Nottinghamshire

 Introducing Nottinghamshire

The East Midlands is still an attractive area for homebuyers thanks to its affordability, central location and range of amenities.

Nottinghamshire is one of several major areas in the East Midlands, anchored by the city of Nottingham and split into several districts: Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Broxtowe, Gedling, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood and Rushcliffe.

The county has exceptional educational facilities - including two major universities - as well as world-class transport links, beautiful rural areas and one of the strongest economies in the country, backed by a rich industrial heritage.

Thanks to nearly a decade of redevelopment, Nottinghamshire - and particularly Nottingham - has developed at an exceptional pace.

Houses in Nottinghamshire are increasingly appealing and this demand is driving price rises. House prices have increased by 81% since 2013, which translates to around £105,755.

Below we explore why you should consider buying a house in Nottinghamshire, why you might choose to live in Nottinghamshire and some of our key developments around the region.

Is Nottinghamshire a good place to buy a house?

One of the first questions anyone has before they consider moving is: am I choosing a good place to live?

It’s a fair question and it’s important to know if you’re choosing the right place.

Fortunately, Nottinghamshire is home to some of the best places to live in the UK - offering a broad mix of rural and urban areas that are home to exceptional schools, leisure facilities, employment opportunities and high-quality developments.

If we consider the things that homebuyers generally choose to look for, Nottinghamshire ranks well.

Nottinghamshire is one of the safest areas in the East Midlands and significantly safer than Merseyside, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire - which rank at the top.

The safest area within Nottinghamshire is Bingham and East Leake, which are 52% and 60% safer than the average crime rate in the county respectively.

Nottinghamshire has 103 secondary schools and serves over 76,000 students, with 26.91% of pupils achieving grade 5 or above in their core GCSEs - outperforming the UK average. Of the schools across Nottinghamshire, 82% are rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

For any students considering higher education in Nottinghamshire, the county is home to both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University with a combined intake of 80,305 students.

Nottinghamshire sits at the heart of the UK and has a broad range of available transport links for residents.

East Midlands Rail connects Worksop in the North to Newark in the East and everywhere in between. Elsewhere, East Coast Trains and Cross Country Trains also stop at a number of Nottinghamshire towns, while Northern Rail also provides direct links to Sheffield, Leeds and Chesterfield.

Nottingham itself has an extensive tram system (NET) that offers direct connections to leisure and tourist attractions, with multiple stops in the city centre and surrounding areas such as Clifton and Hucknall.

Finally, East Midlands Airport offers international links to a range of popular destinations and is easily accessible from anywhere in Nottinghamshire.

Nottinghamshire’s employment rate is 74.5%, which on average is the same as the wider UK.

Nottingham has a large number of high-value employment opportunities across businesses such as Boots, CapitalOne, Experian, Centre Parcs and Games Workshop.

This has created a large ‘commuter population’ that often lives in towns around Nottinghamshire and works in larger cities such as Nottingham, Derby, Leicester or even Birmingham.

 Examining the Nottinghamshire property market

Thanks to nearly a decade of regeneration, Nottinghamshire has seen property prices rise at an extraordinary rate.

In 2022, the average house price in Nottinghamshire is £235,820, with prices having increased by £105,755 since 2013.

This represents exceptional growth and yet despite prices rising, Nottinghamshire still remains one of the most affordable regions in the country in relation to the quality of the housing and amenities.

Forecasts also suggest that prices may start rising again in 2024 after price growth slows down this month. The most recent JLL report suggests that prices may increase by up to 15% by 2027.

Top destinations in Nottinghamshire

If you’re considering buying in Nottinghamshire, where are the best places to buy? With a mix of cities, suburbs, market towns and rural villages, Nottinghamshire has plenty to offer potential homebuyers.

Below we run through some of the top areas in Nottinghamshire that buyers might want to consider:

West Bridgford is a town just outside of Nottingham city centre and is home to around 50,000 people, with an exceptional central location and great transport links.

Many families choose to move to West Bridgford as there are a number of reputable schools across the town. West Bridgford Infant School, West Bridgford Junior School and The West Bridgford School are all rated outstanding.

The town has plenty to offer residents including a range of independent shops and upmarket nightlife spots. Whether you’re looking for an intimate bistro or an exciting cocktail lounge, you can find it in West Bridgford. There are also a range of top gastropubs serving the area, including Larwood and Voce, which is a firm favourite with locals.

Other notable attractions include City Ground - the home of Nottingham Forest football club - and Trent Bridge, which is where Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club play.

Beeston is a popular town just a few miles from Nottingham city centre that offers all of the benefits of being near a city while still maintaining its own identity and feel. With strong employment opportunities, excellent transport links, both independent and national retailers and cultural attractions, it’s a great option for families that want to live in a desirable and active town.

If you’re looking for something to do, you can visit the award-winning Attenborough Nature Reserve, the Canalside Heritage Centre or Wollaton Hall and Park Gardens, which featured in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Batman’ trilogy.

Outside of this, there are plenty of amenities for residents such as supermarkets, major retailers, award-winning bars and restaurants as well as businesses such as Boots, Siemens and Atos which offer plenty of employment opportunities.

Ruddington is regularly recognised as one of the best villages in Nottinghamshire, offering a welcoming community feel, beautiful rural surroundings and award-winning pubs and restaurants.

Rushcliffe County Park is a beautiful spot for residents to visit and has an estimated 250,000 visitors each year. Closer to the village centre you’ll find a number of independent small businesses that have been around for decades.

Ruddington is an excellent spot for families or couples that want to settle down and experience a quieter pace of life. With close links to Nottingham, it’s ideal for commuters that might work in the city or need the transport links that a city can offer.

As a vibrant, community-led location, it’s ideal for people that want to experience Nottinghamshire and live in a village that has retained its authenticity and character.

East Leake is a beautiful village in the Rushcliffe borough of Nottinghamshire, boasting a range of excellent leisure facilities, local amenities, great schools and all of the transport links that a central location offers.

With a population of around 6,400, East Leake is an affluent location that features a number of independent retailers including a butcher, greengrocer, florist and bakery. Local restaurants include The Cottage, while pubs such as The Nags Head, Three Horseshoes and Bulls Head offer a gastropub vibe.

The village is also home to excellent sports and leisure facilities including a fully-fitted leisure centre, a local horse riding centre and Rushcliffe Golf Club, which is over a hundred years old. For kids, Manor Farm Animal Park and Donkey Sanctuary is a fun and educational spot with nature trails, multiple play areas and animals to meet and greet.

Spotlight On: Beeston

One of our key areas in Nottinghamshire is Beeston. A vibrant and diverse town just five miles south-west of Nottingham, this exciting location is home to around 52,000 people and is one of the fastest-growing towns in the borough of Broxtowe.

Initially known for its industrial links and manufacturing hubs, Beeston has quickly grown thanks to its proximity to the University of Nottingham’s main campus and pharmaceutical giant Boots main headquarters. This has created a strong local economy that has allowed the town to grow, developing all of the necessary amenities to support fast growing demand.

Beeston has gone from strength to strength over the last 20 years and is now home to a bustling town centre filled with award-winning restaurants such as Cafe Roya,  redeveloped leisure facilities, a range of state and independent schools as well as excellent links to the city centre and other major destinations across Nottinghamshire.

The town’s High Road is the main shopping area and is largely pedestrianised, giving residents ample opportunity to shop at national retailers such as Sainsbury’s and Argos as well as local, independent favourites such as Carolyn Codd jewellery, Iguazu Fair Trade and DUKKI, which sells homeware and independent gifts.

If you’re planning a trip to the capital, Beeston has train services to London every hour and connections with both Derby and Nottingham for other major destinations. The NET tram system and bus network has connections in Beeston, making it a breeze to travel around Nottinghamshire, offering easy access to the University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre and Nottingham city centre.

For those who are looking for sports or cultural attractions, Beeston is home to Beeston Fields Golf Course, Bramcote Leisure Centre and a connection with National Cycle Route 6, which also links Beeston to West Bridgford. Attenborough Nature Reserve and the Canalside Heritage centre offer a glimpse into the town’s past while also representing areas of natural beauty.

 What are house prices like in Beeston?

The Beeston property market, like most of Nottinghamshire, has seen property prices steadily rise over the last five years.

With the average property now worth around £257,000, properties in Beeston have seen an increase of 48% since 2018.

These increases in price have largely occurred due to the rising demand for property in the region. As Beeston has become more desirable for homebuyers, we’re increasingly seeing both house prices and rental prices reflect that popularity.

 Discover our Beeston development

One of our most exciting new developments is underway in Beeston - a 622-home scheme that represents the UK’s largest low-rise modular housing development.

Boots have partnered with modular housing company ilke Homes to deliver the scheme, which will unlock a 43-acre site near the Boots headquarters and help the region meet rising demand for quality housing in Nottinghamshire.

This scheme is part of the wider 286-acre Nottingham Enterprise Zone, which has been planned since 2011. It’s expected that this ‘model village’ development will help create a broad range of homes amongst beautiful surroundings, offering residents modern amenities as well as close links to Beeston and Nottingham.

What separates this development from others is its primary focus of sustainability. Thanks to modern methods of construction, all 505 homes across the wider development will have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of B, making them more energy-efficient than 92% of other new-builds on the market. This directly provides long-term savings on energy bills at a time when homeowners are facing challenges.

Aside from redeveloping a large section of brownfield site, this development represents one of the most significant schemes in a generation for Nottingham and will provide homebuyers with a route to buying an affordable home in an extremely desirable part of Nottinghamshire.

If you’d like to know more about this development, you can visit platformhomeownership.com.

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