Property

Who were the winners and losers of Greater Manchester’s property market boom in 2020?

Manchester-based conveyancing specialist JMW Solicitors LLP has compared Google Trends data from July 2019 to July 2020.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 27th May 2021

New research has revealed who the real “winners and losers” were during Greater Manchester’s unprecedented property boom in 2020.

Bryn, Radcliffe, Cadishead, Hulme and Moss Side have all emerged as some of the hottest areas in the region, according to data compiled by Manchester-based conveyancing specialist JMW Solicitors LLP.

By comparing Google Trends data from July 2019 to July 2020, JMW found that searches for homes for sale in Bryn – a sought-after area of Ashton-in-Makerfield in Wigan – had increased by 179%, from 140 to a whopping 390. 

Radcliffe (132%), Cadishead (125%), Hulme (100%) and Moss Side (100%) all showed similar increases, as the property market surged following the first lockdown.

Bryn – a sought-after area of Ashton-in-Makerfield in Wigan – tops the list / Credit: JMW Solicitors LLP

“The unprecedented impact and disruption of the coronavirus pandemic on all aspects of life has resulted in many people choosing to re-evaluate their priorities.” said Andrew Garvie, Head of Real Estate Residential from JMW Solicitors LLP.

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“With more people spending more time indoors than ever before due to the lockdown, it’s little wonder that thousands of families have chosen to change their living arrangements. 

“Greater Manchester was no exception to the property market boom that was noted across the UK after the first lockdown, with thousands of searches carried out among prospective homeowners looking to relocate.”

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“Thousands of families have chosen to change their living arrangements.” / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

While the vast majority of areas across Greater Manchester recorded an increase in demand amid the national property market boom, others have seen their popularity dwindle, with Google searches for properties in some areas remaining stagnant despite the lift. 

Aspull, Rusholme, Northenden and Kearsley each gained the same number of searches in July 2019 as they did in July 2020, meaning they experienced 0% growth amid the busier period.

The good news is that nowhere in Greater Manchester, where data was available, experienced a reduction in popularity during this time. 

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Andrew Garvie added: “While it is interesting to see that many more urban spots, including the usually popular Fallowfield, saw no growth following the first lockdown of 2020, we are seeing a rise in people moving to the outskirts of the city, possibly in search of a quieter life with more outdoor space. 

“The pandemic certainly brought about a shift in the type of properties people were searching for, and we can only expect this quest for larger homes with gardens in quieter spots to continue well into the future.”

Nowhere in Greater Manchester experienced a reduction in popularity / Credit: JMW Solicitors LLP

Looking at the situation nationally, house prices across the UK hit record highs in 2020, despite the economic downturn as a result of widespread restrictions.

According to Halifax’s mortgage-tracking index, house prices increased by 7.6% in the year to November 2020, while Nationwide’s index pointed to a 6.5% rise and similarly, Rightmove estimated that asking prices had jumped up by 6.6% in the 12 months to December.

The Office for National Statistics’ transaction data also pinpointed a 5.4% increase to October. 

You can find more information on the research via JMW Solicitors LLP’s website.

Property

Inside the stunning £10m Cheshire mansion with an indoor pool and tennis court

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

An absolutely breathtaking Georgian mansion set among picturesque grounds is currently on the market in Cheshire.

The only thing is, you’ll just need the small matter of £10 million before you can call it yours.

Of course, it goes without saying that the vast majority of people reading this article won’t have £10 million just sitting in their bank account right now, and that properties of this size and stature are not the kind we’ll ever get to call home.

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 stunner.

Take a look inside Whirley Hall.

A stunning mansion with an indoor pool and a tennis court has gone on the market in Cheshire for £10 million / Credit: Jackson Stops

Located in Over Alderley – which is one of Cheshire‘s many affluent and sought-after villages, known for combining the best of rural living, while still being conveniently close to a wide range of amenities, excellent local schools, and transport links into Greater Manchester, the rest of the North West, and beyond – this eight-bedroom home has so much to offer prospective buyers.

Dating back to the 1670s, this four-storey former residence of the Birtles and Hibbert families is a beautifully-conceived Grade II-listed home set in what is arguably one of the area’s best locations.

Estate agents say this property is truly “exquisite”, not only for its Georgian architecture, but also for its contemporary leisure suite, five-acres of glorious gardens, two separate cottages, and further 56-acres of surrounding land.

“Countless” original features can be found inside the property.

The property has been renovated to the highest of standards throughout / Credit: Jackson Stops

All of the brickwork, windows, and fine plasterwork have been “meticulously restored” to complement the property’s striking interiors.

With a layout described as “inviting”, and the property completed to a “luxurious” material specification, the home is said to be a lesson in modern elegance, while still being the most relaxed and comfortable it could be, with all the natural light enhanced and living space utilised.

Some of the property’s stand-out features include a bespoke kitchen, four ensuite bedroom suites, each with their own dressing rooms, a state-of-the-art leisure suite with an indoor pool, spa, steam room, and gym, and its very-own tennis court set within the grounds.

With 56-acres of grounds, and its own tennis court, the outside is just as impressive as the inside / Credit: Jackson Stops

If the property wasn’t already impressive enough on the inside, its equally as impressive when you step outside too.

As well as the approximately five-acres of landscaped gardens, orchard, and a pond, and the approximately 56.29-acres of attached parkland, paddocks, woodland, and lakes, the property also has a steel-framed agricultural barn in its grounds, as well as a number of outbuildings – including a garden store and pottery studio.

The property also comes with an extensive driveway and covered parking for around four vehicles.

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Whirley Hall is currently on the market with the Alderley Edge branch of local estate agents, Jackson Stops, for a whopping £10 million (Offers in Excess of), and if you fancy taking a closer look, then you can contact the property company to arrange a viewing.

Or you could just take the cheaper route instead and have a nosey at the Rightmove link here.

Featured Image – Jackson Stops

Property

Major changes have been made to what Greater Manchester households can recycle

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Major changes have been made to what households across Greater Manchester can now stick into their recycling bins.

In case you weren’t aware, this week is National Recycling Week, which is a national effort focused on rescuing items that can be recycled, and in a bid to properly mark the occasion, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has announced that residents across the region will now be able to recycle a wider range of plastic items in their household mixed recycling bin.

This is all thanks to upgrades in Greater Manchester’s recycling facilities, and to the recent contract extension with SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK.

From this week, plastic pots and tubs used for things like yoghurt, soup, cosmetics, butter, and laundry powder, plastic trays containing raw and cooked meat, and plastic fruit and veg punnets, can now all be put in the mixed recycling bin.

These can now all join items like plastic bottles, glass jars, food tins and drinks cans, aerosols, and foil for the first time.

Despite these recent facilities upgrades, plastic films like crisp packets, pet food pouches, and carrier bags, still cannot be recycled in our region.

For now, you can just can throw plastic films into your household bin, where they’ll be burned to generate electricity for the region, however, GMCA has assured residents that it is planning to collect these types of plastic for recycling “in the future”.

“These upgrades will keep up our momentum on recycling,” explained Cllr Tom Ross, who is the Portfolio Lead for Waste and Recycling at GMCA.

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“It’ll give us time to build our new, cutting-edge materials recovery centre in Manchester while supporting residents to recycle more easily.”

Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons

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