With most of Wilmington and central New Hanover County developed, builders and developers have turned their attention to surrounding communities for large, planned developments.

Pender County’s Scotts Hill and Hampstead and Brunswick County’s Leland and Shallotte areas are already seeing big jumps in development and subsequent population growth. Planning committees have approved even more projects lately, so we rounded up some of the major residential developments slated to break ground (or expand to new phases) in the coming years.

Here are the major residential developments coming to the Wilmington Area:

Pender County

Blake Farm, Scotts Hill

Developers have had plans drawn for Blake Farm for years now, but the first phases are just now underway. 

This 1,300-acre property in Scotts Hill will bring more homes and apartments to an area just minutes from Porters Neck. Trask Land will develop this property with 88 single-family homes, 240 multifamily garden apartments and 200 senior multifamily apartments. Amenities will include an events center, 40,000-square foot YWCA with recreational fields, a restaurant and convenience store.

Headwaters, Hampstead

Developers have squared off with residents for years to curb the number of proposed units at Headwaters. Residents argue a dramatic increase in population on this road would require the pending Hampstead Bypass to be completed. Meanwhile, developers have pushed to start the project regardless. This project is expected to break ground this year with Evolve Companies. Plans include 24 acres of development with commercial spaces and close to 300 apartment units.

Silo Ridge, Pender County

This development along the mostly rural Sidbury Road will bring hundreds of townhomes, single-family homes and amenities. The 74-acre site could see more than 300 units, 141 townhomes and 175 single-family homes. 

Salters Haven, Hampstead

With many homes already built or under construction, this master-planned development has amenities all focused around life on the water. A boat slip, 75-boat slip marina and clubhouse pool are all part of the package here. More than 300 home sites are available for purchase to build a custom home. Check out Salters Haven here.

Brunswick County

Bell Swamp, Winnabow

Roughly 50 acres of land between Bolivia and Leland, near Winnabow, plans to bring 139 single-family homes and 90 townhomes to the growing area.

River Tide Farms, Winnabow

This multi-phased planned development was approved for the Winnabow area and will add close to 155 single-family homes to a 50-acre tract of land off U.S. 17. 

Hood Creek Landing, Leland

Finally, just north of Leland, this project will bring 128 single-family homes to the area off Mt. Mystery Road on 76 acres of land.

Interested in moving to one of these areas? You can read more about Hampstead here.