Affectionately dubbed the Garden of England, Kent combines historic charm with colourful coastal towns and an easy commute to the capital. So it’s no wonder that new builds in Kent tempt buyers and renters alike. But how do you narrow down your options? Our verified residents have rated the region’s developers, giving you a flavour of life in our Top 10 before you commit.
New build homes in Kent: Top 10 developmentsSo, which new homes in Kent match your unique requirements? Let’s find out with our ranking of the best-rated new developments from across this popular south-eastern county.
*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.
Located in Gillingham, The Kell is a Build to Rent development managed by Way of Life. Reviewed into top place for Kent, it offers 192 new apartments with a mix of one, two or three bedrooms. The development is also pet-friendly, and residents have access to an onsite team with 24/7 CCTV security, secure bike storage, and private balconies with views over Chatham Docks.
Our reviewers describe The Kell as safe and secure, with ‘user-friendly’ facilities and a great location. They also love the waterfront view and being 5 minutes from a grill & bar and a grocery store. The Dockside shopping centre is only 20 minutes on foot.
Read reviews and details of The Kell, ME4
In 2nd place, Holborough Lakes is a new development of two-bedroom apartments and three and four-bedroom homes in rural Kent. Set around a series of freshwater lakes and attractive landscaping, it offers an excellent range of facilities. All homes benefit from spacious open plan living areas and private gardens with lawns and patios.
One resident told us that they love the ‘beautiful design’ and having access to double parking spaces and a gym. They also enjoy spotting wildlife during their lakeside walks and relaxing on a balcony overlooking the lake in the summer.
Read reviews and details of Holborough Lakes, ME6
At number 3, Kingsmead is a development of two to four-bedroom homes in Faversham, Kent. The houses are built to a high standard with modern living in mind. Residents describe the design of the properties as incorporating traditional and modern styles. They also love living in a quiet location a few minutes from town, which is always a hive of activity and offers many pubs and restaurants to choose from.
Read reviews and details of Kingsmead, ME13
Jumping from number 10 to 4 in under a year is another Bellway Homes development. Oakley Park sits in Edenbridge, Kent. Consisting of one and two-bedroom apartments and two to five-bedroom houses, residents here benefit from Edenbridge town centre just a 15 minutes’ walk away and Edenbridge train station five minutes’ walk away.
Read reviews and details of Oakley Park, TN8
Another climber – jumping from 7th to 5th – is Rochester Riverside, a major regeneration project from Countryside and Hyde. Set in a superb riverside setting in the historic town of Rochester, the development has easy access to local amenities and transport links.
Read reviews and details of Rochester Riverside, ME1
In 6th place, Hinxhill Park by Bellway Homes sits in Willesborough, just a 10 minutes’ drive from Ashford and its many amenities. Comprising two, three, four and five-bedroom homes, residents benefit from a variety of transport links ideal for those commuting to Ashford, Folkestone and London.
Read reviews and details of Hinxhill Park, TN24
Taking 7th place is Saxon Fields by Pentland Homes, a new community located in Canterbury. The development offers Art Deco inspired two, three and four-bedroom homes. There are excellent facilities on the doorstep, including shops for everyday necessities, restaurants, a new school, a cricket pitch and children’s play park.
Read reviews and details of Saxon Fields, CT1
A relative newcomer to the list, Watling Place is ranked 8th and is set between Rainham and Sittingbourne. The development offers a collection of new homes in the small historic village of Newington, which boasts a range of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes.
Read reviews and details of Watling Place, ME9
Victory Pier rounds off our list for Kent. Sitting in Gillingham, this development offers a range of apartments located on the waterfront of an expanding community. In addition, residents benefit from access to private residents’ gym & Wi-Fi lounge. As well as this Victory Pier is a mixed residential and retail scheme offering shops on your doorstep. There are also convenient rail connections to Central London.
Read reviews and details of Victory Pier, ME7
Where is Kent?Tucked away in the south-eastern corner of England, the home county of Kent faces the English Channel along its coastline. You’ll find Greater London to the north-west, with Essex just across the River Thames estuary to the north. East Sussex lies to the south-west and Surrey to the west.
Living in KentRenowned for its orchards, hop gardens, strawberries and hazelnuts, and with close links to London, Kent has a well-to-do reputation brushed with romance. The county town is Maidstone, where much of the region’s produce is showcased in its major agricultural market centre. Just 38 miles from London, the town also hosts a range of cultural events and excellent shopping amenities alongside beautiful parks and river cruises.
Head further east to find Canterbury – an ancient pilgrimage site immortalised by Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Claiming the oldest cathedral in England, it’s still an important spiritual mecca to this day. And with Roman walls and medieval gateways encircling a cobbled centre and charming timber buildings, the city possesses a magical atmosphere that’s hard to beat.
Kent also has plenty of coastline, providing lovely scenery, entertainment, and impromptu family holidays. In the south, Folkestone combines Victorian architecture with arcades and pavilions, while nearby Dover offers cliff-top walks and excursions to France. Heading north, choose from the seafood haven of Whitstable, the resorts of Margate and Ramsgate, or the historic town of Sandwich, which boasts nature reserves and world-class golf courses.
There’s lots of stunning countryside to explore too, including the Kent Downs AONB and The High Weald AONB. The Vale of Holmesdale is also home to most of the county’s 26 castles.
Education-wise, Kent County Council still favours a selective system based on the eleven-plus, with students given places at either a secondary modern or a grammar school. Meanwhile, the county’s four universities provide a comprehensive range of further education courses and qualifications.
Transport in KentWith much of Kent lying within the London commuter belt, it benefits from good transport links by road and rail. The Romans connected the area’s ports to the capital, with the A2, B2068, A257, and A28 taking over where they left off.
In addition, the M2 runs from Medway to Faversham and the M20 from Swanley to Folkestone. The M25 also extends into Kent, from Westerham to the Dartford Crossing. If you’re looking to visit France, just catch a ferry over to Calais from Dover or drive to Coquelles via the Eurotunnel from Folkestone.
Just commuting? Catch a high-speed train from Canterbury West station to get to London St Pancras in 55 minutes. From Sevenoaks, you’ll arrive in Charing Cross in only 35 minutes. Maidstone’s rail links can also deliver you to St Pancras or London Victoria in just over an hour.
Kent property pricesRecent data from Rightmove shows the average price for property in Kent was £453,000 in August 2024. Prices in Kent were steady throughout 2023 and remain so in 2024. At £337,000, flats remain great value for money. Meanwhile, terraced houses achieved £408,000, and semi-detached homes £458,000.
A recent market summary by Home.co.uk calculated the average rental price to be around £1,560 per calendar month (PCM). This is higher than the national average, which is about £1,308 (including London). Smaller one-bedroom properties in Kent were let for about £1,000 per month, with five-bedroom homes securing £2,750 PCM on average. Note that these figures are recalculated daily based on current market listings.
Now you have an overview of each development in our Top 10, it’s time to delve a little deeper into what Kent has to offer. Click on our area guide below to read every honest review and learn more about our transparency rating system.
Kent is one of the most popular counties in England, with a population of 1.8 million people. It has some really beautiful scenery and many great amenities for families that are looking to buy their first home or move up into a nicer place. Read more about Kent
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.