Home buyers choosing the 'good life' post Covid-19

Home buyers are choosing the 'good life' in the countryside post pandemic as house sales in rural locations such as Chapel-en-le-Frith have risen by 77 per cent over the past year.

That's according to North West based estate agents Gascoigne Halman.

Peter Higham, Managing Director at Gascoigne Halman, commented: "Our figures and feedback from our network of offices across the region tell us that people are eschewing busy towns in favour of more rural locations. 

"Lockdown has forced people to spend considerable amounts of time in their homes and we know that many have been craving more outdoor space with countryside walks on the doorstep." 

Other popular rural locations include Glossop, where sales have grown by 38 per cent compared to the same time last year.

Peter adds: “As with the popular TV comedy programme The Good Life, many of the home buyers we are speaking to are seeking to become more self-sufficient and move away from the hustle and bustle of living in big towns and cities.

“For those who have decided they can work from home and want to permanently enjoy the benefits of remote working, why not choose a beautiful countryside location.”

Being in proximity to the Peak District National Park, these rural locations provide buyers with the luxury of being close to beautiful countryside views and plentiful mountain walks yet remain within reach of busier towns and cities such as Manchester.

Peter concludes: "So, in summary, we’re witnessing a boost in the popularity of rural town and village life amongst our home buyers. Our latest sales figures are incredibly buoyant and really put the beautiful North West countryside on the map for city dwellers looking to adjust their lifestyles.

"COVID-19 isn’t going anywhere soon, and I see this trend continuing well in 2021 and beyond." 

Main image:

A view of Chapel-en-le-Frith from Cowlow Lane. Photo: Peter Barr / Geograph.