Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Grade II*-listed Park Hill is a brutalist estate 10 minutes from the city centre, built between 1957 and 1961, that was the inspiration for the award-winning musical Standing at the Sky’s Edge. The vast structure has been redeveloped over the past two decades, with the second phase now being released. A two-bedroom home in Rhodes Mews, a row of eight two-storey townhouses under the apartments, has exposed concrete walls that partition the kitchen from the living space. There is a private terrace overlooking communal gardens. £310,000. The Modern House, 020 3795 5920

Peckham, London

Above the bustling high street is a first-floor studio behind a black brick facade. The 30.7 sq metre home, at the front of the building, comprises a living area-cum-bedroom and a kitchen, separated by a bathroom. Small but stylish, it is light-filled because of the trio of deep windows, and comes with a private portion of a communal courtyard. The achingly fashionable location is the big selling point: Peckham Levels is on the doorstep, as is the popular Frank’s Cafe rooftop bar. Peckham Rye railway station is a few minutes’ walk away. £305,000. The Modern House, 020 3795 5920

Lewisham, London

On 13 July a one-bed show home opens in the new Waterway building at the Square Roots development. The collection of 141 one-, two- and three-bedroom flats, each with a private balcony or terrace, is located in what’s being dubbed (by marketers) as the “new riverside quarter”, alongside the Ravensbourne River. There are communal grounds, play areas, a residents’ terrace and cycle storage, as well as shops and offices. On the second floor is a one-bedroom apartment for sale via shared ownership. Minimum 25% share, £103,750. Square Roots, 0333 666 2535

Earls Barton, Northamptonshire

Plenty of first-time buyers are skipping the flat stage and buying bigger and later when housing a growing family and many are looking to commuter towns and villages to get more space for their money. This village sits between Wellingborough (with trains into London St Pancras) and Northampton (with trains into London Euston) and has a nursery, a primary school, a doctors’ surgery and a string of restaurants. There is a three-storey, three-bedroom period house for sale with a conservatory extension and patio garden. £295,000. Jackson Stops, 01604 632 991

Solihull, West Midlands

The 60 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments in the Princes Gate development in the heart of Solihull are now 85% sold. Some of the apartments have balconies but all residents have space in the car park and access to the communal roof terrace. It is close to the railway station, which runs into Birmingham Snow Hill and London Marylebone, as well as the employment hubs of Solihull hospital and the college and university centre. There are 607 hectares (1,500 acres) of parkland nearby, as well as the Tudor Grange leisure centre. £295,000. Savills, 0121 200 4567