The Guardian recently reported ‘Escaping the madness’: steep rise in Londoners moving to northern England as cities such as Newcastle, Sheffield and Leeds see fastest increases in people seeking better quality of life.
New figures showcase the popularity of northern England which has more than doubled since 2014.
In 2009 only 1% of people leaving London bought or rented homes in the north, in 2019 that figure reached 13%, data from the Countrywide network of estate and lettings agents shows.
Comment
James Forrester, managing director of StripeHomes, said: “It’s fantastic to see people wanting to come and live in Newcastle.
“We are the happiest place in the UK and combining that with the quality of life and the nightlife it’s clear to see why we’re seeing people flock to Newcastle.
“Now is the time to invest in Newcastle as all the data and trends are indicating we are expecting a significant upturn and the opportunity to get ahead of others will begin to peak in the coming years.
“As someone who lives and breathes the region blended with our knowledge of property it ensures we’re developing in the right locations such as our Quayside View Studios.”
Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne is experiencing one of the fastest rises amongst other northern cities in the number of escapees arriving from the capital, according to the Office for National Statistics – this indicates a shift east of the London escape routes to Manchester.
In 2018 London lost numbers through internal migration, with 340,498 residents leaving for other parts of the UK, while 237,270 people arrived from elsewhere in the UK, ONS figures showed.
Newcastle has now seen a recorded 5% increase, and this is expected to rise over the next five years.
What’s driving people to the north?
- Dramatically cheaper housing – the ratio between house prices and income is 5.8 in Newcastle but 12.9 in London.
- Quality of life – the slower, less work-focused and healthier lifestyle is also driving decisions to escape the London madness.
- Infrastructure such as HS2 – With the green light for the £100bn HS2 high-speed rail line now going ahead we will see cuts in travel times to northern cities.
- Housing costs in the north – the average house price last year was £475,000 in London compared to £155,000 in Newcastle.
Attracting investment
Municipal leaders are capitalising on the trend. Newcastle city council is attracting more employers to move out of London, offering considerably cheaper office rents, and the prospect of graduates from its two major universities with over 100,000 students.
In a bid to raise the cities profile to investors and future residents Newcastle is pushing ahead with plans for a new landmark on Quayside – a giant ferris wheel taller than the London Eye, the “Whey Aye”.
The city will be attracting businesses to the new 24-acre Helix science district focusing on green technology and solutions for the ageing population as well as a 12,500 seater arena complex.
Journalist Lucy Campbell said the following about Newcastle
“Creative and unpretentious, the city has a vibrant food, drink and arts scene. Boasting a completely regenerated shopping centre in Eldon Square and with loads of trendy craft ale spots, mini golf courses and axe-throwing bars springing up, Newcastle’s bustling city centre has become increasingly upmarket.
“The historic Bigg Market area, once known for disorderly behaviour, has had a multimillion pound makeover and now has modish bars, businesses and restaurants among the old heritage buildings.”
You can read the original article from The Guardian here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/feb/14/rising-tide-of-londoners-moving-to-northern-england
