Although perhaps considered unfashionable by some, the 1940s new town of Stevenage has come into its own in recent years. The local authority has an ambitious plan to reshape the town centre for the future, and we will look at what is ongoing and planned here.

Firstly, Stevenage benefits from good transport links. As well as proximity to the A1(M), Stansted and Luton airports, London is just 30 miles away and can be reached by train in 30-40 minutes.

Something often not appreciated, perhaps because Cambridge takes the limelight, is that Stevenage is home to several future-facing industries including aerospace, defence, space and satellite technologies, electronics and life sciences. It is said to be the UK’s largest cell and gene therapy cluster, and the third largest outside the US.

Attractive property prices (for the region) have also proved to be an asset. The current average property price of £354,000 (HM Land Registry) compares with an average around £537,000 in London or £547,000 in Cambridge.

Ben South, director at Chandlers in Stevenage, offers some insight into the lettings market here: “Stevenage has a very buoyant rental market. It’s got good geography, some of Hertfordshire’s best sales values and employers generating a transient work force.

“There is a shortage of rental stock in Stevenage at the moment. Rents have been rising fairly sharply over the last couple of years. However, even though we have the supply/demand imbalance, they may have to stop rising due to affordability.”

On average monthly rents and possible yields here, he says that a 1 bed flat is likely to let at £800-900 (6% yield), a 2 bed flat at £1,000-1,100 (5.5% yield), a 2 bed house at £1,200 (4.75% yield) and a 3 bed house at £1,350-1,500 (5.25% yield).