Demand skyrockets up-north: Northern UK towns hottest spots for new-build houses, according to a new study
A UK-wide study of consumer demand for new-build homes has revealed that 9 out of the top 10 most sought-after locations are located north of Birmingham.
Two of the top three locations are in Scotland.
Though despite the rankings being dominated by locations north of Birmingham, it’s Northampton in the East Midlands that ranks #1 as the most in demand location for new build homes. With 2,564 searches per 100,000 residents, demand for new build houses in Northampton is 25x higher than in London.
The Scottish cities of Edinburgh (2,171 per 100k) and Aberdeen (1,994 per 100k) both feature in 2nd and 3rd spot the UK’s top 5 for consumer demand for new build housing, followed by York (1,766 per 100k) and Leicester (1,662 per 100k) making up the top 5.
Top 10 UK cities with highest consumer demand for new build homes:
- Northampton
- Aberdeen
- Edinburgh
- York
- Leicester
- Derby
- Glasgow
- Warrington
- Liverpool
- Leeds
Conducted by kitchen fixtures supplier Insinkerator, the ‘sustainable housing development’ study reveals which towns & cities in the UK can claim to be the most in-demand for new build residential properties. The study also gathered data from 270 UK households to find out what consumers wanted in a new home, and whether there was confidence in new build houses in the UK.
Surprisingly, London ranks 48th out of the UK’s 50 most populated towns and cities for consumer demand for new build houses – there’s an average of just 101 searches annually for ‘new build’ per every 100,000 residents.
Conducting a parallel consumer study to ask potential buyers what they’re looking for in a new home, it was found that there is indeed an appetite for buying houses—within the next 3 years, 58% of current renters plan to become first-time buyers and around half of existing homeowners (47%) are looking to buy a new property.
What do house buyers want?
The wants and needs of prospective buyers are reported to have shifted over the past few years. Home buyers have become increasingly interested in sustainability, leading them to look for energy-efficient homes that offer green features. Property priorities have also changed with the rise of flexible working, with more people looking for homes with greater indoor space or with space for a home office.
The findings show:
- The majority (67%) of potential buyers place highest priority on surrounding green space; either directly around the house, local parkland or walking access to countryside
- Environmental elements, sustainability, and energy efficiency are another priority for many when looking for a new home, identifying the following desirable features:
- 61% – Energy efficiency for heating and fixtures
- 44% – Fitted for environmentally friendly living, such as food waste disposal, recycling, and renewable energy systems
- 33% – Sustainably built
However, when asked about the quality of new build homes, participants in the study showed little confidence. Only one quarter (24%) said that they would be confident in the overall quality of a new build property and 29% would not be confident in the quality of the actual construction. 36% also stated that they weren’t confident that new builds would maintain long-lasting value.
When it comes to buyer expectations for new build homes, almost a third (29%) of respondents thought that more focus needs to be put on the buyer when building properties. 32% of households would expect the latest modern fixtures to be installed and 30% would expect modern and environmentally friendly waste disposal solutions to be included in the purchase of the house.
Kevin Carr, UK Sales Director at Insinkerator, says:
“We conducted this study as part of our research into UK housing trends and we have uncovered some extremely useful findings, both for suppliers and housing developers. Using this innovative means of gathering data we can see where consumer demand for new build homes lies month on month.
“We’ve also been able to tap into what features home buyers are including on their wish-lists when looking for new properties and can see how this has become much more green-focused. Housing developers need to keep up with these changing expectations and fulfil these desires by building properties that are sustainably constructed and include eco-friendly kitchen fixtures that cater to a more green lifestyle, or else risk lost confidence from potential buyers.”
Paul Gibbens, Property Specialist at Housebuyers4u, says:
“The new build market presents buyers with a turnkey solution in that they are hassle free, with guarantees that one does not need to worry too much about any maintenance for a few years. Due to the change in work locations and people predominantly working from home, many people would rather get more for their money through locating to the outskirts of the city of London for instance and in some cases to the country.
“With people becoming more environmentally conscious and looking for all the latest technologies to give better efficiencies, the demand for new build housing has been pretty solid over the last decade or so. Many of the things expected in new builds such as double or even triple-glazed windows, insulated walls, roofs, and doors, and energy-efficient heating are all common in new-build properties.”
Chris Lawson, Managing Director at CK Architectural, says:
“The design of housing estates, with various types of housing, green spaces, play areas and even small commercial shops, schools and doctor surgeries have been created as planners recognise the need to create sustainable communities with upgraded infrastructures all to cope with new housing communities.
“The demands for inclusive housing, including open market, affordable and first-time buyers and buy to let have all influenced the major developer’s approach to new developments and the design standards they are trying to meet. If you combine this with Government design standards and planning obligations, developers have a lot to juggle. While most developments are built to meet all planning policy and design standards, at times these are not necessarily aligned with the public’s expectations.”
Kindly shared by Insinkerator
Main photo courtesy of Pixabay
