Hunting in the British countryside – for bargains

The price gap between cities and rural homes is closing. Arabella Youens finds the best spots

The gap between country and city house prices has started to close. In the years after the 2008 financial crisis, urban homes were in far higher demand, while country property seemed to have fallen out of fashion. But the pandemic has wholly overhauled the balance.

New working conditions and the impact of successive lockdowns have dramatically increased the appetite for rural living, and diminished the distance between the two markets.

Aneisha Beveridge, of Hamptons International estate agents, said this will continue until 2024 at least. But it comes laden with issues of affordability, especially for those set on their escape to the country.

“The pandemic accelerated the closing of the house price gap, particularly between London and rural parts of the country. This means that the budgets of ‘ townies’ shopping for houses in rural locations won’t go as far [as they would have done] in 2019,” said Ms Beveridge.

So where in the countryside can a buyer find pockets of value? Savills estate agents has taken average sale prices in England’s predominantly rural local authorities in the 12 months to May 2021 and compared them to their neighbours. These are the places that are noticeably cheaper.

CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE

Ampthill is a handsome Georgian market town packed with independent shops. From the Capability Browndesigned Ampthill Park, there are sweeping views across Marston Vale, home to a series of popular small villages including Marston Moretaine, Lidlington and Stewartby.

The average home was 17pc cheaper than neighbouring districts. Jade Gill and her husband, Sym, who moved to Houghton Conquest on June 30, were quick to spot the difference.

Mrs Gill, who runs the tuition agency ExpertEase, was brought up in Luton.

But the couple decided to look further north in search of better value.

“After doing some research, we found that we could get a four-bedroom house in central Bedfordshire for the same price as a three-bed in Hertfordshire or Buckinghamshire,” Mrs Gill said.

The pandemic was also key. The shift to working from home in the wake of the lockdowns has helped the couple – Mr Gill no longer needs to commute to London every day, which means he is happier to live further from his office.

“The reason why it’s so much cheaper here isn’t entirely clear.

Jade and Sym Gill bought in central Bedfordshire. Here, buyers save 17pc on the local average