Huddersfield suburb top for first-time buyers

The Huddersfield suburb of Lindley, West Yorkshire, has been named as the top place for first-time buyers to buy in the UK.

It was named ahead of Bo'ness in West Lothian, the Welsh capital Cardiff and Scotton, near Darlington, in a survey by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

The bank examined the UK's 2,800 postcode districts on a range of factors, the most important of which is a below average ratio of house prices to local earnings.

Strong house price growth, urban regeneration, good transport links and a significant supply of new build property were also considered.

Lindley is certainly awash with the latter. Type 'Lindley Yorkshire' into Google and the first thing that comes up is a website for a development turning an old mill into luxury flats called Heritage Lofts.

Lindley also offers affordable existing housing stock, excellent house price growth and strong links with the vibrant city of Leeds.

The average property in Lindley costs £138,886 compared to a national average of £193,489, while prices have grown by 125 per cent in the last six years, compared to 103 per cent nationally.

However, if you want to take advantage of Lindley's status as the number one hotspot for first-time buyers you had better act quickly.

Last year the Manchester suburb of Openshaw held the same position, but this year does not make the top 22; although it does make the north-west regional top ten.

The change highlights the speed at which the UK property market constantly shifts and evolves, and shows that if you want to take advantage you need to act quickly.

As with last year, the top places in the 2006 index are dominated by postal districts in the north of England - with Huddersfield, Middlesbrough and Burnley also figuring – with Wales and Scotland represented in the top three.

Reading town centre is the highest placed hotspot within the south-east, in tenth place, closely followed by two east London postcodes, Bethnal Green and Newham in 11th and 12th place.

The top 20 locations for first-time buyers in 2006:
1. Lindley, Hudderfield, postcode HD3
2. Bo'ness, West Lothian, EH51
3. Cardiff, Wales, CF10
4. Scotton, Darlington, DL9
5. Hawick, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, TD9
6. Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD4
7. Middlesbrough, Teesside, TS1
8. Nottingham City Centre, NG1
9. Burnley, Lancashire, BB11
10. Reading town centre, RG1
11. Bethnal Green, east London, E2
12. Newham, east London, E15
13. Tiverton, Devon, EX16
14. Blaenrhondda, Mid Glamorgan, CF42
15. Rushmere St Andrew, Ipswich, IP5
16. Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32
17. Mickleover, Derby, DE3
18. Canon Pyon, Hereford, HR4
19. Grasscroft, Oldham, OL4
20. Grantchester, Cambridge, CB3
21. Highfield, Portswood, SO17
22. Bratton, Telford, TF5

Click here for the 2005 list of hotspots for first-time buyers

For information on the Heritage Lofts development, go to: www.heritagelofts.co.uk XXX