England and Wales’s “most gentrified” area has been revealed but it’s not all good news. Charlestown, near Salford in Greater Manchester, has come at the top of the rankings following new research.
It improved the most in each of The Telegraph’s gentrification metrics — including education level, income, house prices and local amenities — over the last decade. House prices in Charlestown have almost tripled over the period from £73,000 to £212,000, with earnings increasing by almost 50% and the share of residents university-educated steadily rising.
The arrival of the huge MediaCityUK on Salford Quays last decade transformed the area massively, creating more than 10,000 jobs and improving local infrastructure.
Paul Swinney from the Centre for Cities think tank said the amount of brownfield sites in Salford opened up “the creation of places to live where before there were none”.
While gentrification comes with many positives, there are repercussions as many who’ve grown up in these areas are priced out by soaring house prices as newcomers flock.
According to the HM Land Registry, average house prices between 2014 and 2024 across England and Wales increased by around 50% from £183,000 to £279,000.
But, the report by The Telegraph explains that in gentrified areas prices have jumped even further in terms of a percentage, with Greater Manchester alone home to eight out of the 10 top areas with the biggest rises in property prices.
In Little Hulton South, a residential area on the edge of Salford, home prices nearly tripled during the same period from £92,000 to £270,000 (193%).
Andrew Cardwell from Cardwells Estate Agents said: “This growth has been driven by ongoing investment in local infrastructure, the popularity of the schools, improved public transport and new-build developments that have brought fresh energy and property to the community.
“Traditionally, Little Hulton South offered relatively affordable housing stock, which meant it started from a lower price point than some of its neighbouring areas.
“Over the past decade, we’ve seen steady development in the property stock, which has naturally driven up average sale prices. At the same time, price growth in surrounding areas has created a ripple effect, further enhancing local values.”
The Manchester neighbourhood of Belle Vue and West Gorton was also identified as an area where property values have increased significantly over the past 10 years.