Population: 23,700
Average house price: £331,800
Cost of living: ££
Where
A pretty cathedral city, the property market in Chichester is currently a good place to invest in property. The added attraction of the surrounding countryside, South Downs National Park and unspoilt beaches make it a particularly popular spot for second-home buyers or those retiring who come to enjoy life on the coast. There are also excellent prep and state schools in the area and the University of Chichester is among the UK’s top 20 modern Universities according to The Times Good University Guide.
Who
Commuters, young families, second-home buyers, those nearing retirement.
Why
At almost a two-hour drive to the Capital, Chichester will soon be a far shorter commute to London after the opening of the A3 bypass at Hindhead in mid-2011, making it a popular spot for commuters. A lot of housing developments are also springing up near the city centre, including the Roman Quarter scheme, a collection of one and two-bedroom luxury apartments that are on sale now, and the Graylingwell development where 750 eco-focused homes are being built.
