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With an average property price almost 30% lower than the rest of the country, a range of housing options to fit any specification and great investment opportunities, relocating to Yorkshire is the smart move
From cottages in secluded rural villages to chic, urban city centre apartments, family properties with a garden and a garage, through to red brick terraces, there is something for every requirement and every taste. And it’s good value too: the average house price in West Yorkshire is just over £160,000. That’s £70,000 less than the national average.
The quality of life in Leeds, along with the fantastic employment opportunities available, has attracted thousands of new residents in the last few years. This has caused a subsequent boom in property development, from pioneering new builds to sympathetically restored Victorian architecture. This is most evident in the city centre, where new developments are popping up all the time, from the waterside apartments at Clarence Dock to restored mills like Roberts Wharf, and the towering edifice that is Bridgewater Place. This boom in property building also means that there are some fantastic investment opportunities out there for people looking to buy in Leeds, as well as some great bargains for those looking to rent. As Ruth Oliver of LS1 Properties explains, “There is a high standard of quality throughout the city centre”.
However, for those wishing to relocate to a property with green and pleasant surroundings, a peaceful and community orientated atmosphere and lots of space, whilst retaining easy access to the hustle and bustle of the city centre, the range of suburban and regional options around Leeds are sure to impress.
Area profiles : Where to buy ?
In hotspots such as Chapel Allerton you can find a range of great properties for less than £230,000 — whether you want a plush apartment or a flexible family home — and you'll still have fantastic access to local restaurants and shops. Even better, it's less than three miles from the city centre.
Whether you are guided by price, space, views, accessibility, quality or all of the above, you will find it all in this diverse city and its surrounding area.
With so much choice it can be hard to know how to even begin finding a new home. Nell Frizzell reveals five property hotspots
City centre
With the cosmopolitan, 24-hour buzz of galleries, cafes, clubs and restaurants on your doorstep, why wouldn’t you live in town? With no commute, no expensive taxi fares and no end to the choice of properties, it’s little wonder that city living has really taken off over the last decade. “Ten to fifteen years ago the city centre was full of professionals who relocated or even commuted from London” explains Ruth Oliver of LS1. “But now there is a huge range of people living in the city centre. You get people bringing up families, young professionals, students and graduates who have decided to stay in the city. The infrastructure is all there with supermarkets and a doctor’s surgery in the city centre as well as all the leisure facilities you’d expect.”
Brand new developments have sprung up across the city, such as the groundbreaking Bridgewater Place — Leeds’ tallest building — and old industrial buildings have been re-imagined as luxurious apartments, the prime example being Roberts Wharf. The city has grown to accommodate this ever-increasing city population too with gyms, cafes and delis jostling for position in the compact centre of town.
Karolyn Fairs, a headhunter for executive search firm Odgers Ray&Berndtson, relocated from London and now lives in the Water Lane apartments just opposite Dock Street, a village-like hub of restaurants, bars, and delis.
“The quality of life and culture here played a big role in my relocating to Leeds” says Fairs, “after years on the tube, walking to work is a real luxury and The Calls has a real village feel without the daily commute.”
For £230,000 — the average national house price — you could get a very decent two bedroom apartment with basement parking. Although, according to Ruth Oliver, city centre properties can start from as little as £115,000 for a one bedroom apartment.
Headingley
A vibrant, kinetic hub of young, cosmopolitan residents, Headingley is a great place for dynamic people who like having everything at their fingertips. As well as two world famous sporting institutions; the cricket ground and rugby stadium, Headingley also boasts award-winning restaurants such as Bryans, which is famous far and wide for its fabulous fish, much loved Italian Salvo’s, The Lime Tree, Trios and Bretts. You’ll also find an array of wonderful shops like Ginger Ink selling fresh fashions from labels like Religion and Firetrap as well as the designer jewellery store Azendi, which has featured in fashion magazines like Elle, Glamour, In-Style and Grazia. Headingley also has a thriving nightlife scene with late night bars like Arc and Box, as well as cosy pubs like the Original Oak and The Three Horseshoes.
Properties range from cosy red brick terraces to outstanding conversions. For just £115,000 you could get a two bedroom first floor apartment with garage and garden, while for £240,000 you could buy one of the characteristic large terraced properties that typify the area.
If you want a lively atmosphere, great facilities and to be at the centre of the action, Headingley has got it all.
Chapel Allerton
Often known as ‘Chapel A’ to its many residents, Chapel Allerton is much loved for its village-within-a-city feel. Found just north of the city centre, Chapel Allerton is not only extremely accessible but also retains a sense of independence from the other suburbs and towns around it. This is in large part due to the wealth of local facilities, good local schools and attractions such as a huge choice of highly acclaimed restaurants, cherished old fashioned pubs and chic new bars.
The strong arts scene in Chapel Allerton — not only does it host an annual arts festival, which has seen performances by artists such as Corinne Bailey Rae but also houses the Seven Arts Centre and regular exhibitions in cafes, bars and churches — means that the area attracts a vibrant mix of people, ranging from professionals in the new media and creative industries to families.
Chapel Allerton also has its own tennis club, a regular farmers market and even an allotment, making it a popular choice with families and first time buyers. Although property in the area underwent an enormous boom a few years ago, with some houses doubling in price within a year, it is still possible to find affordable homes. For the national average house price, for example, you could buy a double fronted terraced four bedroom house with lots of character, a cellar and two reception rooms.
Roundhay
Although Roundhay is just a fifteen minute drive from the city centre, or up to twenty minutes by bus, it is one of Leeds’ greenest and most pleasant areas. Roundhay Park, which is found just off the main thoroughfare between Harehills and Roundhay, is one of the largest municipal parks in Europe, with over 700 acres of woodland, parkland, landscaped walkways, two lakes and a cricket pitch. To the north of the suburb you can find a wealth of golf courses such as Alwoodley, Moortown and the Brendon course. Roundhay is also the home to Tropical World; a mini-eco system that’s home to many tropical birds and animals, and a keen favourite with families.
However, it is not all just green grass and open spaces. Roundhay is also home to many local amenities such as supermarkets, popular restaurants — The Flying Pizza on Street Lane is a regular haunt of local Leeds lad Sir Jimmy Savile — fabulous shops and some of the highest performing schools in Leeds.
The suburb of Roundhay is also a popular spot with those who commute both to the city centre and the business centres such as Harrogate that lie to the north of the city because of the good transport links and easy access to the ring road. For those making longer journeys, the airport is just a short drive away.
In terms of property, the area has many grand townhouses and apartment conversions, which are still relatively affordable compared to the national average. For just £185,000 you can find a two bedroom, two bathroom first floor apartment in an attractive villa development close to the park, while for less than £220,000 you could buy a three bedroom town house with two reception rooms.
Holbeck Urban Village
Holbeck is one of the most exciting business and residential developments in the country. The project is a multi-million pound regeneration programme, which will regenerate and revitalize this former industrial area with housing, office space and leisure facilities. Holbeck Urban Village itself is a mix of renovated Victorian properties and new architecture, designed and built by such well-respected names as Bauman Lyons Architects.
Holbeck is situated just to the south of the city centre, and is within easy walking distance of the main business areas and shops. However, Holbeck Urban Village will also be its own hub of business, primary services, culture and entertainment. Plans for the mixed use space include healthcare facilities, shops, bars, a hotel, restaurants and cafes. It is estimated that the project will also create 5,000 new jobs, primarily in the creative and digital media industries.
As for the properties themselves, Holbeck Urban Village encompasses renovated properties such as the Midland Mills development as well as new builds like the penthouse apartments of Granary Wharf and the Spectrum apartments. This diverse range of living space is testament to the underlying principle behind the area's redevelopment — that it will have more depth than simply offering a great base for business by making sure it caters for everyone from families to first time buyers to young professionals too.
For up-to-the-minute details of properties in and around the Leeds area, visit the Yorkshire Post's property pages at www.propertytoday.co.uk/leeds
Further afield : living in the region
With great transport links into Leeds, the Yorkshire region is the natural choice for those who want the vibrancy of the city with a relaxed rural lifestyle
York
York is less than 30 minutes train ride away from Leeds and provides an attractive counterpoint to the metropolis. Named European Tourism City of the Year 2007 and voted Favourite City in the UK by Daily Telegraph readers, York has a Covent Garden feel on its bustling streets and a calm and tranquil aspect thanks to the river, the grand and ancient city walls and its famous medieval Minster, which is one of the largest in Europe.
As well as easy and efficient transport into Leeds, residents of York enjoy lots of cultural and leisure pursuits in the city itself, such as highly acclaimed restaurants, live music venues and a host of great shops. For history lovers, The National Railway Museum was named European Museum of the Year in 2001 and placed amongst the top ten museums in the world by the Sunday Times, while the Jorvik Viking Centre remains a firm family favourite.
Harrogate
In the Victorian era, Harrogate was renowned for its health-giving and restorative spa waters. Today, 'taking the waters' remains a popular choice for visitors, but the town is also a thriving centre of enterprise with the nationally renowned conference centre hosting many of the country’s most important business and entertainment figures.
Harrogate boasts excellent attractions for residents and visitors alike, including the original Betty’s Tearooms, the Mercer Art Gallery, RHS Harlow Carr Botanical Gardens and the Valley Gardens, as well as excellent shopping and nightlife.
The picturesque neighbouring town of Knaresborough, famed for its petrifying well and boating on the river, is also popular with commuters from Leeds and is well worth a visit.
Bradford
Only twenty minutes drive from Leeds or just under twenty minutes on the train, Bradford is already well known for its cultural diversity, entertainment venues and restaurants. The city, however, is also currently undergoing a major process of regeneration, which promises to revitalise Bradford and create a new business and cultural centre for the region.
Home to the acclaimed National Media Museum and its huge IMAX screen, Bradford attracts movie buffs from far and wide for its three annual film festivals: Bradford Film Festival, Bite the Mango, which covers international work, and the Bradford Animation Festival.
Crowned ‘Curry Capital’ in 2004, the city has a proud tradition of Asian culture and offers such top-class cuisine that many residents from across the region travel to Bradford specifically for eating out.
Bradford is also relatively cheap in terms of living costs and is often an attractive option for those relocating to Leeds for work.
Saltaire, a popular suburb on the outskirts of Bradford, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by Titus Salt as a model village for his mill workers. It is popular with commuters working in Leeds as it's a short and simple train journey from the city centre, but retains a relaxed, provincial feel. Salts Mill is now an art gallery, home to major collections of work by Bradford-born artist David Hockney.
Wakefield
Wakefield is popular with the hundreds of residents who commute from the city to work in Leeds, and with two hotly anticipated property developments underway at Sun Lane and The Pinnacle — as well as a £25 million facelift to the Ridings Shopping Centre, the 500,000 square feet Trinity walk development and the £3 million hotel, cafe and office development at the Magna Plaza — it’s no surprise that Wakefield is tipped as the next regional hotspot.
From cottages in secluded rural villages to chic, urban city centre apartments, family properties with a garden and a garage, through to red brick terraces, there is something for every requirement and every taste. And it’s good value too: the average house price in West Yorkshire is just over £160,000. That’s £70,000 less than the national average.
The quality of life in Leeds, along with the fantastic employment opportunities available, has attracted thousands of new residents in the last few years. This has caused a subsequent boom in property development, from pioneering new builds to sympathetically restored Victorian architecture. This is most evident in the city centre, where new developments are popping up all the time, from the waterside apartments at Clarence Dock to restored mills like Roberts Wharf, and the towering edifice that is Bridgewater Place. This boom in property building also means that there are some fantastic investment opportunities out there for people looking to buy in Leeds, as well as some great bargains for those looking to rent. As Ruth Oliver of LS1 Properties explains, “There is a high standard of quality throughout the city centre”.
However, for those wishing to relocate to a property with green and pleasant surroundings, a peaceful and community orientated atmosphere and lots of space, whilst retaining easy access to the hustle and bustle of the city centre, the range of suburban and regional options around Leeds are sure to impress.
Area profiles : Where to buy ?
In hotspots such as Chapel Allerton you can find a range of great properties for less than £230,000 — whether you want a plush apartment or a flexible family home — and you'll still have fantastic access to local restaurants and shops. Even better, it's less than three miles from the city centre.
Whether you are guided by price, space, views, accessibility, quality or all of the above, you will find it all in this diverse city and its surrounding area.
With so much choice it can be hard to know how to even begin finding a new home. Nell Frizzell reveals five property hotspots
City centre
With the cosmopolitan, 24-hour buzz of galleries, cafes, clubs and restaurants on your doorstep, why wouldn’t you live in town? With no commute, no expensive taxi fares and no end to the choice of properties, it’s little wonder that city living has really taken off over the last decade. “Ten to fifteen years ago the city centre was full of professionals who relocated or even commuted from London” explains Ruth Oliver of LS1. “But now there is a huge range of people living in the city centre. You get people bringing up families, young professionals, students and graduates who have decided to stay in the city. The infrastructure is all there with supermarkets and a doctor’s surgery in the city centre as well as all the leisure facilities you’d expect.”
Brand new developments have sprung up across the city, such as the groundbreaking Bridgewater Place — Leeds’ tallest building — and old industrial buildings have been re-imagined as luxurious apartments, the prime example being Roberts Wharf. The city has grown to accommodate this ever-increasing city population too with gyms, cafes and delis jostling for position in the compact centre of town.
Karolyn Fairs, a headhunter for executive search firm Odgers Ray&Berndtson, relocated from London and now lives in the Water Lane apartments just opposite Dock Street, a village-like hub of restaurants, bars, and delis.
“The quality of life and culture here played a big role in my relocating to Leeds” says Fairs, “after years on the tube, walking to work is a real luxury and The Calls has a real village feel without the daily commute.”
For £230,000 — the average national house price — you could get a very decent two bedroom apartment with basement parking. Although, according to Ruth Oliver, city centre properties can start from as little as £115,000 for a one bedroom apartment.
Headingley
A vibrant, kinetic hub of young, cosmopolitan residents, Headingley is a great place for dynamic people who like having everything at their fingertips. As well as two world famous sporting institutions; the cricket ground and rugby stadium, Headingley also boasts award-winning restaurants such as Bryans, which is famous far and wide for its fabulous fish, much loved Italian Salvo’s, The Lime Tree, Trios and Bretts. You’ll also find an array of wonderful shops like Ginger Ink selling fresh fashions from labels like Religion and Firetrap as well as the designer jewellery store Azendi, which has featured in fashion magazines like Elle, Glamour, In-Style and Grazia. Headingley also has a thriving nightlife scene with late night bars like Arc and Box, as well as cosy pubs like the Original Oak and The Three Horseshoes.
Properties range from cosy red brick terraces to outstanding conversions. For just £115,000 you could get a two bedroom first floor apartment with garage and garden, while for £240,000 you could buy one of the characteristic large terraced properties that typify the area.
If you want a lively atmosphere, great facilities and to be at the centre of the action, Headingley has got it all.
Chapel Allerton
Often known as ‘Chapel A’ to its many residents, Chapel Allerton is much loved for its village-within-a-city feel. Found just north of the city centre, Chapel Allerton is not only extremely accessible but also retains a sense of independence from the other suburbs and towns around it. This is in large part due to the wealth of local facilities, good local schools and attractions such as a huge choice of highly acclaimed restaurants, cherished old fashioned pubs and chic new bars.
The strong arts scene in Chapel Allerton — not only does it host an annual arts festival, which has seen performances by artists such as Corinne Bailey Rae but also houses the Seven Arts Centre and regular exhibitions in cafes, bars and churches — means that the area attracts a vibrant mix of people, ranging from professionals in the new media and creative industries to families.
Chapel Allerton also has its own tennis club, a regular farmers market and even an allotment, making it a popular choice with families and first time buyers. Although property in the area underwent an enormous boom a few years ago, with some houses doubling in price within a year, it is still possible to find affordable homes. For the national average house price, for example, you could buy a double fronted terraced four bedroom house with lots of character, a cellar and two reception rooms.
Roundhay
Although Roundhay is just a fifteen minute drive from the city centre, or up to twenty minutes by bus, it is one of Leeds’ greenest and most pleasant areas. Roundhay Park, which is found just off the main thoroughfare between Harehills and Roundhay, is one of the largest municipal parks in Europe, with over 700 acres of woodland, parkland, landscaped walkways, two lakes and a cricket pitch. To the north of the suburb you can find a wealth of golf courses such as Alwoodley, Moortown and the Brendon course. Roundhay is also the home to Tropical World; a mini-eco system that’s home to many tropical birds and animals, and a keen favourite with families.
However, it is not all just green grass and open spaces. Roundhay is also home to many local amenities such as supermarkets, popular restaurants — The Flying Pizza on Street Lane is a regular haunt of local Leeds lad Sir Jimmy Savile — fabulous shops and some of the highest performing schools in Leeds.
The suburb of Roundhay is also a popular spot with those who commute both to the city centre and the business centres such as Harrogate that lie to the north of the city because of the good transport links and easy access to the ring road. For those making longer journeys, the airport is just a short drive away.
In terms of property, the area has many grand townhouses and apartment conversions, which are still relatively affordable compared to the national average. For just £185,000 you can find a two bedroom, two bathroom first floor apartment in an attractive villa development close to the park, while for less than £220,000 you could buy a three bedroom town house with two reception rooms.
Holbeck Urban Village
Holbeck is one of the most exciting business and residential developments in the country. The project is a multi-million pound regeneration programme, which will regenerate and revitalize this former industrial area with housing, office space and leisure facilities. Holbeck Urban Village itself is a mix of renovated Victorian properties and new architecture, designed and built by such well-respected names as Bauman Lyons Architects.
Holbeck is situated just to the south of the city centre, and is within easy walking distance of the main business areas and shops. However, Holbeck Urban Village will also be its own hub of business, primary services, culture and entertainment. Plans for the mixed use space include healthcare facilities, shops, bars, a hotel, restaurants and cafes. It is estimated that the project will also create 5,000 new jobs, primarily in the creative and digital media industries.
As for the properties themselves, Holbeck Urban Village encompasses renovated properties such as the Midland Mills development as well as new builds like the penthouse apartments of Granary Wharf and the Spectrum apartments. This diverse range of living space is testament to the underlying principle behind the area's redevelopment — that it will have more depth than simply offering a great base for business by making sure it caters for everyone from families to first time buyers to young professionals too.
For up-to-the-minute details of properties in and around the Leeds area, visit the Yorkshire Post's property pages at www.propertytoday.co.uk/leeds
Further afield : living in the region
With great transport links into Leeds, the Yorkshire region is the natural choice for those who want the vibrancy of the city with a relaxed rural lifestyle
York
York is less than 30 minutes train ride away from Leeds and provides an attractive counterpoint to the metropolis. Named European Tourism City of the Year 2007 and voted Favourite City in the UK by Daily Telegraph readers, York has a Covent Garden feel on its bustling streets and a calm and tranquil aspect thanks to the river, the grand and ancient city walls and its famous medieval Minster, which is one of the largest in Europe.
As well as easy and efficient transport into Leeds, residents of York enjoy lots of cultural and leisure pursuits in the city itself, such as highly acclaimed restaurants, live music venues and a host of great shops. For history lovers, The National Railway Museum was named European Museum of the Year in 2001 and placed amongst the top ten museums in the world by the Sunday Times, while the Jorvik Viking Centre remains a firm family favourite.
Harrogate
In the Victorian era, Harrogate was renowned for its health-giving and restorative spa waters. Today, 'taking the waters' remains a popular choice for visitors, but the town is also a thriving centre of enterprise with the nationally renowned conference centre hosting many of the country’s most important business and entertainment figures.
Harrogate boasts excellent attractions for residents and visitors alike, including the original Betty’s Tearooms, the Mercer Art Gallery, RHS Harlow Carr Botanical Gardens and the Valley Gardens, as well as excellent shopping and nightlife.
The picturesque neighbouring town of Knaresborough, famed for its petrifying well and boating on the river, is also popular with commuters from Leeds and is well worth a visit.
Bradford
Only twenty minutes drive from Leeds or just under twenty minutes on the train, Bradford is already well known for its cultural diversity, entertainment venues and restaurants. The city, however, is also currently undergoing a major process of regeneration, which promises to revitalise Bradford and create a new business and cultural centre for the region.
Home to the acclaimed National Media Museum and its huge IMAX screen, Bradford attracts movie buffs from far and wide for its three annual film festivals: Bradford Film Festival, Bite the Mango, which covers international work, and the Bradford Animation Festival.
Crowned ‘Curry Capital’ in 2004, the city has a proud tradition of Asian culture and offers such top-class cuisine that many residents from across the region travel to Bradford specifically for eating out.
Bradford is also relatively cheap in terms of living costs and is often an attractive option for those relocating to Leeds for work.
Saltaire, a popular suburb on the outskirts of Bradford, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by Titus Salt as a model village for his mill workers. It is popular with commuters working in Leeds as it's a short and simple train journey from the city centre, but retains a relaxed, provincial feel. Salts Mill is now an art gallery, home to major collections of work by Bradford-born artist David Hockney.
Wakefield
Wakefield is popular with the hundreds of residents who commute from the city to work in Leeds, and with two hotly anticipated property developments underway at Sun Lane and The Pinnacle — as well as a £25 million facelift to the Ridings Shopping Centre, the 500,000 square feet Trinity walk development and the £3 million hotel, cafe and office development at the Magna Plaza — it’s no surprise that Wakefield is tipped as the next regional hotspot.
3 Day Forecast
Tuesday, 7th February
Min:
-4
Max:
3
Wednesday, 8th February
Min:
-3
Max:
1
Thursday, 9th February
Min:
1
Max:
2
