Not sure whether you want classic rolling English countryside or windswept coastal scenes? Why not just have both? Our list of the best new build homes in East Sussex shows you can have your cake and eat it too.
NOTE: We know it says Top 5 in the title. However, in recent months HomeViews has received a flood of outstanding new developments being listed in the area. That’s why we’ve expanded the list into a Top 10. Enjoy!
New build homes in East Sussex: highest-rated developments
Let’s go ahead and look at some of the best new builds in East Sussex. These are the 10 top-rated property developments on HomeViews, as determined by verified residents sharing their views on where they live.
*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how recently reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. More recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance.
Quickly hitting the top of the table for East Sussex, The Blockhouse is situated in the heart of Brighton, with 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments and 3 bedroom townhouses available to rent. With flexible tenancies, the option of furnished or unfurnished and a variety of homes and layouts available, renting at The Blockhouse gives you the choice and control to live the way you want.
One happy renter says: “The building is very modern and has a lot of facilities for tenant use such as the gym & study rooms. I found these to be very useful as I am a university student & often have people coming for group projects & meetings. The terrace area is also beautiful when the weather is good.”
Our 2nd top spot for East Sussex goes to York & Elder, a BTR development in Brighton. Sandwiched between the South Downs and the sea, York & Elder offers studio, 1, 2 or 3 bedroom apartments. Residents benefit from pet friendly apartments, flexible contracts, extra storage space and private terraces. Additionally, the apartments can be furnished or unfurnished, or easily adaptable for accessibility. There is also an on-site concierge and maintenance team on hand 24/7, for whatever you may need, from taking in parcels to planning events to help you get to know your neighbours.
The bronze medal goes to Hove Gardens, a boutique collection of studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom rental apartments. Close to Hove Station, this BTR development benefits from being just a short stroll from the sea. Additionally, Hove Gardens boasts sky terraces, courtyard gardens, work and social spaces and an abundance of perks from 24/7 concierge to flexible contracts.
We’re sticking to Hove for number 4. Moda, Hove Central is located just a 12-minute walk from Hove Station, which will have you in central Brighton in just 4 minutes. Take a walk along the famous seafront and explore the very best of what the city has to offer, right on your doorstep. Moda, Hove Central combines an abundance of landscaped gardens, industry leading amenities and a 24hr concierge. Pet friendly, no hidden fees.
Not the Merchant of Venice, but the Merchant of Brighton! This exceptional new development is located in the heart of the city, with easy access to the seafront and the main road of Edward Street.
One delighted resident says: “This is a great building with wonderful amenities including the gym – all basic equipment provided, coworking space which is an ample size and cinema room which is a real plus! The building management team are very friendly and welcoming. Perfect for young professionals.”
Taking 6th place in East Sussex, Ambersey Green is a Latimer development of homes, though this one sits on the edge of the market town of Hailsham, which is also the site of our number one ranked development at present. This puts it just a short drive from Eastbourne and the South Coast. Residents say that the houses here are well designed, with plenty of storage and living space.
Our 7th top-ranked development for East Sussex is Burfield Grange. Situated just over a mile from Hailsham town centre, this is a development that combines style with convenience. The development offers a range of attractive and assorted house designs, which are intelligently spaced with plenty of greenery and wide roads and accessways to give residents breathing room. Hailsham itself is an attractive market town offering a sizeable range of shops, supermarkets, pubs and restaurants.
In 8th place, Home X is part of the exciting regeneration of the Preston Barracks in central Brighton. Once fully complete, Home X will offer 369 new homes for private sale, affordable rent and shared ownership.
One positive review states: “Great design particularly in relation to heat and energy. On site concierge and security gives a very good sense of safety.”
Brighton features again on our list, with The Courtyard Apartments in 9th place. This is a new development by Latimer, situated on a former market site in the new quarter on Circus St near the centre of the city. Residents love the location, as it puts an all-new food and nightlife district right on their doorstep. There’s plenty of praise for the open flow layout and design of homes here, and the extra attentive and helpful management team.
Rounding off the list we have Preston Road in 10th. A Shared Ownership scheme – a development of mixture of new build and refurbishment, with the refurbished Victorian villas housing 14 apartments and six new 3 bedroom family houses being constructed in the back gardens of the existing villas. Two existing Victorian villas are completely refurbished, a new apartment block built, and new family houses designed to complement the existing villas.
East Sussex is a small county in the region of South East England. Tucked neatly in between West Sussex, Surrey and Kent, East Sussex enjoys a long stretch of English Channel coastline. This is where most of its main towns can be found.
Why live in East Sussex?
Even though it’s not a large county, East Sussex packs natural beauty into practically every square mile. For starters, most of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is located here, and it’s utterly gorgeous. This 1,461km2 slice of English heritage is worth exploring to the fullest.
Heading south, the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs are another perfect postcard scene showing off the county’s ability to inspire awe in nature. This is just one high point of many, as the entire East Sussex coastline is full of similar splendour.
As for places to live in East Sussex, consider its idyllic villages for starters. lfriston, Ditchling and Fletching are just three examples of the quintessential rustic English villages that dot the East Sussex landscape.
If you want something a bit livelier, you only have to look towards the likes of Eastbourne, Hastings, Newhaven and, of course, the dazzling city of Brighton. Frequently called the coolest, hippest city in the country, Brighton is heaven for those who like independent coffee shops, funky clothes, avant-garde architecture and cuisine, and basically all things “trending”.
What are average property prices in East Sussex like?
Given how desirable it is, it’s not surprising that this county comes with a big price tag. In December 2024, Rightmove recorded the East Sussex house price average as £418,000. This is £116,000 more expensive than the average house price for England, recorded as £302,000 in December 2023 by the ONS. It’s also a full £133,000 higher than the average for the UK as a whole, cited in the same report.
It’s pricey, but with a location like this, there’s still outstanding value for money to be had in East Sussex.
We hope you enjoyed our roundup of the top-ranked new homes in East Sussex. Be sure to check back on this list as we update it. There are always new developments and reviews coming online, presenting plenty of new and exciting property prospects.
East Sussex is a county in the southeast of England with a coastline that has many beautiful cliffs and salt marshes which are a haven for birdlife. There are also plenty of coastal towns with stunning beaches such as Bexhill or Hastings that offer Read more about East Sussex
HomeViews is the only independent review platform for residential developments in the UK. Prospective buyers and tenants use it to make an informed decision on where to live based on insights from carefully verified resident reviews. Part of Rightmove since February 2024, we’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to give residents a voice, recognise high performers and to help improve standards across the industry.
