Surge of interest from commuters looking to move to Chesterfield

New data from the UK’s biggest property website Rightmove reveals that househunter searches for Chesterfield station rose by 30% from June to August 2021 – the seventh biggest increase in the country.

Eight of the top ten stations outside of London that have seen the biggest increase in buyer searches are all within an hour train commute from a major city. The other two stations in the top ten, Liverpool Lime Street and Southampton Central, are in central city locations, suggesting a desire from some to live closer to work.

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The analysis compares buyer searches for stations across Great Britain in June 2021 with August 2021, to measure the impact of the gradual return to the office, which has been encouraged by the government since July.

Overall searches for stations remained steady in June compared to August, but commuter stations outside of London saw a significant jump as more people started their usual morning commute again, at least for part of the week. On average across the top ten, searches were up 42% in August compared to June.

The biggest jump in Chelmsford where searches have more than doubled (+107%).

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s Director of Property Data comments: “While the demand to relocate or search for more space has by no means gone away, the numbers suggest that this will need to be balanced with easy transport access on office days, which has understandably been lower on the agenda for many over the last eighteen months.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, said: “The recent Right Move data is pleasing but not surprising. We have long known and appreciated the town’s connectivity. It is this which has been fundamental in the borough attracting more than £1 billion worth of construction projects which are currently underway.

"Chesterfield’s mainline rail station serves the town well. As Sheffield house prices have increased to a level which challenges affordability, the market in Chesterfield, being just 10 miles away by train from the UK’s fourth largest city, is benefitting.

“Having this station puts London St Pancras just 1hr and 50 mins away, and Nottingham just 40 minutes away which is ideal for commuters. The reality of this is you can get to central London by rail from Chesterfield in the same amount of time it takes someone to commute from 30 miles away!

“Demand for housing is strong, particularly close to the railway station. At Avant Homes Waterside Quarter development at Chesterfield Waterside, buyers are attracted by the fact they don’t need a car to live there as the train station is on their doorstep. This benefits everyone, not least Chesterfield Borough Council’s drive to become carbon neutral.

“It is exciting to see Chesterfield Borough Council investing significantly in the future of the railway station. The new station master plan, the first such scheme since 1870, will transform not merely the approach to the station but the whole of the north-eastern edge of the town centre, helping the town attract more residents and investment.”