New Year, New Move
The Resident, January 2019
Privacy, access to local shops and amenities, digital connectivity and public transport will be among the top reasons for moving in 2019, according to Strutt & Parker’s latest Housing Futures research.
Even in the digital age, more people wanted to be close to family and friends, up from 37% to 48% since 2013, says the report. Big cities like London have become more popular as a preferred location to live, and walking to work was seen as an increasingly attractive option, up from 25% to 36%.
‘City dwellers don’t have long commutes to work and can enjoy walking to a local café or the gym,’ adds Vanessa Hale, Director of Research at Strutt & Parker. ‘In today’s hectic times, this is the lifestyle many people want.’
Orlando Rodriguez, Design Director at luxury London developer Northacre, predicts that with fewer people owning cars in the capital, car parking spaces will become redundant.
‘I see a business opportunity focused on using these subterranean spaces,’ he suggests. ‘The obsession with gadgets in the home is also waning. Older buyers need to ask their children for help to use iPads to control heating and lighting. We need to keep it simple.’