The rise and rise of Birmingham
The Rise and Rise of Birmingham
Birmingham has become a hotspot for companies in a wide range of sectors looking to relocate all or part of their businesses with names such as Goldman Sachs, BT, PwC, BBC3, KPMG, BDO, HSBC and Deutsche Bank moving to the city.
George Barkes of Stacks Property Search says, “The city’s central location with excellent connections to both London (HS2 being relevant here) and the rest of the UK is a significant factor as is the work/life environment that the city and its surrounds offers, and also the diversity that the city brings. The profile of Birmingham’s businesses is reassuring for other companies who are considering a move. Banks are continuing to move people out of high rent London real estate.
“The associated relocation of existing high-spending employees, and the growing demand from those who recognise Birmingham as a city that represents attractive employment opportunities, has led to an increase in buyers looking for property in the city itself, and also in the surrounding areas.”
So where are Birmingham’s commuter hotspots? And what does the city and its surroundings have to offer apart from a growing raft of attractive jobs?
George Barkes says, “For Londoners, the Midlands can sound distant and rather industrial. But the towns and cities are packed with fantastic culture and are surrounded by glorious countryside with beautiful properties at considerably lower prices than London’s commuter belt can offer. A London fix can be easily obtained with quick journey times into the capital. When complete HS2 will take you into central London in 45 minutes. Birmingham Airport is another huge advantage; easy to get to, and a huge range of destinations.
“Commuting into Birmingham is a breeze. Trains take you into the heart of the city (either New Street or Moor Street) from where it’s an easy walk to the business areas. An hour’s train commute can take you to some amazing places, and the whole process is a great deal less attritional than commuting into London.
“The Chiltern Line is a good route to start exploring. Trains from Warwick Parkway or Leamington Spa take just over 30 minutes into Birmingham, and there are numerous attractive villages, Claverdon, Lapworth and Rowington are good examples, within a fifteen-minute drive of the station. Large family houses with enough land for a pony start at not much more than £1m.
Rowington is just 15 miles south of Birmingham, 11 miles from Birmingham Airport, 14 miles from Stratford upon Avon. Marylebone is 69 minutes by train from Warwick Parkway.
“Claverdon, just three miles from Henley-in-Arden, is a popular and pretty village with a primary school, church, community store, tennis club, pubs and doctor’s surgery. The nearby Ardencote Country Club has full leisure facilities.
“The beautiful market town of Henley in Arden is a strong commuter area, and Ullenhall, just outside Henley in Arden is popular with some very large houses and an easy thirty minute drive into Birmingham.
“Trains from Worcester to New Street take 45 mins, and there are some lovely quiet rural villages within an easy drive of the station. Feckenham is a good example with two good pubs and a shop. Less expensive than villages slightly further east, it’s at least 25% cheaper than the Cotswolds.”
Charlie Rearden of Stacks Property Search in Rutland highlights the areas around Market Harborough (one hour to Birmingham), Oakham (1.5 hours), and Melton Mowbray (one hour) as fantastic places for Birmingham commuters. He says, “They are all in breathtakingly beautiful parts of the country, with hilly grassland and gorgeous villages where five bedroom houses can be found for under £1.5m.
“North of Melton Mowbray is the beautiful Vale of Belvoir where beautiful family homes can be found in villages such as Waltham on the Wold, Stapleford, and Whissendine. Five bedroom houses with ten acres can be found for under £1.5m in this area.
Stacks Property Search, 01594 842880 / www.stacks.co.uk
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For more information, jpgs and interviews, contact Amanda MacCaw, 01386 700068 / 07977 238175 / amanda@wildmaccaw.co.uk
