Overview
- Rightmove’s July analysis, published Sunday, August 23, found the fastest asking-price growth in affordable commuter towns around Glasgow and Manchester, with Falkirk leading at 13.5 percent growth and an average asking price of £183,596.
- Several wealthy commuter towns near London recorded the largest annual falls in newly listed asking prices, led by Haywards Heath (−4.8 percent), Maidenhead (−3.9 percent) and Bath (−3.8 percent).
- Across the six city areas studied (London, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff), average asking prices rose in Glasgow (2.9 percent), Manchester (1.8 percent) and Cardiff (1.4 percent) and fell in London (−3.1 percent), Bristol (−0.6 percent) and Birmingham (−0.6 percent).
- Because many of the fastest-growing commuter towns start from lower price bases, Rightmove found 11 of the top 15 growth locations had average asking prices below £250,000, while declines in affluent towns translated into nominal drops often measured in tens of thousands of pounds.
- The data cover newly listed asking prices for commuter areas around six cities rather than completed sales or a full national sample, so the findings show listing and demand shifts that may signal local opportunities for buyers and changing commuter preferences.