Date: 13 May 2010

As a Coalition Government Rings the Changes, the Cotswolds Holds its Own 

As the country moves into a new political era, with a coalition government seeking change and compromise in equal measures, the Cotswolds - a region that has consistently held its own regardless of the economic climate - remains one of the best places to live and a sound investment for homeowners. 

Sam Butler, senior partner at Cotswolds specialist firm Butler Sherborn, says:  “House prices in the Cotswolds tend to be well above the UK average with period homes particularly highly prized.  I have seen the region put through its paces during three recessions and each time the Cotswolds has proved one of the last areas to slow down and the first to pick up.  The recent political uncertainty and current deliberations of the newly formed coalition government will not affect buyers’ resolution to purchase a home in what is one of the most resilient regions in the country. 

“We eagerly await the Queen’s Speech to see what opportunities parliament’s legislative programme will present for the Cotswolds property market, for example the future of Home Information Packs, Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains taxation.  The Bank of England’s decision this week to keep the base interest rate at 0.5% is certainly welcome news, however it is important lenders follow through with sensibly priced mortgages.”

The Cotswolds is located in the heart of England stretching through the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.  The region is the largest designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England and Wales, covering 790 sq miles from Bradford-upon-Avon to Banbury, a distance of 78 miles from north to south.

Sam adds:  “The unspoilt countryside, historic market towns and pretty villages in the Cotswolds continue to be a major attraction; people already living here are still buying and selling within the region as they move up the property ladder or downsize, and demand from those working in London, around an hour’s commute away, remains consistently good. 

“The quality of life here is exceptional and I would recommend anyone considering a property in the Cotswolds to buy a house to serve as their family home, not just as an alternative to the stock market; if it ticks all the boxes it will be a good investment, but perhaps more importantly, a place all the family can really enjoy.

“I do not foresee a return to house price inflation and would encourage sellers to put their houses on the market now rather than waiting for higher prices; this is the time to take advantage of the current shortage of available properties and an environment where buyers’ and sellers’ expectations are closer than they have been in recent years.” 

Sam Butler has 25 years experience in the estate agency business and established Butler Sherborn 18 years ago, with offices located in Cirencester (tel: 01285 883740), Burford (tel: 01993 822325) and Stow-on-the-Wold (tel: 01451 830731).  Further information is available on www.butlersherborn.co.uk

Sam Butler’s Top Tips:

Buyers - things to think about when choosing your home in the Cotswolds:

• If you require a good school, the Cotswolds has some of the finest in the UK.  Find your preferred school and we’ll help you locate a property to match your needs in the area.

• Choose the right village.  The Cotswolds is famous for its quintessentially English villages, but not all have a pub and a post office and some have a busier social scene than others.  Decide how you want to live (are you a ‘joiner’ or do you want a quiet and private life; do you have children who will need easy access to activities, local towns, transport?).  Our local knowledge is second to none; we can help you make the right choice.

• Recreation, consider what you and your family like to do.  Attractions include great places to visit such as Blenheim Palace; a whole host of art galleries and museums; there’s the Cotswold Water Park, the largest in Britain, for fishing, sailing and swimming; Westonbirt Arboretum, and plenty of horse riding and walking.

• If you commute to work, choose a location within close proximity to the main routes: M4 and M40 to London, the M6 to the north, M4/M5 to the south west.  The Cotswolds has good rail links, with stations at Banbury, Bath, Bradford on Avon, Cheltenham, Dursley, Evesham, Gloucester, Kemble, Kingham, Moreton-in-Marsh, Oxford, Stonehouse, Stroud, Swindon and Warwick, which cover all the main routes into the region. 

• If you want culture and entertainment city-style, look for properties near good travel links to your favourite regional centres e.g. Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham, Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon. 

Sellers - Things to do before you sell your house in the Cotswolds:

• Now is the time to tidy your home and garden, carry out repairs and make improvements.  Remember first impressions count, so don’t fall at the first fence.

• Buyers and their lenders will be extremely sensitive to properties with complicated titles, onerous covenants, defects in the title, neighbour disputes and problems in planning and Listed building consents.  It is important to resolve any issues that might derail a smooth sale and to prepare well for a marketing campaign: present everything as tidily as possible. 

• Keep a record/log book detailing all the improvements you have made to the property.

Properties currently on the market include: -

Sheps Cottage, Shipton-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire OX7 6DR
Guide Price: £395,000, telephone Butler Sherborn’s Burford office 01993 822325

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A pretty detached Cotswold stone cottage with three bedrooms, circa. 1890, located on the edge of the village with rural views and an attractive cottage garden.

Gate Farmhouse, Kiddington, Oxfordshire OX20 1BL
Offers in excess of £1 million, telephone Butler Sherborn’s Stow-on-the-Wold office 01451 830731

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A substantial family house which is currently part of the Kiddington Estate, located around 13 miles north west of Oxford.  The property includes four bedrooms, two attic rooms, a stable and paddocks.

Marston Meysey Manor, Marston Meysey, Wiltshire, SN6 6LQ
Offers in excess of £2.5 million, telephone Butler Sherborn’s Cirencester office 01285 883740

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A Grade II Listed 17th century manor house with a collection of traditional barns and outbuildings situated in the centre of Marston Meysey, around seven miles south east of Cirencester.  Includes five bedrooms in the main house, a tennis court, swimming pool, paddock and shelter; plus Manor Cottage with two bedrooms and Pheasant Cottage with two bedrooms (currently let).

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Issued by:

Anne Toomey
anne.toomey@lawsonclarke.co.uk

Sue Hitchcock
sue.hitchcock@lawsonclarke.co.uk

LawsonClarke PR
Tel: 01285 658844
Fax: 01285 650080
www.lawsonclarke.com

Ref: BS02/2010