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.
Note: Originally, this list was a Top 5 of the top-ranked developments in Durham that are listed on HomeViews. However, in recent months we’ve seen an influx of new properties for the area, so the list has been expanded into a Top 15! Enjoy hunting through the best that this alluring region has to offer.
New build homes in Durham: 15 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 15 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.
Top of the table for Durham is The Green, offering characterful homes with period features meet the best of modern living located within Hartlepool. Here you’ll find three streets of thoughtfully redeveloped Victorian properties with spacious 1, 2 and 3 bedroom homes available to rent.
One rave review reads: “Wonderful development. I love it here! The green is a lovely view to have, it’s nice and quiet here. I adore my house, it’s done up to top standards and felt like home as soon as I walked in. Property manager Dave is brilliant, really friendly and answered all my questions prior to the move in and on moving day. Couldn’t be happier!”
Our number 2 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.
In 3rd 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.
Taking 4th 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.
Taking the final spit in the Top 5 for Durham, Summerville Village offers a range of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom new homes for sale in Stockton.
One happy resident says: “If you are looking for your a house with modern design and a family friendly place, this is the house for you. I love the design of our house which is the Abbotsbury house. Wide parking space and a big front and backyard. It’s a family friendly place. The design inside it good as well. We have an open living and dining design which i like so much. The bedrooms are good sizes as well.”
At number 6 there’s a development with plenty of character. The Old Picture House Court offers flatshares and self-contained flats designed to provide simple yet modern living in the heart of Stockton on Tees. It’s situated near several university campuses. Its close proximity to Norton Street also means residents have easy access to a variety of shops, cafes and restaurants. Its transport links make it easy to explore the wider area and beyond.
Next up, Barley Gate takes 7th 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.”
Ranked 8th 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.
In 9th, Wood Avens Village offers a range of 3 and 4 bedroom new homes for sale in Wingate, Durham. The village of Wingate has many local amenities including shops, a cafe, pub, post office and medical centre.
Finishing off the Top 10 we have Hampton Green. Surrounded by countryside, this is a tranquil setting but the centre of Coxhoe just a few minutes’ walk away and the city of Durham 5 miles away.
In 11th place, The Wickets at Monkswood is a new housing development in Sacriston, County Durham (postcode DH7 6DD), offering a range of 3, 4, and 5-bedroom homes. Developed by Persimmon Homes, this collection is designed to cater to various needs, from first-time buyers to families seeking more space. The development is situated in a semi-rural town, providing a balance between countryside living and access to urban amenities. Monkswood is conveniently located for those who wish to enjoy the facilities of Durham, as well as being within commuting distance of Newcastle upon Tyne and near the Metrocentre
Next up, just south of the cathedral city of Durham lies Spennymoor, home to Cornish Park. This development aims to reflect the creative essence of its namesake: Norman Cornish. Cornish Park consists of 2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes. Lying above the Wear Valley, Spennymoor has good transport links to the surrounding area, and easy access to the scenic Weardale Way.
13th place goes to Moorfield, by Charles Church, which is situated in the mining town of Easington. Close to the Heritage coastline, the development is surrounded by a wide variety of local amenities. As well as this, the development has road links for commuters.
Coniscliffe Rise is currently in 14th place. It’s a new development of luxury homes located in the West Park area of Hartlepool. Close to the site is the award winning West Park Primary School, along with the High Tunstall College of Science.
And finally, finishing the list for Durham is Durham Sands, a new collection of homes located within the historic city itself. This riverside development is positioned just a few minutes’ walk from the city centre and has a large selection of local amenities, highly-rated schools and excellent transport links nearby.
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.
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 December 2024, Rightmove recorded the average house price of County Durham as £160,000. This is well under 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 £198,000. The property market in the city of Durham is diversifying quite fast, and flats in Durham go for around £108,000. Terraced properties cost just £151,000, 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 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
HomeViews is the only independent review platform for residential developments in the UK. Prospective buyers and tenants use it to make an informed decision on where to live based on insights from carefully verified resident reviews. Part of Rightmove since February 2024, we’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to give residents a voice, recognise high performers and to help improve standards across the industry.
We only use your data in accordance with our Privacy Policy to provide the services. We will not share with third parties for marketing purposes. Please see our Privacy Policy, Terms of Use and Cookie Policy.
Why create a profile?
Be the first to hear about available properties at your favourite developments.
Stay informed about the top rated developments in your favourite areas.
Rating and new review updates on developments you're interested in.
Find out about new developments in your areas of interest.
We only use your data in accordance with our Privacy Policy to provide the services. We will not share with third parties for marketing purposes. Please see our Privacy Policy, Terms of Use and Cookie Policy.
Why create an account?
Claim your business to begin managing your developments
Evidence shows responding to reviews improves customer service and how your brand is perceived
Upgrade your account to gain access to detailed stats, add media and other useful tools
Generate widgets to promote your developments on other websites
