A new study has revealed the most desirable places to live and work in the UK, with the Wirral, Norwich and Bournemouth topping the list.
The research was undertaken by the Centre for Economics and Business Research and calculated the most desirable areas based on a range of factors including good schools, access to green spaces, good employment prospects, working hours, affordable housing and average commuting times.
Bebington’s CH63 postcode in the Wirral has retained its top spot as the most desirable place to live and work in England. Located close to the River Mersey, Bebington residents enjoy the ideal balance of living close to work, having access to good schools and high employment rates.
The NR6 postcode in Norwich came in at number two, while BH18 in Broadstone, Bournemouth was in third place.
In fourth place was Sale – M33 – in Greater Manchester.
In 2015, there were just three Postcodes from the south compared to six this year. Good local schools and lower unemployment helped facilitate the change.
In Scotland, three-quarters of the most desirable places to live and work are around Glasgow. Residents have shorter working hours and shorter commute times as well as access to local services, better schools and lower crime rates.
Stornoway (HS1) and Kirkwall (KW15) which are both located on islands in the far north of Scotland make an appearance thanks to a good work-life balance and high employment rate.
More than half of the most desirable places to live and work in Wales are located around Cardiff as a result of shorter working hours and shorter commute times as well as access to better local schools.
The most desirable place to live is Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan (CF63). In second place is Cardiff Central (CF24) and in third is Swansea (SA1).
The top locations in Northern Ireland remain around Belfast and Craigavon in County Armagh, which benefit from easy access to local services, high employment rates and a strong education system.
Additionally people in these areas have a shorter commute and many work fewer than 50 hours a week.
Other places making the top five include Dundonald (BT16) in Belfast and Lurgan (BT66) in County Armagh.
Steve Rooney, head of Royal Mail’s address management unit, said: “Royal Mail delivers to nearly 30 million addresses across the UK, connecting communities and businesses. This new report builds on the study that we commissioned two years ago and provides unique insight into the most desirable places to live and work, through the lens of the postcode.”
Top 10 most desirable places to live in England
1. CH63 – Bebington, Wirral
2. NR6 – North and North West Norwich
3. BH18 – Broadstone, Bournemouth
4. M33 – Sale, Greater Manchester
5. PO32 – East Cowes, Isle of Wight
6. SO53 – Eastleigh, Hampshire
7. IP5 – Ipswich, Suffolk
8. LS18 – Horsforth, Leeds
9. S18 – Dronfield, North East Derbyshire
10. RG6 – Earley, Reading
Top 10 most desirable places to live in Scotland
1. G78 – Neilson, East Renfrewshire
2. G64 – Bishopbriggs
3. G66 – Lenzie/Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire
4. G76 – Eaglesham, East Renfrewshire
5. G62 – Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire
6. G46 – Giffnock, East Renfrewshire
7. G61 – Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire
8. G77 – Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire
9. HS1 – Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
10. KW15 – Kirkwall, Orkney Islands
Top 10 most desirable places to live in Wales
1. CF63 – Barry, Vale of Glamorgan
2. CF24 – Cardiff Central
3. SA1 – Swansea
4. SA5 – Swansea
5. SA72 – Pembroke Dock
6. CF3 – Cardiff South
7. CF62 – Barry, Vale of Glamorgan
8. CF5 – Cardiff West
9. CF11 – Cardiff Central
10. SA6 – Morriston, Swansea
Top five most desirable places to live in Northern Ireland
1. BT65 – Craigavon, County Armagh
2. BT16 – Dundonald, Belfast
3. BT64 – Craigavon-Lurgan
4. BT66 – Lurgan, County Armagh
5. BT10 – Finaghy, Belfast
