Those moving house in England and Wales are heading for the coast, says a new report from Halifax. It found that of the 20 local authorities that experienced the biggest increases in internal migration, 80% are coastal areas.
Halifax also suggests that whilst city living still proves popular, many families only stay for a limited number of years; the report also says that 19 of the 20 authorities that saw the largest net fall in internal migration are located within cities, while London had nine of the ten authorities which had the largest drop in migration.
Chief economist at Halifax, Martin Ellis, said: ‘There have been significant population movements across England and Wales during recent years. Coastal areas have proved to be popular destinations for people to move to as many people have sought to take advantage of the benefits of living near the sea.
‘The figures also highlight the transient nature of the population in many of our major cities. Birmingham, for example, recorded both the highest level of internal immigration and emigration in England and Wales.’
* More news on the property market and house prices