Population: 1,016,800
Average house price: £145,000
Cost of living: ££
Where
A buzzing and vibrant city, Birmingham is located in the West Midlands. Known as the city with the youngest population in Europe, Birmingham’s three universities and two university colleges attract up to 65,000 students. However, the area is not just tailored to those who are studying. The thriving city is also ideal for people who are looking to build a successful future; universities in the area find that around 40 per cent of their students often stay in the region after graduating.
Who
Business people who often have to travel around the UK for meetings and those who want to live in the hustle and bustle, but aren’t keen on the pace of life in the capital.
Why now?
Right now the area might not look like the best place for investment, however this is all about to change. Transport Secretary Justine Greening has announced plans for a new £33bn high-speed rail line, HS2, linking Birmingham to London, cutting travel times down by half, from the average journey of one hour and 24 minutes to just 49 minutes. Although some people have criticised the project, the British Chambers of Commerce have said that the plan would be welcomed by ‘businesses up and down the country.’ Phase one of the HS2 plan will be implemented by 2026, while the second phase, which will also see the route reaching Manchester and Leeds, is expected to be running by 2033.
