When the first Severn Bridge was opened by The Queen in 1966, it was hailed as the dawn of a new economic era for south Wales, slashing what had been a 12-hour journey to London’s West End.
Although removing bridge tolls in December 2018 – saving commuters up to £1,400 a year – might not have felt quite as momentous, agents say the change has fuelled a spike in interest in Welsh property.
‘It’s noticeable – there’s definitely more activity,’ says managing director at Stacks Property Search James Greenwood.‘There’s also a lot more traffic on the roads and a lot of people talking about it. The question is: is that because the tolls came down or because the pressure on price on the English side of the Severn is so great that people have been squeezed west?’
Dan Rees at Savills Cardiff responds: ‘For people who don’t know Wales and didn’t perhaps grow up there, I’m sure the scrapping of the tolls has widened their search. If they’re commuting, they haven’t got to worry about that extra cost.’
Most new activity, say agents, has been focused towards the middle to lower end of the market. ‘We’re talking about the sub-£300,000 level, especially new-builds,’ says Anthony Clay of Fine & Country Monmouth.‘What will cost you £350,000 in Bristol will cost you £250,000 here, and it’s also beneath the raised tax levels of Wales. People who work in Bristol in the middle end of the market will commute, bridge tolls or no bridge tolls.’
‘If they’re not Welsh, I think people are surprised by how beautiful south Wales is,’ muses Leah Mullin of Knight Frank Cardiff. ‘If I wanted to go and walk in the Brecon Beacons one weekend, it only takes 40 minutes to get there; if I want to go for a swim in the sea, it’s 30 minutes away. The mix of amenities is a massive pull.’
For buyers willing to widen their search, tempted by the new ease of the bridge, budgets will still stretch further across the border. ‘There will always be a bit more value for money in Wales compared with England,’ says Mr Rees, with Savills research showing Welsh properties are nearly £100 cheaper per square foot than on the English side of the bridge.
‘Initially, there was a bit of a surge and a scramble for properties and I think the values did go up a little bit. But, as time has gone on, things have flattened out.’
Monmouthshire, often considered ‘Wales light’ – ‘not too Welsh,’ explains Mr Clay – boasts the popular market towns of Usk and Monmouth; the latter is home to the Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools, a major draw. Crickhowell, the other side of Abergavenny, is also in high demand, with its high street enlivened by independent shops.
Agents advise sticking near to the bridge for a daily Bristol commute; the realistic commuter belt is between Chepstow and Newport near the motorway, including popular Caldicot. ‘You also have the Severn Tunnel Junction or Newport train stations on your doorstep here, and can be in London in two hours on a fast train,’ adds Mr Rees.
Why not take the plunge? ‘It’s a bit of a cliché, but people can be surprised by how warmly they’re made to feel at home in Wales,’ says Mr Greenwood. ‘There are slightly different attitudes and values to money on the other side of the river. It is a more relaxed place.’ Take me to the river... and beyond.
50 best places to live near London
The indispensable guide for getting into the country without ending up out of touch with the town.
The best places to live for commuters: Suffolk
There are two places in Suffolk on our list of the best villages and towns close to London.
Credit: tim gartside / Alamy Stock Photo
The best places to live near Edinburgh – and what you could get for your money
Looking for the perfect spot from which to enjoy the country life while working in Edinburgh? Eleanor Doughty picks out
Seven of the best places to live in the North of England – and seven wonderful houses from under £500,000
-
The life that thrives among the dead: How wildlife finds a home in the graveyards and churchyards of BritainHome to a veritable ‘Noah’s Ark of species’, thanks to never being ploughed, sprayed or fertilised, our churchyards offer a sacred haven for flora and fauna, says Laura Parker.
-
‘What a shame when a dinosaur disappears into the mansion of an oligarch rather than being displayed for all to enjoy’: The ethics of the dinosaur auctionFancy a stegosaurus in your living room? You can buy one at auction. But the latest luxury good is a paleontologist's worst nightmare.
-
The majestic New Forest estate formerly owned by a billionaire adventurer — famous for driving 'the world's fastest kettle' — has come up for saleGreat estates in the unspoilt setting of the New Forest are always a welcome sight on the market, and Newton Park is a wonderful example with a sad story to tell. Anna White tells more.
-
A Hampshire Manor for sale that dates back to the days of Alfred the Great, with the most beautiful staircase we've seen in yearsThe ten bedroom property features an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, spa complex and stables, and it was restored by the same architect who worked on Downing Street.
-
The new property hotspots where you can have it all: Beautiful houses, great schools and idyllic lifestyleAcross the country people are selling up and heading to the towns where there's no compromise on dream homes, outstanding schooling and the good life, according to analysis from two of Britain's top estate agents. Anna White explains.
-
Where Venice once ruled: The roving Venetians left handsome imprints across the Greek world, from its religion to its rambling villasMatthew Dennison explores the lingering traces of Venice's vanished empire — and the best places to buy where it once stood.
-
A delightful 16th century home with some of Kent's most beautiful gardens has come on to the marketThe Grange puts the 'garden' into the Garden of England.
-
A pristine Scottish island for sale at the price of a garage in FulhamA dot on the map of the west coast of Scotland has come on to the market, where you'll be surrounded by sea, living off grid and be neighbours with the local seal colony.
-
18 beautiful homes, from charming cottages to a Highland mansion with unbeatable views, as seen in Country LifeOur look at some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life in the past week includes Georgian manor houses, charming commutable homes and the grandest home in Newcastle.
-
The gorgeous Somerset home of the designer behind one of Glastonbury's chicest spotsThe Manor in Hinton Blewitt is a glorious Georgian home that ticks every box.
