Savills recent UK Housing Market Survey reveals that location is the primary driver of the UK residential market.

Nearly 500 households across the UK took part in the survey, of which 80% said the quality of the neighbourhood in which property is located was considered the most important factor.
Other top factors affecting the residential market included good schools, the safety of the local environment, the property’s external appearance and the cost of maintenance.

Lucian Cook, director of Savills Research says: “The findings present a clear challenge to policy makers, planners and house builders to deliver developments which provide a sustainable living environment. This is particularly significant because the survey respondents showed a strong preference for away from town and city centre locations, where development is increasingly being concentrated.”

The survey also revealed that more people considered the size and layout of rooms as more important than the number of rooms or indeed the overall size of the property.