Here’s our top 10 reasons why the South West of England is the number one place for people to relocate from all parts of the UK.
1 Beaches:
As a nation, we love our beaches, whether it is for a family day out, water sports or just a walk with the dog on a nice day, and the South West has some of the best in the country.
There are 16 beaches in Devon and Cornwall that have been awarded the coveted Blue Flag award, so you know that you will be visiting a safe and clean environment with your family.
2 Moors:
If you haven’t visited one of the moors, then this should go on your ‘to do’ list. Exploring the area offers stunning panoramic views, wooded valleys and wild open spaces. There are walks to suit all abilities along with activities such as cycling, climbing, horse riding and fishing.
3 House Prices:
High on the list for people relocating to the South West is house prices. The region offers great value and many buyers who have moved from cities and towns around the UK are pleasantly surprised on how far their budget will stretch.
According to the UK House Price Index, the average price for a detached house in London (2017) was £897,788, whereas a similar property would have cost £371,870 in Devon or £343,409 in Cornwall.
4 Employment Opportunities:
The South West is also attracting people who can run their own businesses from anywhere. Faster broadband speeds and lifestyle are driving the migration to the region for people in search of a better-quality of life for their families.
There is a very wide range of employment opportunities in the South West, not surprisingly the area’s main employment is dominated by tourism. But it’s key workers – teachers and the NHS who are the next biggest employers.
5 Education:
The South West has an abundance of excellent schools and further education. As well as offering a number of leading grammar and private schools, it has two top universities in Exeter and Plymouth.
Primary schools are well catered for too and over subscription to local schools is rare with the majority of areas offering children a good education.
6 Weather:
The South West has widely been considered to have its own microclimate. The region experiences less extreme seasonal temperature changes and is known to have generally warmer temperatures all year round.
7 Lots to see and do:
We’ve picked some of the towns Baker Estates is building in to give you a run down on the local amenities.
Malborough/Salcombe: This popular seaside town attracts many of tourists every year for its water sports and leisure facilities. An attractive town with a celebrated history. The narrow, main street through the town is full of delightful and unique shops.
South Molton: The gateway to Exmoor, this town has a variety of individual shops, a wonderful market and a charm all of its own. With an award-winning museum, a heritage trail and, for the more daring, Rock & Rapid Adventures there is plenty to see and do.
Bridport: With its beautiful surroundings scenery, buzzing bars and restaurants, Bridport has been short listed by a national newspaper as one of the best places to live in Britain. The locations were selected for offering the best quality of life to the widest number of people.
Honiton: This lively market town is regarded as the antiques capital of the south west. Set on the banks of the River Otter it is located in the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and boasts many local beauty spots.
Callington: Located just 6 miles from the lovely Tamar Valley and 14 miles from Plymouth the main industries are now farming and tourism. The Callington mural project is unique to Cornwall. Amateur and professional artists have painted many walls in the town with a mixture of colourful murals.
Dartmouth: This beautiful historic town has numerous shops, cafes and restaurants that provide locals with a lifestyle hard to beat in the region. Whether its coastal walks or historical adventures, there is plenty to see and do in this fascinating town.
8 Quality of Life:
The South West offers a fantastic environment for family life and retirement living alike. There are low crime rates, good schools and an almost endless choice of activities. If you love the outdoors, fresh air (low pollution levels), the choice of coast or moors and great restaurants then you will love living in the South West.
9 Motorway network:
London to Devon 3hrs 34 mins via A303
Cardiff to Devon 1hr 56 mins via M5
Birmingham to Devon 2hrs 48 mins via M5
Southampton to Devon 2hrs 35 mins via the A35
Bristol to Devon 1hr 34 mins via M5he
10 Broadband:
More than 300,000 properties are set to benefit from a £250m project to improve broadband connections across the South West. Jurassic Fibre, which is leading the fibre-optic project, says it is specifically targeting rural communities instead of cities.
With the idea of more people working from home, it has never been a more exciting time to relocate and enjoy all the benefits of living in the South West.