New research conducted by regulated property buyer Good Move, has revealed the amenities Brits most want in their local area, with some surprising results.
Traditionally, many Brits have often sought homes which fall within the catchment area of a good school, but new data has revealed that budget supermarkets are more popular.
Nearly two in five (39%) UK adults said that it is desirable to live near a discounter, such as Lidl or Aldi, while just 29% said that they’d move for a certain school catchment area.
Women are more likely than men to be concerned about education choices, with 31% and 25% respectively considering the quality of local schools, but both genders ranked budget supermarkets higher.
This desire for deals appears strongest amongst the younger generations. While a budget supermarket is top of the wishlist for each of the youngest age categories - more than half (54%) of 18-24s say they’d want to live near to one - the figure steadily declines among older Brits, with just 34% of over 45s sharing the same view.
Top of the overall list of priorities, however, was a scenic view, with 44% of UK adults saying that they’d prefer a property with attractive surroundings.
According to Brits, the top 10 most desirable amenities to have nearby are:
1. Scenic views - 44%
2. Budget supermarkets, such as Aldi, Lidl and Iceland - 39%
3. Local restaurants/bars - 37%
4. Traditional pubs - 36%
5. Independent shops - 34%
6. Walking trails - 33%
7. High-end supermarkets, such as Waitrose and Marks and Spencer - 32%
8. A certain school catchment area - 29%
9. Coffee shops - 28%
10. Local library - 25%
Despite the desirability of budget supermarkets, when asked specifically about which stores they’d like to have nearby, Brits crowned Tesco top of the shops. More than a fifth selected this store, followed by Asda (17%) and Aldi (14%).
The study also revealed what Brits first research when they move to a new area. When asked what details they seek out about a location before anything else, over a fifth (21%) of respondents said public transport connections, showing the nation’s desire for easy travel.
Crime rates are also an important consideration (17%), but men are more concerned about such statistics than women (21% and 14% respectively).
Overall, the top five details which Brits first research when moving house are:
1. Public transport links - 21%
2. Schools - 20%
3. Crime rates - 17%
= Amenities - 17%
5 Broadband speeds - 11%
Ross Counsell, Director at Good Move, said: “Everyone has their own priorities when moving house, but it’s interesting to see how the overall patterns are changing.
“Budget supermarkets are definitely growing in popularity, especially among the younger generations, and their presence in a region is now making a place more desirable to live.”
