Getting Back to Nature Becoming an Important Housing Trend

A new report has found that an increasing number of homeowners are looking to move back to the country, as urban spaces become heavily populated and people want more peace and tranquillity in their lives. However, those who want to live in rural settings don't want to be without their modern amenities, and good facilities and a broadband connection remain important aspects of their lives wherever their home is.

The study, compiled by Strutt and Parker, highlighted that around 21% of those who are looking to move home want to set up in a village - maybe in a home with a balcony designed by Halifax fabricators. This makes it the most popular location amongst those who participated in the research, and the figures compare with those showing just 14% who would choose a market town and 12% who would opt for a suburban setting or a big city.

Technology Important

The research, published in the Housing Futures Report, also found that modern technology was an important element for those considering a rural move. Almost half of the respondents (49%) said that broadband was an essential factor for them, and 38% noted that a good mobile signal was important if they were to live in the country.

Homeowners also cited a good range of facilities and amenities as key to their move to a rural setting, and they don't want to feel as if they are completely cut off from the outside world. 60% of homeowners want to live within walking distance of shops, 48% close to public transport connections and 45% near to a medical centre.

There are a number of reasons why UK homeowners are increasingly looking at rural locations, with the report indicating that neighbourhood safety was the prime concern (86%), followed by the distance from their neighbours (58%) and having a strong community link (48%).

One of the main areas that has accounted for the growth in popularity of rural locations is the development of technology such as broadband and mobile coverage, which has enabled those in rural locations to be better connected.

Good for Business

This has also increased capacity for rural businesses and enabled them to expand, with more than 25% of businesses now based in rural settings and contributing £201 billion to the country's overall economic output. This increase in the number of rural companies has expanded the need for additional services, such as for Halifax fabricators to install bespoke staircases in offices, which shows how this move to the country can impact positively on all areas of the economy.

This report shows how homeowners feelings about the countryside are changing, and it is now longer seen as an area solely for farmers or retired people to live, but somewhere that families can move to and people can do business in. The trend is likely to continue as we look for a better work-life balance, and the growth in technology means that we are no longer out in the wilderness.