Many of the UK’s major regional towns and cities are undergoing significant regeneration, ideal for buyers looking to invest in new-build property.
For investors seeking a new-build property opportunity, it can be useful to hone in on the areas where major development is underway. Not only can this mean a greater range of property options springing up, but it tends to come hand-in-hand with infrastructure improvements in the area, with more amenities and businesses coming to the location.
For those looking for the cities with the strongest new-build property supply, the top locations identified by new research from easyMoney are Liverpool and Manchester. Newly built stock accounted for 13.8% of listings in Liverpool in the first quarter of this year, while the figure was 13% for Manchester.
These were followed by Aberdeen (9.5%), Edinburgh (9.1%) and London (6.2%), all areas where there are ample new developments springing up to boost the housing stock.
Interestingly, it was Manchester and Liverpool that featured at the top of easyMoney’s findings when it came to the locations that had seen the biggest annual rise in new-build property stock. Manchester’s annual growth rate was 2.2%, followed by Southampton with 1.8%, and then Liverpool which had a rise of 1%.
Nottingham (0.5%) and Swansea (0.1%) also saw an annual increase in supply, providing more opportunities to invest in new-build homes.
Above the UK average
These locations are well ahead of the UK average, according to easyMoney, which found that across the country, new stock levels had actually fallen annually in the first quarter of this year to 0.5%, with the total new-build count coming to 7% of all market listings.
While year-on-year demand for those looking to invest in new-build properties has fallen slightly on average by 0.1%, the picture is different when comparing the quarterly figures. easyMoney’s research showed a 1.8% increase in buyer demand between Q4 2023 and Q1 2024, which the organisation believes could be a sign of a “boom” in the sector.
easyMoney chief executive Jason Ferrando says: “We’re seeing positive signs that buyer demand is returning to the new-build market after a couple of difficult economic years, but it seems that a recent quarterly boost is not enough to ease the mind of housebuilders who are continuing to keep their cards close to their chest until they can have utmost confidence that demand is strong enough to justify opening the tap on new-build supply.
“Confidence is riding high in the UK property market at the moment. It has weathered a difficult storm and come out of the other side largely unscathed, so as the market starts to bustle into Spring and Summer, we fully expect new-build supply to start increasing.”
Why invest in new-build property?
Investing in a new-build, particularly off-plan, comes with numerous benefits, whether you’re looking to live in the property yourself or rent it out.
Financially, there are a number of incentives on offer to those who invest in new-build properties, from green mortgage products offering favourable rates, to developers offering “early bird” discounts for those who secure at a preliminary stage of the build off-plan. This method can also mean a greater return in the long run for the buyer, as the capital appreciation is likely to be greater.
Another major advantage is the higher energy efficiency ratings new-builds tend to come with. Although legally the rules around minimum energy performance certificate (EPC) ratings have changed, energy efficiency remains extremely important to both buyers and tenants, making it a sought-after feature of a home.
Buying without a chain is another advantage if you invest in new-build property, which can be beneficial whether you’re a homeowner or a property investors, as this can speed up the process. It also offers a blank canvas, ideal if you want to put your stamp on the property, or if you’re looking for something neutral and appealing to the maximum range of tenants.
If you’re looking to invest in new-build property in some of the UK’s best performing cities, get in touch with BuyAssociation today.