Focus on… Winchester: How to win in Winchester
Winchester is a vibrant, small city with a lot to offer. Open green spaces, historical buildings and an array of independent shops and boutiques add to the quintessentially British feel of the area.
It has become an increasingly popular destination for house buyers, with large areas undergoing redevelopment to cater for the rise in demand for luxury properties. One such area is Barton Farm. Situated on the northern edge of the city, this development plans to build 2,000 new homes, with the addition of a new primary school and a park and ride to the city centre.
The city council has also started buying and renovating older, run down properties. This re-development scheme aims to improve neglected locations within the city, such as Silver Hill, by introducing an assortment of new shops and homes.
Summer 2014 will see a rise in these types of development schemes with the likes of Abbots Walk and St Peter Street undergoing vast changes in the form of new builds and period property restoration. The city is also home to some great educational establishments, such as The University of Winchester and the prestigious St Swithun’s and Winchester College.
George Clarendon, partner at Knight Frank, said: “The Winchester city market continues to see encouraging activity at all levels. Its appeal is broad due to it’s the diversity of education it offers, strong travel links to London, cosmopolitan shops and restaurants and is surrounded by some stunning countryside. Demand continues to outstrip the supply of good houses, which has led to growth in prices.”