Pandemic shift helps put town in demand
A WELSH town has moved 166 places up a prestigious property guide to be in the top 10 places in the UK to live.
The coastal town of Kidwelly is ranked fifth in Garrington’s Best Places to Live in 2022 research report.
In 2021, the Carmarthenshire town that is ideally situated as a centre for touring west Wales, the Pembrokeshire National Park, the Gower Peninsula and the Brecon Beacons was in 171st place.
The researchers say that the pandemic has changed the property market, pointing out that millions of people are now keen to continue working remotely at least some of the time, meaning that many are “reassessing what they want from their home – and this shift is transforming Britain’s property market for good”.
Just seven of the top 20 locations of 2021 remain there this year, although the spa town of Bath retains the number one position.
In Wales, the research has found that Tenby and Porthmadog are the second and third best places to live.
A spokesman for Garrington said: “What is clear from our Index is that changing buyer demands, lifestyle choices and societal shifts all have a role in determining what locations top the buyer wish lists.”
The research found that Kidwelly ranked 223 out of 1372 for natural beauty, and 66th for quality of life. It also found that the average family home costs less than £350,000.
Garrington are buying agents with coverage across the UK, and the survey has looked at average prices per square foot achieved for property sales in each area over the past year.
They have calculated the average price of a family home of around 1,500 sqft and then looked at homes for different budget levels, including where an average family home costs less than £350,000
For prime purchases, the coastal resort of Fowey, Cornwall, is in second spot. Lewes retains third position in this category, with Winchester, Henley-on-thames and Sevenoaks also retaining top 10 positions.
The market towns of Arundel, Farnham and West Malling, along with the famous pebble beaches of the culturally vibrant Brighton and
Hove, make up the top 10.
Half of the top 10 destinations for 2022 are located in the south west of England.
The current population of Kidwelly, which is around 10 miles from Llanelli, is approximately 3,000 with some 30,000 tourists visiting annually.
The name Kidwelly is thought to be very old. The earliest form of the name, ‘Cetgueli’, is recorded by the monk, Nennius, writing in the 9th century. The town and castle were established by the invading Normans during the 12th century.