On effect?

than the other areas,” says Mike Gray of Dedman Gray. “People are suddenly recognising it and realising that it is lovely seaside so close to London. It is 38 miles away, but then it always has been.” Up 10-15 per cent: East Sussex, Rutland, Northamptonshire, Solihull, Norfolk, Warwickshire, York, Trafford, Cardiff The picture in this fourth ripple is more varied. “York punches above its weight because it is a cathedral city with a strong university, brilliant rail connections, and you can buy a town house here for 10 per cent of what it costs in central London,” says Tim Blenkin of Blenkin & Co. “We had a five-year slump but it turned in January last year.” Northamptonshire feels it is right on the cusp. “Things are picking up at the bottom end of the market, but it is nothing to do with London. It is just that people are feeling a bit more optimistic about the economy,” says Quentin Jackson-Stops at Jackson-Stops & Staff. Up 5-10 per cent: Devon, Coventry, Cornwall, Herefordshire, Derbyshire “It has arrived,” says MarkWiggin of Strutt & Parker on the borders of Herefordshire and Shropshire. “But we have been waiting for it for a long time. “I would say that we only felt it in April, when the number of viewings per week rose from 20 to 50. That is about the level it was at in 2007. However, he is cautious. “It is still tough. There are still price reductions. Salaries aren’t going up here and the cost of living is, so where will the cash come from to fuel any price increases?” Close to the 2009 trough: Sheffield, Newcastle-uponTyne, North Tyneside “The whole of the central belt across the north of England, theWelsh Valleys and the North East is still suffering from the long-term economic effects of the loss of our industrial base, not just the recession,” says Neal Hudson of Savills. “The exception is York, but also Trafford where the market is as lively as it is in the South East. There is a lot of wealth and young buyers are climbing on the ladder.” area, Property price guide, area by Feeling the London effect: Cambridge Lodge, Bath, with canal-side gardens, 24 viewings in the first 10 days, £1.25m, Savills (01225 474550). In the warm zone: Six-bedroom house to modernise in Telford Terrace, York, overlooking allotments and racecourse, £395,000, had 50 viewings and has already gone to best and final bids, Savills (01904 617820). Getting cooler: Hopswood, Orleton, Shropshire, was on the market at £599,950 in 2012, reduced to £570,000, then £535,000 and is now under offer, Strutt & Parker (01584 873711). On the cusp: The Old Rectory, Brockhall, Northamptonshire, was on at £1.5m last year, now at £1.35m, Jackson-Stops & Staff (01604 632991).