City dwellers flee countryside retreats

City dwellers who relocated to the countryside during the decade long housing boom are attempting to return to the city, as they find the countryside "dull".

That is one of the conclusions of a report from The Future Laboratory for Standard Life Bank. It found 35 per cent more countryside properties were put on the market in 2007 than in the previous year.

The report - The Shape of Dreams to Come – also argues the reasons for moving are clear.

While one in ten of those questioned earning more than £75,000 said it was because "they found the countryside dull", a further 12 per cent complained about being out of touch with the modern world because rural technology "wasn’t up to scratch".

"Whether they are returning because of commuting woes, boredom or because they prefer the multiculturalism of the city, there is a growing movement of people returning who once left the city for the countryside, or the country for foreign shores," said argues the report.

"These are the people who left the city for more space, larger houses and greener pastures, often cashing in on the equity released in their city pad throughout the housing boom.

"However, spurred by the downturn in national house prices, seen in the last quarter of 2007, the 'Re-Urbanites' are seeing the possibility of swapping their rural life for the city."

Research from Nationwide finds average house prices in the UK market have fallen by 4.4 per cent over the course of the last year.

However, the city dream may never become a reality again for a number of those who upgraded to a countryside property.

Nearly a third (28 per cent) of those who downshifted to the country say house price rises over the last four years have locked them out of moving back to the city and those aged between 25 and 34-years-of-age have been hardest hit.

Some 40 per cent this demographic say the rising cost of urban property has priced them out of returning to live in the city.

"While many stressed out 30-somethings deserted corporate Britain four years ago in search of the 'good life' in the country, and used the equity in their mortgages to do so, they are on the move again and heading back to the city," said Laura McLaren, trends expert at Standard Life Bank.

Those moving back are doing so for a variety of reasons.

The report found so-called 'Re-Urbanites' are looking for a closer community feeling (45 per cent), an improved village feel (41 per cent), easier access to fresh and local produce (39 per cent) and more local shops (31 per cent).

Chris O'Toole