Population: 85,500
Average house price: £128,000
Cost of living: £
Where
For those who prefer the quicker pace of life, the bustling town centre is perfect for finding your favourite high street shop, or just relaxing in one of the trendy coffee shops. Just a short distance away from the main town centre, the picturesque countryside is a haven for walkers, horse riders and cyclists, while the abundance of waterways provide idyllic areas for fishing.
Who
Students and commuters travelling to Manchester for work and first-time buyers.
Why now?
Burnley has recently secured £9m to build a new college in the area. With the addition of the University College of Football Business and the University of Lancashire, Tim Webber, chief executive at Barnfield Investment Properties, says, ‘It is a remarkable transformation given that none of these institutions were here four years ago. The benefits to the local economy, both financially and culturally, will be significant.’ Burnley has also recently won a bid for a direct rail line to link Burnley with Manchester. Halving the journey time between the two areas, it will undoubtedly attract a lot more people to the area. Ian Bythell, partner at Petty Residential, says, ‘The opening up of the rail link will generate demand for housing, as you currently get more for your money in the Burnley area.’ He added, ‘Now really is a great time to look at Burnley if you want to invest.’
