New Towns: Affordable housing with strong growth potential

The government has announced ambitious plans to build 1.5 million homes in England over the next five years, with a modern generation of New Towns being an important part of its house-building agenda.

Halifax has analysed New Town house price trends over the last three decades to understand how these locations have performed compared to the wider market.

A short history of New Towns

New Towns themselves are not a new concept. The idea of planned towns dates back to the early 20th century with the garden city movement. 

The major push for New Towns came after World War II, driven by the need to rebuild and provide housing for those displaced by bombings and demolition programmes. 

Over two million people now live in towns built as a result of the 1946 New Towns Act.

New Town house prices over the last decade

Over the last 10 years, New Towns have kept pace with national house price growth, recording a 68% increase compared to 69% for UK as a whole. However, in several New Towns, property prices have risen much more sharply over this period, with the top end of the list dominated by locations in Northern Ireland.

• Antrim recorded the strongest growth in house prices of any New Town over the last decade, rising 118% from £102,439 to £223,110.
• Derry/Londonderry follows, with house prices nearly doubling since 2014 (+99%, from £101,689 to £202,285).
• Cwmbran in Wales comes next with property prices increasing by 88% (£134,540 to £253,392).

Amanda Bryden, Head of Halifax Mortgages, said: “New Towns have played an important role over the years in helping to provide additional, affordable housing options across the UK. With the government’s ambitious plan to build a new generation of New Towns, our research shows that while they offer homeowners the potential to benefit from significant price growth, they also present attractive opportunities for first-time buyers. 

“It’s vital that a New Towns policy prioritises affordability and sustainability. Placing social and affordable housing options, energy-efficient buildings, green spaces, and accessible public transport at their core would give a clear signal to both investors and developers that these vibrant communities will not only address the current housing shortage, but also contribute to a more sustainable future.”
 

30 years of New Town house prices

Over the past three decades, the average price of a New Town property has risen by 441%, slightly lagging the average for the whole of the UK, where prices are up by 454%. However, some New Towns have seen property prices increase by much more.

• Crawley in the South East tops the list, with property prices rising by 543% since 1994, from £63,712 to £409,836.
• Craigavon in Northern Ireland is second and saw prices increase by 524% (£31,189 to £194,560).
• Hemel Hempstead in the South East experienced a 520% increase (£70,502 to £436,986).

More house for your money in a New Town

Today, in all but six New Towns, properties are typically being sold at a discount compared to the average price of the surrounding region.

Peterlee has the biggest gap, with its 2024 average house price of £127,853 being 41% below that of the North East as a whole (£218,228).

Peterborough comes next with properties costing 27% less than the East of England average (£292,103 vs £402,248).

Skelmersdale is also 27% below the average for the North West (£193,095 vs £264,362).

First-time buyer value

Several New Towns rank well on affordability for first-time buyers looking to take their first step onto the property ladder.

Peterlee leads the way, with its average first-time buyer price of £108,256, the cheapest among all New Towns. This is also 39% lower than the average first-time buyer price in the North East as a whole.

Washington, also in the North East, has a typical first-time buyer home cost of £119,625 (32% less than the wider region).

Skelmersdale in the North West has an average first-time buyer price of £146,527 (35% cheaper than the average for the wider region).