Section 09

Where London is growing: a guide to new-home areas

Last reviewed October 30, 2026

Most of London's new single-family homes, townhouses and low-rise condos are going up at the edges of the city, while most new high-rises are downtown. Each growth area has its own character, commute and stage of development. Here's an overview, plus the questions worth asking anywhere you're considering buying new.

Southwest London

The southwest has been one of London's most active areas for new construction. It includes communities around Lambeth (a former village with its own main street), Talbot Village, and newer subdivisions along Southdale Road, Wonderland Road South and Colonel Talbot Road.

• Draws: quick access to Highways 401 and 402, big-box shopping along Wonderland Road, newer schools and parks, and Lambeth's small-town feel.
• Consider: distance to downtown and the north-end hospitals and university, construction traffic in active phases, and whether schools are built yet or students are temporarily bussed.

North and northwest London

North of Fanshawe Park Road, communities like Sunningdale, Fox Hollow and the areas around Hyde Park Road have added many new homes, from townhouses to larger detached homes.

• Draws: proximity to Masonville, Western University and University Hospital, plenty of north-end shopping, and some of the city's larger new homes.
• Consider: rush-hour traffic on north–south roads, a longer drive to the 401, and the timing of planned road widenings and community amenities.

Southeast London

The southeast, including Summerside and the area around Highbury Avenue and the 401, has seen steady new development of family homes and townhouses.

• Draws: fast access to the 401 for commuters heading east toward Woodstock, Kitchener and the GTA, and proximity to south-end employment areas and Victoria Hospital.
• Consider: distance from the north-end amenities, and what's planned on nearby undeveloped land, whether residential, commercial or industrial.

East London

New development in the east is more scattered, including infill and some newer subdivisions near the city's edge and around Fanshawe College.

• Draws: often more accessible price points, proximity to Fanshawe College and the airport, and access to the 401 via Highbury Avenue.
• Consider: the specific street and surrounding land uses, which vary more here than in planned subdivisions.

Downtown and infill

Downtown and the main corridors have most of London's new apartment-style condos and rental towers, along with infill townhouses on former commercial sites. If you want new construction and walkability, this is where to look.

Beyond the city limits

Nearby communities in Middlesex County and Elgin County, such as Komoka–Kilworth, Ilderton, Dorchester and St. Thomas, also have significant new construction, often with larger lots. They're outside the scope of this guide, but worth knowing about if you're comparing options. Commutes, property taxes, services and school boards all differ.

Questions to ask about any growth area

1. What's planned next door? Check the City of London's official plan, zoning and development application maps for nearby vacant land.
2. Where will the kids go to school? New subdivisions are sometimes assigned to a school farther away until a local school is built. Check with the Thames Valley District School Board and London District Catholic School Board.
3. When will amenities arrive? Parks, trails, shops and transit routes often lag years behind the first homes.
4. How long will construction continue around you? Later phases can mean several years of construction traffic and noise.
5. What's the commute really like? Drive it at rush hour, from the actual street.
6. How do resale homes in earlier phases perform? Ask an agent to pull sales from the established parts of the same community. It's a useful reality check on new-home pricing.

Is the edge of the city a good investment?

New suburban areas tend to fill in and mature over time: trees grow, schools open, shops arrive and transit routes extend. Many of today's established neighbourhoods were "the edge of town" a few decades ago. But there are no guarantees, and in the short term, new homes in an active area compete with the builder's own new inventory when you resell. Buy for how you'll live in the home, and treat appreciation as a bonus.