in the heart of the city on James Street. The new development serves as a place for big thinkers and game changers to live, work, and socialise, while they pursue their big and bold goals. The James offers everything necessary for modern living under one roof, including spaces for focus, a quiet five minutes, or conversation with others.
All of the fully furnished studios are private and have access to shared communal spaces situated on the first floor, and all on-site amenities. Residents also benefit from a gym, laundry facilities, high speed Internet, an outdoor terrace, and an active social calendar.
Read reviews and details of The James Liverpool, L2In third, Poplin offers 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments to rent in a community of 144 homes. Residents benefit from flexibility, social spaces and rooftop views. Additionally, residents can enjoy a communal atrium garden, glass atrium and social lounge, and a bookable kitchen. Bordering Ancoats, Poplin is just a couple of minutes’ walk to the Shudehill interchange, and five minutes to Victoria Station. It’s also a short walk to spots such as Angel Meadow, Cutting Room Square and New Islington Marina – or onwards to any of the shops, bars, restaurants and supermarkets of the Northern Quarter.
Read reviews and details of Poplin, M4It’s back to Liverpool for 4th-placed The Keel. This build-to-rent development managed by Allsop, sits in Queen’s Dock. Comprising 240 apartments overlooking the River Mersey, residents benefit from onsite concierge and a private residents’ gym. As well as this, the development is pet-friendly and has access to a wide variety of transport links.
Read reviews and details of The Keel, L3Hitting number 5 for the North West is Vox, managed by Allsop. The development is located just off the A56, opposite St George’s Park and between the Old Trafford and Hulme areas of Manchester. This puts it a short journey from the city centre. Vox offers a collection of 1,2 and 3-bed apartments. In addition to underbuilding parking, there is also storage for over 280 bikes. These are monitored by CCTV and stored behind fob-operated doors. Other facilities include a gym, roof terrace and residents’ lounge.
Read reviews and details of Vox, M15Ranked 6th is Chapel Wharf by Dandara Living, which sits right in the heart of Manchester. Offering a range of studios to 3-bed apartments, residents benefit from a pet-friendly policy, an onsite gym as well as car/bike parking. In addition, there is a courtyard, a library and a residents’ lounge called The Gallery. Additionally, the development is just moments away from Manchester’s famous cultural, shopping and entertainment scenes.
Read reviews and details of Chapel Wharf, M3At 7th place we have The Green Rooms, managed by AmroLiving, offers a range of 1-3-bedroom apartments for rent, all with outstanding waterside views and access to a residents’ gym, bike storage and other on-site facilities. The Green Rooms is also just a few minutes’ walk from a wide variety of transport links and amenities, and is pet friendly.
Read reviews and details of The Green Rooms MediaCityUK, M50Number 8 goes to Duet, adjacent to the bustling MediaCityUK on the waterfront in Salford Quays. There’s wide range of local amenities here, including 15 bars/restaurants, shopping outlets, leisure facilities, a cinema, a theatre, and a nursery. The development comprises 270 pet-friendly one, two and three-bedroom apartments to rent. In addition, the building also provides a 24-hour concierge service. Finally, it offers extensive communal spaces, including a fully equipped private gym.
Read reviews and details of Duet MediaCityUK, M50In 9th, The Trilogy is located in the heart of Castlefield in Manchester and it has access to a good variety of transport links for exploring the city and wider county. Deansgate is a three-minute tram journey, whilst Cornbrook Metrolink Station is a three-minute walk away. In addition, MediaCityUK is a 12-minute commute. The development comprises 232 pet-friendly 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments. Residents have access to a wide range of facilities, including a fully equipped gym as well as a landscaped communal garden. Likewise, the building provides a 24-hour on-property concierge service.
Read reviews and details of The Trilogy, M15Finally, in 10th, Angel Gardens by Moda Living sits in the heart of Manchester, within the NOMA innovation district. It features a total of 466 interior designed apartments to rent with a mix of sizes, ranging from studios to three beds. In addition, it offers no deposit and is pet-friendly. Likewise, residents benefit from 250MBPS WiFi, Samsung 50″ inch smart TV included in their rent. Plus, onsite amenities such as: a rooftop sports pitch, rooftop terrace, residents’ gym, sky lounge, private dining room, media room and atrium. Pay your rent, book community events or chat to your neighbours with the MyModa app. A free health check when you move in, wellbeing workshops and classes with hero, Moda’s health and wellbeing partner.
Read reviews and details of Angel Gardens, M4Which areas cover the North West?
The North West region of England is bordered by Scotland to the north, Yorkshire to the east, and the Midlands to the south. County-wise, the North West contains Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester.
Why live in the North West of England?
As a region, the North West of England is starkly beautiful. It has stunning coastline areas, the Scottish and Welsh borderlands, and the Lake District – one of the UK’s most picturesque areas.
There’s also plenty of opportunity in the North West. Manchester, Liverpool and other cosmopolitan urban hubs are constantly supporting the growth of new jobs, industries and homes across the region. From young professionals to top executives, the North West holds plenty of promise for exciting career advancement opportunities.
Quality of life is another frequently cited benefit of moving to the North West of England. Communities across the region are known for their friendliness, making it easy to slip into the lifestyle here.
Finally, the North West offers excellent value for money, whether you’re buying or renting, as the next section shows.
What are North West England property prices like?
At the time of writing (March 2024) the North West average property price stood at just over £238,000. This is a fair chunk more than you’ll find in the North East (roughly £216,000). However, the North West is still extremely competitive in this regard, since the country-wide average for England is £302,000.
If you’re looking to buy flats in North West England, expect to pay around £154,000. Broadly expect about £161,000 for terraced houses.
As for renting in North West England, rates vary greatly across the different counties and cities. Liverpool’s average monthly rent is £850, while for Manchester it’s £1,350 per calendar month. Rural areas typically remain decidedly cheaper.
If you’d like to dig a little deeper into the North West as a property prospect, check out our area guide below. This will give you extra background information on the region, plus dozens of developments that are constantly being updated.
North West England is one England’s nine official regions. It is made up of Lancashire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside. This corner of the UK is its third most-populated region, with Manchester and Liverpool its two principal cities.
Read more about North West EnglandHomeViews 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.