31 December 2023 , 10:04
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A small town in the north of England has been recognised as one of the cheapest places to live, according to a recent survey by the housing agent Zoopla. It indicated that Shildon in County Durham is Britain's budget capital and the most affordable location in England.
Shildon has received awards time and time again for being the most cost-effective place to live. It's located only 13 miles from Durham, and closeby to Middlesborough. It features plentiful green space and easy access to lots of urban areas.
According to Rightmove, properties in Shildon had an average price of £83,345 during the last year. Most sales in Shildon have been terraced properties, which have sold for an average price of £62,277.
Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £92,019, with detached properties fetching £216,325. Overall, sold prices in Shildon over the last year were 9 percent down on the previous year and 14 percent down on the 2018 peak of £97,355.
The town's streets were busy were local independent businesses with friendly owners who were ready to chat, reported Chronicle Live.
London flat for rent for £1,400 a month with bed tucked away in kitchen cupboard
Maurice Card, owner of Shildon Sweet Treats, told the publication: "I'm originally from Shildon so I know a lot of the people. I enjoy having conversations with the locals.
"Everyone here is different, with different lives and interests. Some people are lonely and they come for a chat.
"Most shops in Shildon will help out and support each other. We would share online when new shops have opened on the street. It's a real sense of community."
But due to an absence of recreational activities for young people, crime rates in Shildon have skyrocketed. The rate is 49 percent higher than the national average, and there were 142 crimes per 1,000 people recorded last year.
The most prevalent offenses were sexual and violent crimes. Councillor Peter Quin, a resident of the town for three decades and a former mayor, says the decline is due to the closure of the wagon works in 1984.
This resulted in the sudden loss of 1,750 jobs overnight, which was a huge blow to a town otherwise heavily dependent on the railways and associated business.
According to Zoopla’s survey, Scotland dominates the list of the most affordable towns to buy in Britain, with eight of the top 10 towns in Renfrewshire, Ayrshire and North Lanarkshire.
Cumnock in Ayrshire takes the number one spot for the most affordable town to buy in Britain. A couple buying a house there will usually spend 1.04 times what they earn in a year, making Cumnock almost four times more affordable than the UK average.