Market towns show best rural growth says Halifax

Posted: 03 Nov 2006 10:53:34 GMT

Nearly three-quarters of market towns in England have higher property prices than their more sedate immediate neighbours, a Halifax survey has claimed

Nearly three-quarters of market towns in England have higher property prices than their more sedate immediate neighbours, a Halifax survey has claimed.

Market towns – judged as being rural towns with populations of between 3,000 and 30,000, also showed higher rates of price growth, said the Annual Halifax Market Town Review.

Top of the league was Stanhope in County Durham with property up 152 per cent since 2001, followed by Alford in Lincolnshire (147 per cent) and Saltburn in County Durham (145 per cent).

Nine of the ten top risers were outside the south of England, with the exception of Helston in Cornwall with house prices rising 138 per cent over the period.

"Home buyers continue to be attracted to the high quality of life offered by market towns and are prepared to pay a premium to live there," said Colin Kemp of Halifax.

"Most market towns have higher house prices than other towns in their county and the majority have also seen stronger house price growth than the English average over the past five years."

© Houseladder Ltd