Why booming business is boosting Huddersfield’s property market

As a large market town on the edge of the Pennines, it is firmly placed in the best of both worlds when it comes to urban and rural settings.

Despite a controversial annual poll from iLiveHere.co.uk this year declaring that the town was the second worst place to live in the UK, it has a loyal fan base.

Local poet Simon Armitage once said: “The Huddersfield that I like best is a large town with a big heart and an open mind.”

Last of the Summer Wine promoted Huddersfield as a place with ‘nice folk and nice countryside’, according to Simon Blyth, of Simon Blyth estate agents.

The town’s housing market is particularly active at the moment. According to Rightmove data, sales searches in the area increased by 58 per cent year-on-year between February 2020 and February 2021.

The biggest sales searches were in Slaithwaite (68 per cent), Birkby (55 per cent) and Marsden (55 per cent).

Simon is keen for people to see Huddersfield as an alternative to popular Yorkshire towns like Harrogate, Wetherby, Malton, which are all deemed desirable.

“I want people to recognise that there are alternatives at lesser prices in just as nice locations,” he says.

Simon adds: “I think there’s been an awakening to how convenient Huddersfield is. It’s got a great mix of commercial enterprises and gorgeous rural countryside, and the M62, of course.”

He adds: “Activity is very strong and I think some of that is because the industries themselves are all doing well and a general feel good factor.

“I think we got over the Brexit scenario fairly quickly so we’re all used to the idea of that.

“We’ve got some beautiful countryside, some great schools, good facilities, and it’s a good place to live.”

Lindley, with its hospital, a good range of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants, is one of the most popular areas to move to, according to Simon.

Almondbury, Fixby, Edgerton, Birkby, Kirkburton, Lepton and Holmfirth are also doing well, he says.

Simon says he is seeing a 50/50 split between housebuyers moving within the Huddersfield area and those moving into the town from elsewhere.

“People are refining where they live in Huddersfield and upgrading their homes, but people are also discovering Huddersfield and the commutability of it,” he adds.

“Sheffield is a quick trip down the road. You can get from Holmfirth to Meadowhall, for example, in 25 minutes. It’s very convenient.”

On the other side of town, Milnsbridge, Golcar, Slaithwaite and Marsden are also busy because of their convenient links to Manchester.

The buoyant housing market stems from a pent up demand from Brexit and Covid, he says, and buyers are looking for a broad mix of houses.

“Our homes range from about £80,000 to just under £3m at the moment and there’s interest in all of them. It’s very busy,” Simon says.

So busy, in fact, that one house had 77 sets of viewers prior to best and final bids.

Another one was on its 93rd viewing at the time of writing, nine days before the closing date for bids.

Houses with home office space are particularly sought after. “If there’s an additional room, we’re calling it office space, no doubt about that,” says Simon.

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James Mitchinson