Bradford on Avon has been highlighted in a comprehensive new ranking of the best places to live in England and Wales, compiled by the buying agents Garrington Property Finders.
With official ONS data showing that over a third (34%) of Britons are still working entirely from home, the property market is being powered by buyers who want more from their living space than just fast broadband.
Bradford on Avon, ranked third overall, was also listed as the 19th best place to live in terms of natural beauty.
Trowbridge, on the other hand, was ranked 421st in terms of natural beauty.
Malmesbury and Marlborough also ranked high on the list.
The Garrington league table of nearly 1400 cities, towns and villages focused exclusively on areas where at least 95% of homes have access to superfast broadband, and bases its ranking on three key criteria – natural beauty, architectural beauty and quality of life – rather than price.
The overall winner was Bath in Somerset, scored highly across the board.
Researchers scored each location for its proximity to open water, National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In the architectural beauty category, marks were awarded for the number of listed and period homes, as well as modern ultra-energy efficient homes.
Finally the quality of life category ranked each town, village and city for its air quality, crime figures and how many farm shops there are within a three mile radius.
Garrington’s interactive league table is available at https://www.garrington.co.uk/best-places-to-live-in-2021. It’s free to use and is an invaluable tool both for those planning a move in 2021 and the merely curious.
Jonathan Hopper, CEO of the buying agents Garrington Property Finders, said: ““Over a third of workers are still working entirely from home, and many of us may never go back to a daily commute.
"This cutting of the cord with the office means people are freer to work remotely at least some of the time, and we’re seeing a stream of buyers keen to explore areas where they can get more home, and a better quality of life, for their money.
“In the post-Covid world, most buyers regard fast, reliable broadband as an essential. So our league table only includes areas with a top-notch connection, and instead scores them on what’s outside – from the natural and architectural surroundings to the little things that make the difference between a good and a great place to live.”
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