Two Greater Manchester towns have been named among the “most desirable” places to live in Britain, according to a new ranking.
There’s no doubt the property market in our region has been booming over the last decade or so, with average house prices seeming to rise year-on-year, and more and more areas becoming viewed as the places to live.
You may remember that earlier on this year, two unexpected Greater Manchester areas were named ‘property hotspots’ for 2023 by Rightmove based on last year’s data, while only a couple of months back, neighbourhoods such as Bramhall, Broadheath, and Bowdon were identified as being the places where houses prices were shooting up the most.
Trafford has always been one of the most affluent and sought-after areas to live in Greater Manchester, but now it seems that it’s not just within the region that the borough is proving popular, as it also appears to be a heavy-hitter nationwide too.
Well, that’s if a new list of the best places to live in Britain by Savills is anything to go by.
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🏡 High-earners in search of good schools and attractive surroundings are pushing up prices in these hotspots
Using the latest data from the most recent census, the real estate company has compiled a list – as reported by the Telegraph – of what it considers to be the top 50 “most desirable” towns in Britain, based of several key factors including state of health, cost of homes, employment figures and job opportunities, and the qualifications that residents hold.
And two Trafford towns have made the cut to earn themselves a coveted spot in the top 20 – Hale and Altrincham.
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As the only two North West representatives in the whole of the top 20, the leafy Altrincham village suburb of Hale – which is a favourite among A-listers, professional footballers, and high-earning families – has taken sixth spot on the list, while the town of Altrincham itself has bagged a respectable 19th place.
The rest of the top 20 list is, unsurprisingly, dominated by areas in the Home Counties.
Top 20 ‘most desirable’ towns in Britain
Harpenden, Hertfordshire
Cobham, Surrey
Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
Chorleywood, Bukcinghamshire
Amersham, Buckinghamshire
Hale, Greater Manchester
Esher, Surrey
Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire
Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire
St Albans, Hertfordshire
Virginia Water, Surrey
Sevenoaks, Kent
West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire
Ashtead, Surrey
Farnham, Surrey
Cambridge
Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
North Ascot, Berkshire
Altrincham, Greater Manchester
Weybridge, Surrey
Harpenden in Hertfordshire took the top spot, followed by Cobham in Surrey, and then Beaconsfield, Chorleywood, and Amersham, all in Buckinghamshire, rounding out the top five.
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Hale and Altrincham have made the top 20 list / Credit: David Dixon (via Geograph) | Atrincham Market (via Facebook)
The rest of the top 20 is made up of a series of other Surrey suburbs, as well as neighbourhoods in Oxfordshire, Kent, and Berkshire featuring – with the only other area even slightly close to the north being West Bridgford in Nottinghamshire.
Lucian Cook, who is head of residential research for Savills, told The Telegraph that each of the areas named within the top 20 – including Hale and Altrincham – are not there because they are tourist or second-home hotspots.
“They are aspirational, affluent places that attract incoming wealth with good schools and a strong quality of housing stock where residents are economically active who are building up their property and personal wealth,” he explained.
Greater Manchester city named UK’s ‘loneliest’ with highest percentage of people living alone
Emily Sergeant
One of Greater Manchester’s cities has been named the ‘loneliest’ in the UK, according to the number of single occupants.
Living alone used to be seen as somewhat of a short-term ‘phase’, often between living in family homes or house shares, but today it’s a completely different story, as solo living is fast becoming a defining feature of urban Britain.
From high-rise studio flats, to compact commuter apartments, single-occupancy living is reshaping the character of many UK cities.
While for some, living alone simply represents independence and flexibility, for others it’s more a case of necessity – with wider demographic data apparently showing single-occupancy linked to student populations, delayed family formation, career mobility, and rising house prices that make shared living less practical.
But, with all things considered then, which towns and cities in the UK have the most solo occupants? The ‘loneliest’ cities, if you will.
A new study by Tarotoo set out to identify where solo living is most concentrated across the UK, with researchers analysing 58 cities, examining the number of studio and one-bedroom homes listed for sale or rent per 10,000 residents using Rightmove data – and it was Salford that came out on top.
Salford has been named the UK’s ‘loneliest’ with the highest percentage of people living alone / Credit: Hilverd Reker (via Wikimedia Commons)
That’s right, Salford tops the ranking with a striking 158.08 single-occupancy homes per 10,000 people, which is more than double the figure of the city in second place, and also vastly ahead of the national average.
The city’s rapid regeneration over the past decade, particularly around MediaCity and the wider Greater Manchester area, is said to be a huge contributing factor it in taking the top spot, as this has driven a boom in purpose-built apartments.
In fact, according to ONS data, Salford has seen one of the fastest rates of population growth among young professionals in the North West.
Other northern cities in the top 20 include Lancaster and Leeds, at fourth and fifth place respectively, and outside the top 20 is where you’ll find other northern cities like Liverpool, Chester, York, and Sheffield – with Manchester itself coming in at number 39 on the list.
At the opposite end of the ranking, Newport records just 2.59 single-occupancy homes per 10,000 people, which is the lowest figure in the study, and it’s then followed by Glasgow (3.29), Swansea (3.78), Dundee (4.33), and Stoke-on-Trent (4.51).
Featured Image – Patrick Perkins (via Unsplash)
Property
Inside the £1m historic terrace for sale on one of Greater Manchester’s most sought-after streets
Emily Sergeant
A Grade II-listed property forming part of one of Greater Manchester’s most historic and sought-after rows has gone on the market.
And if you happen to have £1 million you’re willing to part with, then it could be yours.
Now, of course, as we always say before we write about these stunning homes, it goes without saying that the vast majority of us won’t have this kind of money just chilling in bank accounts right now, but if like us, you’ve got no shame in admitting you love looking at houses you can’t afford in places you’ll probably never live, then allow us to introduce you to this absolute beauty.
This five-bedroom end terraced property sits pretty on The Downs – which is by far one of the most recognisable row of houses in Altrincham – and it’s wrapped in the distinguished architecture of the 1830s, both on the outside and the inside.
With accommodations beautifully arranged over four floors, estate agents describe the home as being simply ‘exceptional’.
Benefitting from being just a stone’s throw from the thriving market town of Altrincham and everything that makes it so beloved, as well being only a 10-minute stroll to Hale village, this Grade II-listed gem manages to blend contemporary comfort with the timeless elegance of its historic 19th century surroundings.
Some of the property’s stand-out features have to be – and trust us, it’s hard to narrow down – the open-plan lounge and dining space that flows seamlessly into the stylish kitchen, and outside to the private outdoor terrace, and an additional enclosed walled garden.
There’s three generous-sized double bedrooms on the first floor of the home, while the attic level houses a tranquil en-suite escape at the top.
This £1m historic terrace is for sale on one of Greater Manchester’s most sought-after rows / Credit: Clifford Saunt Homes
The newly converted basement level provides an ‘impressive’ extra dimension to the home, according to estate agents, as well as the fifth and final bedroom – ideal for guests.
And, of course, the location of the home itself is a huge selling point for prospective buyers.
Altrincham is often named as being one of the best places to live in the UK, and for being perfect for families, in particular, thanks to its easy access to a wide range of amenities, excellent local schooling options, transport links into Greater Manchester and beyond, and for having green spaces on the doorstep.
This property is currently on the market with Altrincham-based estate agents, Clifford Saunt Homes, for Offers Over £1 million, and if you fancy taking a closer look, then you can contact the agents to arrange a viewing.
Or you could just take the cheaper route instead and have a nosy at the Rightmove link here.
Emily Sergeant -
23rd June 2023 
