House hunters guide to York for Lords, civil servants and all

York hit the headlines this week as the Prime Minister confirmed that plans to establish a permanent Government hub in the city were being considered. He also identified the city as a potential location for the House of Commons and the House of Lords while the Palace of Westminster is being restored, with that move, if there is one, happening in 2025.

This comes amid reports that York is also being considered as a new permanent home for the Upper House and as a second centre of government. Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove has confirmed that parts of the Civil Service will be moved out of central London and plans for this are to be submitted by the end of this summer.

A site on the York Central development, close to the railway station, has already been identified as a potential location.

Rail connections to London have played a vital part in the city being chosen as a potential seat of power. York Central to King’s Cross takes approximately two hours.

If any of the above comes to pass it will bring kudos and jobs, along with a posse of house hunters.

Rumours that government officials have already been “eyeing up” properties in Yorkshire may be true, though Ben Hudson, managing director of Hudson Moody estate agents says their interest may be a little premature.

Even if York is chosen to host the House of Lords or a major government department permanently, planning permission would be required. Site and archaeological surveys would also be mandatory and the construction and fit-out would also take time. I can’t see it coming to fruition for another 10 years,” says Ben Hudson.

Hilary Pegrum of Blenkin and Co agrees but believes that some of those in the know will act promptly in order to take early advantage of prices pre York’s enhanced status as a second city. “York is a small city and there aren’t many really good houses within walking distance of the railway station,” she says.

Walking distance or quick and easy bus or rail links to the city centre should be a top priority for any house hunter who works in the city centre. Peak time journeys by car are arduous and long due to congestion and parking is expensive and difficult to find. York City Council is also planning to end all non-essential car journeys inside its historic city walls within three years in a bid to cut pollution.

The city centre is a likely target for those relocating from London to York but they may be surprised to find that house prices in the most sought-after areas of the YO1 postcode are high and gardens and parking spaces are not a given.

The most expensive property for sale in YO1 at the moment is a luxurious and high-tech five-bedroom, Grade II* listed house on St Martin’s Lane in the heart of Micklegate. It is on the market for £1.5m with Carter Jonas.

Apartments are plentiful with the priciest being a three-bedroom penthouse in the Hudson Quarter for £1.15m. The least expensive homes are one-bedroom flats that start from about £140,000.

Bishopthorpe, known as the Notting Hill of the North, is another possible hotspot for those moving from London and prices here reflect its popularity. You can walk into central York from here and there is easy access to the A64. Property comes at a premium with semis starting at about £400,000.

For those who want to live on the outskirts of central York, Ben Hudson says that locations close to a park-and-ride service or a railway station are a good and increasingly sought-after option. He cites Poppleton, just off the A59, as a top location for commuters as it has a railway station and a park and ride. The train journey to York central station takes between eight and 12 minutes. Buses run every 10 minutes at a cost of £3.30 for a return ticket and the journey into the centre takes about 15 minutes.

Both Ben Hudson and Hilary Pegrum believe incoming buyers may also look to Malton, Thirsk, Northallerton and surrounding villages, where there are good rail links to both York and London. Civil servants on lower salaries who may relocate from rental property in London with a dream of buying a home of their own could find themselves priced out of prime areas of York.

However, there are other options. Ben Hudson says that the York suburb of Acomb is up-and-coming. The average three-bedroom, semi-detached home there costs from £250,000.

Nearby Selby and its villages are a hotspot for first-time buyers. Terraced houses start at £100,000 and semi-detached homes from about £170,000. Selby has rail and bus services to York.

Reports that government staff are enquiring about homes in Harrogate, 20 miles away, have been dismissed as “laughable” by many. The spa town and the medieval city are 20 miles apart, the road links are congested at peak times and the rail journey is slow, taking 40 minutes or more.

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