If quayside cities and surfing beaches appeal to you, then a new home in Tyne & Wear might be your idea of heaven. But how do you ensure your moving experience is more blissful than hellish? By collating reviews from people living in developments across the county, HomeViews separates the wheat from the chaff. So, which builders impressed our residents? Read on to find out.
New homes in Tyne & Wear Top 10 developments
Do you want to know which new homes in Tyne & Wear got our residents’ approval? Time to guide you through the best developments the area has to offer – from riverside apartments to spacious detached houses.
*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.
The top-rated new build development in Tyne & Wear is The Forge, which was previously owned by Moorfield but bought by Grainger in 2021. Managed by Allsop, it is situated at the heart of Stephenson Quarter next to Newcastle station. It comprises of 283 pet-friendly, one, two and three-bedroom apartments.
Residents have access to range of facilities and amenities. These include a 24-hour on-property concierge service, a private gym, and a landscaped courtyard garden. In addition, apartments are available in furnished and unfurnished options and come in modern designs with premium furniture packages.
At number 2, Cygnet Park offers a range of two, three and four-bedroom homes in North Tyneside, each featuring bi-fold doors, exclusive kitchen designs and integrated appliances. Cygnet Park is located just 6 miles to the north of Newcastle’s city centre, while the town itself benefits from numerous local amenities, including shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants.
The area is very close to the A19 and A1, which provide excellent transport links. There is also a small Sainsbury’s and a Shell garage a 5-minute walk from the development and a larger supermarket 10 minutes away. Walkers will also enjoy strolling around Gosforth Park and Weetslade, both just 5 minutes away.
Jumping up to 3rd place in recent months, Potters Hill is a development full of modern, energy-efficient three, four and five-bedroom homes. Located on the edge of Sunderland with easy access to major roads, local leisure amenities and shops, these homes combine urban convenience with countryside surroundings.
City Quadrant takes number 4 and is a mixed-use development located at the western entrance to Newcastle City Centre, just a short walk from Central Station. Reviewed into eighth place, the development also includes office and retail spaces and some restaurants.
The idyllic location means that residents here can also benefit from various local amenities. Residents describe the apartments as ‘new and clean’, ‘beautiful and warm’ and ‘well maintained and secure’.
Taking 5th place is St John’s Manor, a collection of three, four and five-bedroom homes. Each home has a high specification throughout, with the development situated in the village of Callerton, only six miles from Newcastle upon Tyne. There are excellent transport links, with the site close to the A69 and the A1 motorway and only four miles from Newcastle International Airport.
We’re back to Potters Mill for number 6. Miller Homes at Potters Mill offers energy-efficient three, four and five-bedroom homes. With fast access to the A19 as well as shops, leisure amenities and nearby Herrington County Park, Potters Mill has lots to commend it.
Our residents have commented on the modern and stylish finish, including anthracite windows and black roofs that are ‘sympathetic to the surroundings’. They also comment on the generous garden sizes, the accessible bus routes, and the walks along the old miners’ railway and the nearby forest.
Nabbing 7th place in our Top 10 and situated on Newcastle Quayside, Hanover Mill boasts views of the River Tyne. The development is only a 5-minute walk away from Newcastle Central Station and near a host of bars, clubs and shops.
A resident told us ‘the flat has thick walls and the property feels secure. It also has a balcony with great river views that lets lots of light into the flat’.
8th-placed Smith’s Dock, by Urban Splash, sits in North Shields just outside of Newcastle upon Tyne. This waterside development benefits from an industrial design, great views and various amenity spaces across the development. As well as this, the development is just a short distance from Newcastle upon Tyne city centre, making it an ideal location for commuting.
The Bar, St James Gate comes in at number 9, and is located on Newcastle’s vibrant quayside very close to the city centre, which has a large variety of shops, bars and restaurants plus the train station which is on the East coast mainline. It comprises 142 apartments, which come with a large balcony and a parking space. It is a mixed-use development, therefore it also features 500,000 sq ft of office space and a 274-bedroom Jurys Inn.
Finally, rounding off our Top 10 is Northumbria House, which comprises a range of 1 and 2-bed apartments available for rental only. Situated in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne the development is a few minutes away from Gosforth High Street. Which allows residents to benefit from a wide range of amenities and local facilities.
You’ll find Tyne & Wear in North East England. The county is named after the Tyne and Wear rivers, around which the region’s five metropolitan boroughs extend. These are Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and the City of Sunderland. Bordered by Northumberland and County Durham, the county also features a long North Sea coastline.
Living in Tyne & Wear
Watched over by the famous Angel of the North, Tyne & Wear is undoubtedly a county blessed with many benefits. Butting up against the North Sea, the area has some lovely lighthouse-strewn coastline, such as Long Sands Beach in Tynemouth near Tynemouth Priory and Castle. South Shields comes with its own pleasure park, while a little further along, the National Trust owned Souter Lighthouse was the first in the country to be powered by electricity. Here you can also explore beautiful coastal walks or cycle unhindered for 10.5 miles.
The city of Sunderland has award-winning beach resorts too, which you can enjoy alongside shopping malls and landscaped Victorian parks. Looking for some culture? The Empire Theatre – the largest between Edinburgh and Leeds – frequently welcomes touring West End shows.
Over in Newcastle, the Royal Theatre is the northern home of the Royal Shakespeare Company. United with Gateshead by seven iconic bridges, the city is also known for its fantastic club and restaurant scene, as well as St James’ Park stadium and Newcastle Racecourse. In addition, Sutherland and Newcastle are both home to independent schools and universities.
Looking for a wild adventure or two? Tyne & Wear is well placed for day trips into the North Pennines AONB and Northumberland National Park. The English-Scottish border is also just over an hour away.
Transport in Tyne & Wear
Tyne & Wear’s transport links are excellent considering its status as the smallest county in the North East. With several intersecting A-roads converging here, the area is the beating heart of a region interspersed with AONBs and national parks.
Entering Tyne & Wear in the south, the A1(M) cuts through the county’s western half before heading north on its journey to Edinburgh. Meanwhile, the A19 connects many settlements to the eastern side before joining the A1 again in the north. The A69 also provides a road bridge between Newcastle upon Tyne and Carlisle, while the A696 take you directly to the Scottish border.
Newcastle International Airport – the largest in the North East – offers flights to 80 destinations, but the Tyne & Wear Metro is another fantastic benefit of living in the area. Serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and the City of Sunderland, it runs frequent trains from early morning until around midnight, Monday to Saturday.
Tyne & Wear property prices
The average price for property in Tyne & Wear was £203,000 in March 2024, currently well below the national average of £285,000. According to Zoopla, flats sold for an average of £130,000 and terraced houses for £164,000. At the same time, semi-detached properties went for around £208,000, while detached homes achieved £417,000.
Rental prices in Tyne & Wear currently stand at around £1,225 PCM. At the lower end of the market, one bedroom lets come in at about £824 PCM. In contrast, five bedrooms cost around £2,279 PCM. These figures fluctuate slightly based on daily calculations by the property search engine Home.co.uk, but were accurate upon publication.
Welcome to Tyne & Wear, a beautiful region in the North East of England. Home to Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland and Gateshead this part of the country is an ideal place for prospective homebuyers. This guide will cover some factors that you should consider Read more about Tyne & Wear
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.
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