Every moment counts
ASWE navigate out of lockdown many of us are still trying to work out how far we can move from major towns and cities to get more space and property for our money. But with a gradual return to offices, the guidance is to be realistic about commute times, even if flexible working becomes a reality.
“Working from home full-time is unlikely to be the norm in the months and years to come,” says Stacks Property Search regional director Charlie Rearden.
He agrees that adding 30 minutes or so to a commute can mean huge savings and a better lifestyle but warns: “Already the growing popularity of areas that offer 1.5 or even two-hour train journeys into London is having an impact on prices and supply.
“If you’re thinking along these lines, don’t think you’re the only one who’s caught on.”
Relocating to East Anglia, Gloucestershire and theWest Country is popular but Rearden suggests counties where prices are more reasonable.
“The East Midlands is a largely untapped swathe of longer-commute gorgeousness,” he says. “Don’t allow prejudices to get in the way of exploring the beautiful countryside of Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire.”
You can get to London viaWorksop, Nottingham or Derby in one hour 40 minutes, or from Leicester in one hour 20 minutes and from Nuneaton in one hour 15 minutes.
Not that everybody wants to commute to London. Rachel Stanley and James Johnson moved to their new three-bedroom house in north-west Leicestershire rather than living in Birmingham, where Rachel works.
They took advantage of Crest Nicholson’s part-buy / part-rent ownership scheme, Home Reach, to get on the property ladder at Potter’s Grange, a development of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes near the historic market town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch.
Previously Rachel had been living with her son Arlo, and James with his son Joel, at their parents’ homes. “With such a big outdoor space and open-plan layout, it’s an ideal family home and there is plenty of room for the boys to play in,” says Rachel, who can catch a train to Birmingham from Burton-upon-Trent or drive via the M42.
“The flexible design has also been really beneficial during lockdown as we’ve transformed the spare room into a study whilst I work from home.”
Prices at Potter’s Grange start from £112,875 for a two-bedroom home with part exchange and Home Reach available (01530 689000; crestnicholson.com).
But by far the most popular move over the past 12 months has been out of London. Marlene andVittorio Guerriero were renting a one-bedroom flat near Tower Bridge when they made the move to Cambridgeshire.
They bought a three-bedroom house at Wintringham, near St Neots, a new mixeduse development that will eventually provide 2,800 homes.A new primary school has already opened, with plans for shops, cafes, a gym and health centre.
Crucially, for the couple’s commute to London, there is a station just 10 minutes away with trains to St Pancras. “After living in a small apartment in front of a busy road, moving somewhere spacious with a garden, a garage, plenty of outdoor space and light feels like a world apart,” says Marlene.
Three-bedroom homes are for sale from £354,750 (01480 877689; morrishomes. co.uk). Find out more at wintringham.org.
Meanwhile Stacks Property Search advises researching the price of travel, journey time to stations, parking and frequency of trains before relocating.
“Don’t be tempted to go so far that you dread the prospect of your commute,” says Rearden. “Temper the grand plans with sense-checking and a good dose of reality.”