Leading UK property website Rightmove has released new data showing that the interest in searches for overseas property has surged during lockdown.
If you’ve found yourself seriously toying with the prospect of buying a holiday home, contemplating a relocation, or dreaming of a trip abroad after your trip was cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it turns out that you’re very much not alone.
Research by Rightmove data analysts shows that searches for overseas property in May reached their highest point for the year and were up 33% compared to this time last year.
This followed the trend from April where overseas searches increased by 50% from March.
After an initial dip when lockdown first commenced, the countries seeing the biggest uplift in searches are Spain, France and Portugal.
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Searches for property in Spain were up 34% and in particular, the biggest surge was seen in searches for property on the island of Ibiza which was up a whopping 174% compared to last May.
It’s thought that this is thanks to the new Netflix series White Lines.
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White Lines is a 10-part Spanish/British thriller series which aired on Netflix last month.
The show follows a young woman visiting Ibiza to learn the truth about what happened to her brother – a Manchester DJ who disappeared on the Balearic Islands 20 years prior – and it received positive reviews from both critics and fans alike.
Kieran Byrne, owner of international estate agency, HomeEspaña in Spain, said: “After a significant dip in activity and enquiries in March and early April, when lockdown measures were first introduced in Spain and the UK, we’ve witnessed a gradual resurgence of interest towards the end of April, and this gathered pace throughout May.”
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“Of course, we’ve spoken to clients who are putting their plans on hold, waiting to see what life will be like post-coronavirus, which is totally understandable, but we’ve also spoken to new customers who had never previously thought about buying a property in Spain.”
“Being confined has made them reconsider their lives in cities and towns, as has the thought of returning to being crammed onto buses and trains, and they’ve concluded it would be preferable to be somewhere with more of an outdoor lifestyle, better weather, access to swimming pools and beaches.”
“Of course, we still don’t know how any of this translates into genuine interest or transactions”.
“We’re still not fully out of lockdown here in Spain – international flights haven’t resumed and we’re still in a period of uncertainty – but it does seem like there is a lot of new interest in people relocating or having a second home here”.
For more information on overseas property, visit the Rightmove website here.
Property
Inside the stunning Grade II-listed farmhouse in rural Wigan that’s got an actual MOAT around it
Emily Sergeant
It’s not every day you come across a residential moated house in Greater Manchester.
Yeah, we know they exist, we’re not that naive… but it’s hardly a common occurrence in our region in this day and age, is it? Let alone the country as a whole – especially ones that members of the public can just buy like they would do any normal house on the market and live out their fairytale fantasy dreams in.
That’s why you’ll have to forgive us for getting a bit perplexed when we came across Gidlow Hall, deep in the Wigan countryside (yes, that is a thing), on Rightmove.
Now, before you get carried away, unfortunately this house is sold – but that doesn’t mean we still can’t have a nosy inside, right?
This is Gidlow Hall / Credit: Jackson Stops
Gidlow Hall is described by estate agents as being an ‘enchanting’ five-bedroom moated house in a fairytale setting with beautiful views that dates all the way back to the 16th Century, and it’s been lovingly restored by the current owners while still preserving all its original character and charm.
The exceptional Grade II-listed property is set within about 7.41 acres of land, including landscaped gardens, its very-own paddock, and a large lake.
The house is textbook Tudor from the outside, but on the inside, it has evolved into a beautifully renovated residence with a long and rich history, and thanks to its heritage listing, the original character of the property has largely remained intact – with all modern interventions, like the bespoke hand-crafted kitchen and large side extension, seamlessly integrated.
The stunning Grade II-listed farmhouse in rural Wigan has an actual moat around it / Credit: Jackson Stops
Grand double doors from the side extension lead out to a stunning garden room, which has an original stone floor, and there’s also a large barrel-vaulted cellar underneath.
Then stepping upstairs, the house features a dual-aspect master bedroom with a vaulted ceiling, French doors that open to a terrace, a bespoke-fitted dressing room, and an ensuite, as well as four other generously proportioned bedrooms and a lovely family bathroom.
As mentioned, Gidlow Hall is just as impressive outside as it is inside… if anything, more impressive.
The residence is reached by a small no-through lane with an electrically gated entrance, and from this, a tree-lined sweeping drive leads to a stone bridge and moat that encircle the Hall’s parterre gardens and terrace.
As you can see, there truly is no other property like this currently on the market here in Greater Manchester, and although it’s already been spanned up, you can still view it online.
Strangeways regeneration plans finalised with thousands of new homes and ‘major’ 60-hectare urban park
Emily Sergeant
Plans to regenerate the Strangeways area of Manchester and Salford are set to be formally approved this week.
Following the success of Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Operation Vulcan enforcement programme, you may remember that a consultation was launched earlier this year to gather feedback on the draft framework showcasing the ‘vision’ for the 130-hectare city centre fringe area as a way of helping to guide future development.
Consultation feedback ‘strongly supported’ the regeneration of the area and the vision to create safe, vibrant, and sustainable communities.
Respondents stressed the need for ‘genuinely affordable’ homes, and urged that heritage buildings be preserved and celebrated as best as possible, while many wished to see the existing cultural venues in the area retained.
The framework was described as being a ‘pioneering collaboration’ between both Manchester City Council and Salford City Council.
Strangeways regeneration plans have been finalised / Credit: Manchester City Council
Councils hoped to ‘harness the potential’ of this cross-boundary regeneration opportunity – with the goal of supporting businesses in the area, attracting new enterprises, and developing significant new housing and commercial space.
It’s estimated that 7,000 new homes across seven neighbourhoods are to be built, alongside the creation of around 1.75m sqft of commercial space to potentially provide 4,500 new jobs.
The first developments within the Strangeways area are already underway, including the Brewery Gardens project by Clarion on Trinity Way, providing 505 new homes – 132 of which will be for social rent and 171 for shared ownership.
On top of this, the Strangeways Regeneration Framework also crucially includes the introduction of a major new 60-hectare urban park.
We have opened a consultation this week about the ambitious plans for Strangeways and Cambridge where we want to support existing businesses to thrive, create new jobs and build thousands of new homes – including lots of affordable housing.
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) March 26, 2025
Another crucial part of the framework sees Manchester City Council restate the case to the Government for the relocation of HMP Manchester, noting the regeneration opportunity presented by the site and the barrier to development that the prison currently presents.
“The formal adoption of this framework is a milestone that we will remember for Strangeways as we move from vision to delivery and the beginning of a long-term regeneration programme for this part of our city,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council.
Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor, added: “With strong community roots and a rich cultural heritage, this area is brimming with potential and together we can deliver transformational change creating new homes, jobs, and green spaces that reflect the aspirations of our residents.
“The development of the framework marks a significant step forward in our shared journey to transform the area into thriving, connected neighbourhoods.”
Emily Sergeant -
10th June 2020 
