New build price premiums hit 108% in parts of the UK

new build homes colchester essex

Research by national fast sale estate agent, Springbok Properties, has looked at the cost of opting for a new build across the UK property market, how this compares to existing housing stock and where is home to the highest new build property premiums.

Using the latest data from the Land Registry, Springbok found that the current average price of a new build property is £290,176, compared to £224,729 for existing properties, a mark up of 29%.

The highest premium was found in Scotland with new builds costing 41% more than existing homes, dropping to 36% in Wales, 27% in England and 25% in Northern Ireland.

While it may be expected that a brand new property will carry a higher price tag recent research found that 40% of new-build homeowners were unhappy with the quality of their property with snagging lists often finding as many as 100 issues with a brand new home.

The latest research from Springbok has revealed that in some areas of the country, home buyers are paying eye-watering premiums for new build homes when compared to the areas traditional housing stock, for a property that could be less than fit for purpose.

The worst is in Harlow in Essex where the average new build costs £551,089, 108% more than the average cost of £265,249 for existing stock.

Blaenau Gwent is the next worst area, with a 96% mark up between the new build price of £182,313 and the price of existing property (£92,814).

Gravesham in Kent ranks third with a 95% new build premium while Preston in Lancashire is also home to a new build premium of over 90%.

Rochford and Torfaen in Wales are both home to a premium of 88%, followed by Middlesbrough (85%) and West Dunbartonshire in Scotland (85%). Caerphilly and Merthyr Tydfil complete the top 10 worst areas for new build property price premiums in the UK at 81% and 80% respectively.

For once London home buyers aren’t the focus of bad news and on average the difference in price for a new build and an existing property in the capital is just 3%. Newham is the borough home to the largest gap at 38%, with Redbridge (35%) and Barking and Dagenham (33%) also ranking high.

Founder and CEO of Springbok Properties, Shepherd Ncube, commented:  

“While there are many new builds that will be delivered to the standard expected, the thought of forking out way above the odds for a property that falls way below standard is a nightmare scenario for the nation’s homebuyers.

As the figures demonstrate, in some areas, new build properties are going for a hefty market premium and this isn’t confined to one or two locations, it’s the length and breadth of Britain at a range of market values.

Of course, if there is a need for housing at a higher price band or quality in any area it should be built. However, one has to question the consistent failures of many property developers when delivering these homes to the standard promised while still charging such a high price compared to the rest of the market”

Area
New Build Average
Existing Stock Average
Difference
United Kingdom
£290,176
£224,729
29%
Scotland
£209,455
£148,124
41%
Northern Ireland
£162,760
£130,184
25%
England
£305,490
£241,226
27%
Wales
£215,497
£158,410
36%
Ranking by Biggest Premium UK Wide
Area
New Build Average
Existing Stock Average
Difference
Harlow
£551,089
£265,249
108%
Blaenau Gwent
£182,313
£92,814
96%
Gravesham
£537,276
£275,533
95%
Preston
£237,883
£124,700
91%
Rochford
£639,915
£340,095
88%
Torfaen
£269,431
£143,491
88%
Middlesbrough
£188,112
£101,541
85%
West Dunbartonshire
£182,672
£98,759
85%
Caerphilly
£242,079
£133,980
81%
Merthyr Tydfil
£180,264
£100,233
80%
Nuneaton and Bedworth
£303,310
£168,674
80%
Sunderland
£196,414
£109,887
79%
North Tyneside
£264,295
£148,294
78%
City of Aberdeen
£256,930
£147,031
75%
Rhondda Cynon Taf
£180,319
£103,885
74%
Halton
£242,396
£139,799
73%
Wigan
£221,330
£129,809
71%
North East Lincolnshire
£202,445
£118,740
70%
Exeter
£407,031
£239,805
70%
Knowsley
£210,375
£124,481
69%
Ranking by London Borough
Area
New Build Average
Existing Stock Average
Difference
Newham
£489,067
£354,096
38%
Redbridge
£542,955
£403,230
35%
Barking and Dagenham
£390,602
£294,557
33%
City of London
£845,504
£711,685
19%
Merton
£595,513
£504,258
18%
Havering
£395,854
£355,010
12%
City of Westminster
£1,055,804
£949,121
11%
Hackney
£626,569
£571,846
10%
Hillingdon
£443,828
£405,469
9%
Waltham Forest
£473,650
£433,637
9%
Sutton
£399,173
£369,394
8%
Lambeth
£537,600
£497,587
8%
Kingston upon Thames
£509,835
£472,622
8%
Greenwich
£403,142
£376,263
7%
Bromley
£456,244
£431,473
6%
Tower Hamlets
£453,984
£432,206
5%
Barnet
£525,590
£505,080
4%
Southwark
£491,517
£480,460
2%
Wandsworth
£581,296
£572,144
2%
Ealing
£472,840
£469,234
1%
Camden
£820,987
£817,362
0%
Lewisham
£402,561
£406,113
-1%
Brent
£469,558
£480,997
-2%
Bexley
£329,427
£338,642
-3%
Croydon
£352,003
£362,942
-3%
Enfield
£380,883
£393,861
-3%
Islington
£593,293
£628,053
-6%
Hounslow
£374,519
£402,312
-7%
Haringey
£493,368
£531,684
-7%
Hammersmith and Fulham
£639,196
£695,254
-8%
Harrow
£407,856
£451,344
-10%
Kensington and Chelsea
£1,126,526
£1,281,835
-12%
Richmond upon Thames
£549,185
£649,736
-15%
London
£484,341
£468,699
3%

 

Properganda PR

National and local media coverage for property businesses. Journo quotes delivered in minutes.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

First-time buyer enquiries fall 27% as borrowing costs rise

First-time buyer enquiries a quarter lower than last year as higher borrowing costs put moving plans on ice   The gap between housing supply and demand continues to widen as sales slow First-time buyer enquiries are a quarter (27 per cent)  lower than last year in the wake of the the Bank of England’s decision…
Read More →
Breaking News

Homes completing on Friday the 13th sell for less

With Friday the 13th fast approaching, new research from Homebuyer.Agency has revealed that homes completing on the supposedly unlucky date have sold for as much as £24,950 below the wider market median, while properties bearing the number 13 have also consistently commanded lower prices. Homebuyer.Agency analysed Land Registry price paid data across England and Wales…
Read More →
Breaking News

Surrey, Herts & Bucks named most exclusive markets

Surrey, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire have been named England’s most exclusive new-build property markets outside London, according to new research from UK Property Development (UKPD), with these counties boasting the highest proportions of new homes commanding asking prices of £1 million or more. UKPD analysed current new-build property listings across England using Rightmove data, before looking…
Read More →
Breaking News

Friday the 13th spooks home-movers

Rightmove analysis reveals that people avoid moving on Friday the 13th, despite Friday usually being the busiest day for home moves Analysis of Land Registry data going back to 1995 shows that Friday the 13th is the quietest Friday for home moves The 13th is also the quietest day of the month for home moves,…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

Section 21 reform divides landlords and tenants

Five months after Section 21 was abolished, landlords and tenants remain sharply divided over whether the reform was necessary, but both sides agree that good relationships and clear communication have the greatest influence on how secure a renter feels, according to new research from LRG. The Autumn 2026 Lettings Report, based on responses from 405…
Read More →
to let sign 2025
Breaking News

70% of landlords anticipate rent rise due to Autumn Budget

As landlord exodus threatens rental supply The latest research from LegalforLandlords has found that 70% of UK landlords are considering increasing rents following the Government’s latest property income tax changes, while almost half are considering selling properties or reducing their portfolios, raising concerns about the future availability and affordability of privately rented homes. LegalforLandlords commissioned…
Read More →