Bang for Yer’ Buck – Where to Move for More Space for your Money
Currently viewing potential new houses? Take a look around – every single square foot within the average home costs a pretty staggering £211. Ouch. And with house prices continuing their steady rise (with increases of 4.5% over the past 12 months to November 2017), this figure is only set to rise further.
With these plain terrifying figures and facts in mind, here we take a look at the UK locations that offer the most bang for your hard-earned buck.
The Least Expensive Areas
According to Zoopla’s 2017 Report, it is Blaenau Gwent, in South Wales, that offers the most square footage pound for pound. Here’s the full rundown…
| Area | 2017 Price Per Sq Ft | 2012 Price Per Sq Ft | Price Difference | % Change |
| Blaenau Gwent | £79 | £72 | £7 | 10% |
| Burnley | £87 | £89 | -£2 | -3% |
| East Ayrshire | £91 | £79 | £12 | 16% |
| Merthyr Tudful | £94 | £80 | £14 | 18% |
| North Ayrshire | £96 | £95 | £1 | 1% |
| Neath Port Talbot | £97 | £89 | £8 | 9% |
| Na h-Eileanan an Iar | £97 | £85 | £12 | 14% |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | £98 | £88 | £10 | 11% |
| Hyndburn | £99 | £100 | -£1 | -1% |
| County Durham | £101 | £103 | -£2 | -2% |
The Flip Side of the Coin: The Most Expensive Areas in the UK (Excluding London)
With cheaper square footage, comes compromise. It’s no surprise then that many of the locations listed above are short on amenities or, moreover, access to thriving job markets. So let’s take a look at the opposite end of the spectrum – the most expensive regions in the UK – the top of which comes in at an eye-watering £495 per square foot.
| Area | 2017 Price Per Sq Ft | 2012 Price Per Sq Ft | Price Difference | % Change |
| Elmbridge | £495 | £364 | £131 | 36% |
| St. Albans | £489 | £346 | £143 | 41% |
| Three Rivers | £458 | £295 | £163 | 55% |
| Hertsmere | £455 | £300 | £155 | 51% |
| Epsom and Ewell | £450 | £318 | £132 | 41% |
| Cambridge | £442 | £306 | £136 | 45% |
| South Bucks | £433 | £311 | £122 | 39% |
| Chiltern | £433 | £300 | £133 | 44% |
| Mole Valley | £428 | £320 | £108 | 34% |
| Windsor and Maidenhead | £426 | £293 | £133 | 45% |
York and the Great North-South Divide
Despite the future promise of HS2 breaking down the North-South Divide, we’re still some way off this railway feat turning into a reality. For now at least, it seems that the property market still reflects the North-South Divide, with Yorkshire sitting in the middle of the road, with a square foot average of £146.
| Region | 2017 Price Per Sq Ft | 2012 Price Per Sq Ft | Price Difference | % Change |
| London | £496 | £321 | £175 | 54% |
| South East | £309 | £227 | £82 | 36% |
| East of England | £269 | £195 | £74 | 38% |
| South West | £223 | £182 | £41 | 23% |
| West Midlands | £173 | £147 | £26 | 18% |
| East Midlands | £164 | £136 | £28 | 20% |
| North West | £147 | £132 | £15 | 11% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £146 | £133 | £13 | 10% |
| Scotland | £137 | £123 | £14 | 11% |
| Wales | £137 | £125 | £12 | 9% |
| North East | £124 | £120 | £4 | 3% |
“The home counties have performed very well since 2012 in addition to some London boroughs, such as Newham and Waltham Forest, which have seen increases of over 80 per cent per square foot. This is no doubt in part due to the significant investment regenerating the area for the London Olympics.
“However, if you’re looking to maximise the amount of space possible on a budget, you should look to the Midlands and North to ensure best value for money.”
- Lawrence Hall, Zoopla Spokesperson
Whether you’re set to make the most of the cheaper property prices in the North, or are making a move within York, we’ll be right here for you once your bags are packed and you’re good to go.
07931 849 112 | 01904 375 995 | Get your removals quote online | admin@vanmanyork.co.uk
