New-build homes in Great Britain now command an average 30% price premium over existing properties, according to research from UK Property Development — up 6.2 percentage points since 2016. In England alone the premium is 28.9%, up from 23.5% a decade ago. Regional gaps vary sharply: the North East has the largest premium at 60%, followed by Scotland at 55.4% (the biggest decade-long widening, up 8.3 points from 47.1%), Wales at 44.7%, the East Midlands at 41.8%, and Yorkshire and the Humber at 40.6%. London is the only region where new-build homes are cheaper than existing ones — 10.5% below in 2026, versus an 8.5% discount in 2016.
Andy Morrison, director at UK Property Development, said new-build homes “continue to attract a premium in most parts of Great Britain, reflecting factors such as modern specifications, energy efficiency, and buyer demand for homes requiring less immediate maintenance.” He attributed the widening premium chiefly to growing buyer concern over energy efficiency — both household bills and climate impact — with the relative value buyers place on new-build stock strengthening across almost every region over the past decade.
References
PropertyWire — New-build premium reaches 30% across Great Britain
