Just seven miles from Darlington and 14 from Durham, and with the A1(M) just three miles away, The Oaklands offers fast access to Tyneside and Teesside. A ten-minute  bus trip links the development with the main shopping area of Newton Aycliffe, around a mile and a half away, and buses between Darlington, Durham and Bishop Auckland pass through the town. Newton Aycliffe Railway Station, a pleasant 20 minute walk from The Oaklands, is on the Tees Valley line with services to Bishop Auckland in the west and Saltburn, via Darlington, in the east. The journey to Darlington, from where the national intercity network can be accessed, takes 15 minutes by train and approximately 20 by bus. The shops around Central Avenue and the Thames Shopping Centre in Newton Aycliffe include Tesco and Aldi, Argos, Boots and other high street names interspersed with local traders. Peaseway Medical Centre, a half-hour walk from the development, houses a large GP practice and a pharmacy, and there is a dental surgery near the shopping precinct. There are also several schools in easy reach. The nearest primary, in Heighington village, was rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, while the closest secondary is Greenfield Community College, a specialist arts and science school with a strong academic record.

The nearby Oakleaf Sports Complex has a wide choice of indoor and outdoor facilities that include a golf course and driving range, squash and badminton, football, bowls, pilates and yoga classes. Woodham Golf and Country Club is three miles north of The Oaklands, and Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre incorporates two swimming pools and a gym. The building also houses the town’s library.