Shoemaking and leather helped it to fame, but now it’s a property hotspot, says Gary Parkinson 

Cobblers! Northampton Town FC’s nickname reflects the footwear and leather industries that put Northampton on the map, but this large market town in the heart of the country has bucked the post-industrial trend by continuing to grow stronger over the last half-century. 

Designation as a New Town in 1968 has encouraged development and even though not all the shoe-makers survived into the 21st century, they have been replaced as principal employers by finance and distribution companies revelling in the town’s centrality. 

It’s not been roses all the way: because Northampton had been Parliamentarian during the Civil War, the restored King Charles II ordered the town walls and most of the castle to be razed in 1660 – although he made up for it 15 years later by donating 1,000 tons of timber after the Great Fire of Northampton. Later, the Grand Union Canal and the railways took the town’s shoes around the country and eventually the world. 

Having grown during the white-collar era into one of England’s largest towns, Northampton has regularly featured recently in property-hotspot lists of the best investment areas: in 2017, it was declared the fastest-selling place in Britain with properties taking just 27 days to shift. The following year it was down to fourth with sales taking a relatively sedate 33 days, but the point remains that demand strips supply, and we know what that does to a market. 

Starting out First-timers should look at Far Cotton, Semilong and St James, all near the centre: for £125,000 there’s a three-bed terrace in Semilong that could turn a quick profit post-paintjob. 

Great for families....  Abington’s Victorians and Georgians sit between the Racecourse and Abington Park; £284,000 gets a three-bed end terrace. Families also fill the village of Wootton, two miles south.

Just won the lottery? In the Duston village conservation area is an eight-bed, grade II-listed, 17th-century detached with seven garages, tennis court and three gated entrances – plus planning permission for development. It’s yours for £1.3m.

HEAD FOR RURAL BLISS IN…

Ashby St Ledgers The alleged origin of the Gunpowder Plot is an idyllic village 30 minutes west of town, all thatched roofs and warm-toned ironstone yet handy for the M1 – it’s within two miles of Watford Gap services. A four-bed barn conversion in the heart of the village will cost £750,000. 

Stoke Bruerne Seven miles south is a 400-soul village of stone houses and thatched cottages split by the Grand Union Canal, which nearby dives through the 1.75-mile Blisworth tunnel; there’s a canal museum and many popular hiking paths. A four-bed detached will cost £750,000.

Naseby There’s hilltop history in this 700-person village half an hour north; it was almost wiped out by the Black Death, the first Civil War was effectively won here in 1645 and a Victorian rebuilding boom gave it period character. There’s a two-bed red-brick cottage in the village for £250,000.

THE COST OF LIVING

Average rent: £55o-600 gets a variety of one-bed options, from newbuilds to sliced Victorians overlooking the racecourse. Family four-beds go from £895 to double that but cluster around £1,250. 

Average house price: The average one-bed is around £120,000 but there are some five-figure flats, including in the town centre. Up at the roomy end, four-beds average £375,000 but one or two are still available for half that – although they’re getting snapped up fast for renting to students.

Average rental yield: A reported average of 4.1 percent isn’t bad at all, and might even underplay the possibilities if renting to students.

Average house price rise: The current average property value of £267,851 is down 0.66 percent on last year, due to a 1.45 percent drop in the cost of flats; terraces and semis have gone up by more than two percent.

Average salary: £29,501 – around £20 per week below the UK average of £30,629. The 65.4 percent employment rate is below the UK average of 76.3 percent.

Average price of a pint: £3.50

Council tax: £1,180 to £3,697.

NORTHAMPTON AT A GLANCE

Connections: Three miles from the M1, Northampton is two hours’ drive from London and an hour from Birmingham. Direct trains to the capital can take less than an hour.

Amenities 3/5 Market square dating to 1235; leisure at Billing Aquadrome; shows at Royal & Derngate, The Deco and Playhouse; music at the Roadmender.

Festivals and events: Gin & Rum Festival (March), Althorp (food and drink, May), Tiny Tots (June), Carnival (June), Northampton Music Festival (June), Beer Festival (June), Town Festival (July), Shambala (music, August), Fake Festival (covers bands, August), Balloon Festival (August), St Crispin’s Fair (October), Diwali (November).

Open space: 4/5 Around 170 parks including Abington Park, the Racecourse, Becket’s Park, Bradlaugh Fields, Dallington Park, Delapré Park, Hunsbury Hill and Victoria Park. Outside town, you’re in the Heart of England: AONBs at the Cotswolds start an hour west and the Chilterns an hour south. 

Landmarks: Looming on a hilltop is the 400ft concrete National Lift Tower, finished in 1982 and listed within 15 years. Older landmarks include the Holy Sepulchre church (1100) and cathedral designed by Pugin of Parliament-building fame.  

Schools 3/5 Nine outstanding primaries and five outstanding secondaries within five miles. 

Crime 3/5 Northamptonshire averages 82 recorded crimes per thousand people, below the 89.3 average for England and Wales, but the town centre reaches 110 – comparable to Cardiff and Bristol.

Famous faces: Musician/priest Reverend Richard Coles, TV host Toby Anstis, rugby activist Ben Cohen, comedian Tim Minchin and DJ Bob Harris were born here; comedian Alan Carr was brought up here – his dad managed Northampton Town FC.

Originally published in the Metro newspaper, 4 Feb 2019