
	February 7th, 2008 =

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Regional roundup

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Top 10 property hotspots for=20 2008

February 7th, 2008

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Figures recently published = indicate which=20 parts of the UK are expected to be the biggest=20 climbers

The outlook for=20 Britain's property market might not be = as bright=20 as in recent years, but prices in some areas are expected to = rise=20 strongly in 2008.

Parts of=20 Scotland, southern=20 England and=20 Wales are likely to record the = highest house=20 price growth during the year, according to Halifax Estate = Agents.=20

It has identified = 10 property=20 "hotspots" -- towns that are expected to outperform the = national=20 average by the greatest amounts -- during 2008.=20

House prices in = nine of these=20 areas are currently trailing the average for their regions.=20

Here are the towns, = their=20 current average price and the percentage difference to the = regional=20 average:

Lochgelly,=20 Fife, = Scotland (=C2=A3118,838, -31 percent) =

Paisley, = Scotland (=C2=A3140,338, -19 percent) =

Greenock, = Scotland (=C2=A3140,512, -19 percent) =

Aberdeen, = Scotland (=C2=A3202,755, +17 percent) =

Hackney, north=20 London (=C2=A3361,179, -2 percent)=20

Chatham, = Kent (=C2=A3195,211, -31 percent) =

Dartford, = Kent (=C2=A3217,27, -24 percent)=20

Liverpool (=C2=A3155,353, -11 percent) =

Newport, Gwent, (=C2=A3146,467, -11 = percent)=20

Pontypool, southeast=20 Wales (=C2=A3148,596, -10 percent) =

Colin Kemp, managing director = of Halifax=20 Estate Agents, said: "Some areas will continue to be in high = demand=20 next year with property prices rising accordingly, despite = the=20 expected subdued outlook across the market as a whole.=20

"Those areas that are likely to = record=20 the biggest price gains will tend to be those with a = combination of=20 good transport links to a major conurbation and relatively = low=20 average prices.

"A number of areas will see a = boost to=20 prices as a result of significant infrastructure projects."=20

Property prices in Lochgelly,=20 Paisley and Greenock in=20 Scotland are expected to be driven by=20 lower-than-average property prices and good transport links = to=20 Glasgow and Edinburgh, while = Aberdeen is likely to see continued = property=20 price growth given the strength of the local economy and = energy=20 prices.

Regeneration ahead of the 2012 = Olympics=20 is expected to attract buyers and boost property prices in = parts of=20 east London, such as Hackney. =

House prices are also likely to = be=20 boosted in areas close to the planned Crossrail line in=20 London, while the planned opening of = high-speed=20 commuter services from central = London to north and east=20 Kent in late 2009 will stoke prices = in=20 Chatham and other Medway towns in=20 Kent.

Meanwhile, above-average house = price=20 growth in parts of = Wales is anticipated on the back of=20 second-home buyers finding it increasingly difficult to find = affordable property in the Cotswolds. =

Comment

Get=20 ready for April tax breaks
John Lovell of = Lovell=20 Consulting has been working alongside property professionals for = almost=20 ten
Read=20 more

The Final Word

Can=20 we expect a bright future?
Three experts = give=20 their views on recent developments in the = property
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