Sales boom as homebuyers head to our countryside to flee Covid-19
...BUT WHEN THEY GET THERE...IT’S A CORONAVIRUS HOTSPOT
PEOPLE have been fleeing to the Derbyshire countryside in an attempt to escape the pandemic, leading to a boom in house sales.
High Peak has become the fourth most popular area in the country for people who have decided to flee the coronavirus and set up life in more quiet surroundings.
But the news comes at a time when the area is struggling to maintain an outbreak of the deadly virus, leading local councillors to demand stricter restrictions to try and curb the spread.
Analysis from the property website Zoopla has also revealed there has been a surge in buyers seeking out the good life in North Yorkshire, Herefordshire, North Devon and the Malvern Hills.
Zoopla analysed data on the number of houses sold in certain areas between April and September this year and compared it to the same period of time in 2019.
According to the statistics, there has been a 38% increase in the number of houses sold in High Peak between April and September compared with the same period last year.
This makes it the fourth most indemand countryside market for home buyers, behind Ryedale in North Yorkshire which had the highest increase in sales, seeing a rise of more than two thirds.
While moving out of the city is often associated with better value for money, in many areas buyers are paying a premium to live in a more
rural location, Zoopla said.
For example, a prospective homeowner could expect to pay around £229,000 for a three-bedroom semidetached property in High Peak, which is £54,000 more expensive than a similar property in Sheffield.
High Peak is in the heart of the Peak District National Park, featuring well-known rural landmarks such as Mam Tor, Blue John Cavern and Ladybower Reservoir.
Councillor Anthony McKeown, leader of High Peak Borough Coun
cil, said while many will “love to see new residents here” there is a delicate balance to strike between fulfilling the needs of the locals and of newcomers.
In particular, he said the high rate of coronavirus infections in the area means that both “old residents and new need to stick with the messaging from the Government”.
Cllr McKeown said: “It’s something we keep a monitor on because in terms of looking at where new houses are going to be built obviously it all plays a part.
“For smaller villages it can sometimes raise concerns around affordability, but in general we can understand why people are wanting to come here.
“We’ve got a great mix of lovely small villages and a mix of facilities that are available to folk and smaller towns have a good sense of community, we can understand why they want to come.”
Speaking on the rising rate of Covid-19 infections in High Peak, Cllr McKeown said the figures “are a bit mixed” with some areas, such as Glossopdale, recording more cases than others.
He added: “The slight change in the tier category for High Peak as a whole reflects that difference in the numbers, but it is something that along with Public Health England we are keeping a close watch on, we’d prefer the whole of High Peak to be in a lower tier than have one bit in a higher tier.
“It’s simpler and better, but to do that it needs both new and old residents to stick with messaging from the Government, that means washing hands, keeping a good distance and wearing a mask.
“It’s always a mixed one, you love to see new residents here, but to a certain extent, but the more that come from outside the less space there is for the folk that are already here.
“It’s a good place for raising a family, but it’s about trying to get the right mix of housing so that we can accommodate people as many people as possible.”