Maybe you’ve been scouring listings for new build homes for sale in North West England and don’t know which to pick. Or perhaps you can’t decide where in the region to settle. Either way, HomeViews can help. Today, we’re deep-diving into the lush English scenery and vibrant cities the North West is famous for. Then, we’ll show you which of the area’s new developments that residents love best.
Where is North West England?
The North West is a region of England forming the counties of Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Cheshire. The Scottish border lies to the north, with Northumbria and Durham to the northeast. Yorkshire stretches along the south-eastern border, while the West Midlands sits to the south. The Irish Sea and North Wales border to the west.
New build homes for sale in North West England: Top 10 developments
With five counties and many towns and cities to settle in, it can be hard to focus your search. Which new build homes for sale in North West England actually live up to expectations? Rather than taking developments at face value, we believe in asking residents to share their experiences for the benefit of future buyers. Below, we’ve listed the Top 10 highest-rated estates in the region – click the links to learn more.
*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.
Living in North West England
Hugged by the North Pennines AONB and the Irish Sea to the east and west, this varied English region sits between the Scottish Borders and the West Midlands. You may have visited some of its landscapes already, for the area contains three National Parks. These include the Lake District and parts of the Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales. In addition, North West England boasts three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. These are Arnside and Silverdale, Solway Coast, and the Forest of Bowland.
Besides an abundance of natural beauty, the region is home to Manchester and Liverpool – once industrial powerhouses. These are the area’s main cities, with other major settlements including Carlisle, Chester, Lancaster, Preston and Salford. Although the North West has a long-term association with the textiles industry, these days the Manchester-Liverpool region ranks in the Top 10 worldwide for business start-ups.
Whether you’re attracted by the lifestyle or business opportunities on offer, you have five counties to choose from. Beginning in the northernmost county of Cumbria, you can’t fail to miss the Lake District’s distinct glacial lakes, mountainous terrain and historic literary connections. The market towns of Kendal, Ambleside and Keswick on scenic Derwentwater are particularly charming.
Head down through the Yorkshire Dales into Lancashire. Here, you’ll discover sweeping stretches of moorland, outstanding local produce, and the well-connected historic cities of Lancaster and Preston. Below, Greater Manchester hosts a modern media and digital industry, fantastic music and a world-famous football team. Nearby Liverpool, in Merseyside, can claim similar distinctions. It also still feels the boost of winning the title of Europe’s Capital of Culture in 2008.
Finally, the southernmost county of Cheshire features a diverse economy centred around farming, tourism, finance and the automotive and chemical industries. Here, the ancient Roman city of Chester on the River Dee boasts the most complete city walls, the oldest racecourse and the largest Roman amphitheatre in Britain, plus a 1000-year-old cathedral.
Transport in North West England
The M6 runs from Scotland to Crewe, Cheshire in the south. The route connects towns and cities such as Penrith, Kendal, Lancaster, Preston, Warrington, Liverpool and Manchester. Meanwhile, the two largest airports in the region – Manchester and Liverpool John Lennon – offer domestic and international flights.
Travelling by train is easy too, with the West Coast Main Line serving most of the region. The Liverpool to Manchester lines and the North TransPennine also link Liverpool to Manchester through Warrington, while the Caldervale line connects Lancashire and Manchester from Leeds to Blackpool. Both Liverpool and Manchester have extensive local passenger rail networks – perfect for commuters.
North West England property prices
So, how much do homes in North West England cost? The amount varies by county, with the average home in Cheshire costing £286,347 – just under 100K more than properties in Lancashire (Zoopla – February 2023). This average is similar to Yorkshire and the Humber, lower than the East Midlands, and higher than the North East.
Breaking the figures down by type, terraced homes cost around £150,000, while semi-detached and detached properties sold for £235,000 and £411,000 respectively. Overall, prices have remained stable in the past year but may be on the rise again as the market settles.
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.
