New build homes in Durham: 5 best developments

Umbrellas in Durham

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.

1. Peerfields, DL17

Avant Homes
4.37 (12 reviews) 4.37 (12 reviews)
Area guide to County Durham
Image of Peerfields, DL17

Our number one development for Durham is Peerfields, which offers a range of 2-4-bedroom new-build homes just outside of Chilton. This gives it a very convenient location just minutes from the A1M and right next to the A167 and A689. This makes Peerfields ideal for commuters and for days out to Durham city and nearby Bishop Auckland. Residents love the open, spacious design of their homes, and praise the developers for handling snagging issues so quickly and efficiently.

Read reviews and details of Peerfields, DL17

2. Castle Croft, DL12

Tilia Homes
4.25 (8 reviews) 4.25 (8 reviews)
Area guide to County Durham
Image of Castle Croft, DL12

In second place, Castle Croft by Tilia Homes is a development of two, three and four-bedroom new build homes located in the rural village of Startforth, just over the River Tees from Barnard Castle. The new build homes offer a variety of styles, meaning there’s a home here for everyone.

Read reviews and details of Castle Croft, DL12

3. The Fell, DH2

Keepmoat Homes
4.14 (8 reviews) 4.14 (8 reviews)
Area guide to County Durham
Image of The Fell, DH2

Taking third position in County Durham, The Fell is located on the edge of the market town of Chester-le-Street, offering a selection of two, three and four-bedroom homes. Amenities include schools, parks, nature reserves and transport links.

Read reviews and details of The Fell, DH2

4. Barley Gate, DH3

Avant Homes
3.99 (21 reviews) 3.99 (21 reviews)
Area guide to County Durham
Image of Barley Gate, DH3

Next up, Barley Gate takes fourth place, and offers a range of three to four-bedroom new homes for sale in Chester-le-Street, near Birtley. It is only an eight-mile drive to Durham and just 10 miles to Newcastle, making it ideal for commuters and for city days out. One happy resident describes Barley Gate as being: “Well laid out with greenery in the street and pleasing aesthetics.”

Read reviews and details of Barley Gate, DH3

5. Cathedral View, DH1

Charles Church
3.77 (9 reviews) 3.77 (9 reviews)
Area guide to County Durham
Image of Cathedral View, DH1

Ranked fifth in County Durham, Cathedral View is located in the heart of the city of Durham itself. Cathedral View is a new development just a few minutes’ walk from Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle. It has a large variety of amenities and attractions close by, including convenient schools, shopping and transport links by road, bus and rail.

Read reviews and details of Cathedral View, DH1

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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.

County Durham

County Durham
HomeViews collects verified resident reviews for new build homes across the UK. The rankings below are calculated based on the overall star ratings for each development. However, the HomeViews Transparency Rating also affects a development’s ranking, as this indicates how recent its reviews are Read more about County Durham
What is HomeViews?

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.

written by

Jan Moys

A residential property expert with over 15 years’ experience creating content... Read all

A residential property expert with ov... Read all