Prices across Nuneaton have plateaued over the last couple of years, says Gilders, but developers are moving full steam ahead. Close to St Nicholas Park is Barratt Homes’ The Long Shoot development. The same developer is building St James’ Gate just north of the station in Weddington, while Redrow is building Heritage Park at the top of Higham Lane.
Homes at all of these are available with Help to Buy and demand from first-time buyers is strong, says Gilders, but there’s also activity from second-steppers. “Previously people would spend £80,000 to £90,000 on an extension, but now they’re moving to a bigger house for less,” he says. It’s certainly a reversal of what’s currently happening in London.
60 to 89 minutes’ commute: Stafford
The capital’s commuters haven’t discovered Stafford yet. “I don’t come across them to be honest,” says Ryan Clutton of Connells. That could be down to the commute, as the train journey time is 77 minutes and the season ticket cost is £12,296, the highest price of all the towns featured in this series.
Still, it has the second-cheapest homes. Properties here cost just £170,496, according to Savills, less than half the average for this time zone in the commuter belt.
That doesn’t mean it’s hard to find grand period stock. The Rowley Park neighbourhood to the south of the station offers large, traditional houses on gated roads and with access to a private park, says Clutton.