New Homes in Consett

Welcome to Consett

Whether you’re exploring country parks, visiting historic castles or enjoying some retail therapy nearby, Consett is a well-connected town with lots to see and do in the local area. If you’re on the lookout for good commuter links to Newcastle without compromising on rural living, a new home in Consett could be the right choice for you.

A quick history

The history of Consett is closely linked to lead mining and steelmaking, with the industries centring around the Derwent Valley throughout the centuries. The first blast furnaces were opened in the 1840s, and the town quickly thrived, going on to make the steel for the famous Blackpool Tower and British submarines. The industry was at its high point in the 1960s, and the Consett Steel Works employed thousands of locals until its closure in the 1980s.

Business and industry

Today Consett is home to a range of different employers, including Dunlop BTL and motorhome manufacturer Erwin Hymer Group. Other major businesses nearby include Greggs, Grainger Games and Virgin Money in Newcastle, and Northumbrian Water Group in Durham. 

Things to do in the area

Consett is surrounded by countryside, with Allensford Country Park, Derwent Gorge and Muggleswick Woods National Nature Reserve just a short drive away, and the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty within easy reach of the town.

For days out in the city, both Durham and Newcastle are close to Consett, where attractions include Durham Cathedral, Durham Climbing Centre, St James’s Park and intu Eldon Square. Other places of interest include the Empire Theatre, Consett Park, the National Trust’s Gibside, Broom House Farm and Forest, and Consett and District Golf Course.

Travel and commuting

Consett is well-connected by road via the A691 and A692, and although there’s no train station in the town, Newcastle and Durham stations are within easy reach.

Travelling by car, the journey to Durham takes just 25 minutes, while Newcastle city centre is only a 30 minute drive away. If you’re going to Edinburgh, the drive takes two hours 15 minutes from Consett, while the train journey takes just one hour 25 minutes from Newcastle. For journeys to London, the drive takes almost five hours while the train from Newcastle is much quicker with a journey time of three hours 10 minutes.

When you’re jetting off on holiday, you can get to Newcastle International Airport in just 30 minutes by car from your new home in Consett.