Salisbury, Marlborough and the rise of flexible working

Larger homes are coming on to the market, as baby boomers sell up, with highly sought-after schools in the area. For those whose budgets don’t stretch to the fees at leading boarding school Marlborough College where it is believed that Prince George will be heading, there are excellent state schools, primary and secondary, Winkworth’s Simon Jacobs revealed on the latest episode of Winkworth’s Property Exchange podcast.

Simon, who runs the Winkworth Marlborough and Salisbury offices, said: “Marlborough has a population of 8,000 so we are talking about a very small market town on the edge of the Marlborough Downs. A large part of the town is taken up by Marlborough College where young Prince George is destined for, as his mother was there for a number of years.

“We are now seeing a lot of people in their 70s and 80s, who are maybe wanting to help their children and grandchildren to buy their own houses and help with education as well. They have been living in four-, five- and six-bedroom houses for 30 plus years, and are now selling. There are very nice three, four and five bedroom, detached family houses between £750,000 and £1.2m in and around the town. Marlborough has a very good school called St John's, which has quite a decent sized catchment covering popular villages such as Ramsbury and West Overton. Ramsbury also has a very good primary school. You can buy a house for a million pounds and put your children entirely through the state system. We're seeing a lot of people doing that. For those thinking of an independent school there’s Dauntsey’s at West Lavington, with links to the Worshipful Company of Mercers, which has day places and not as costly as the boarding option.”

In the cathedral city of Salisbury, two grammar schools, Bishop Wordsworth’s School for boys and South Wilts Grammar School for Girls are attracting a lot of families to move to the area. Simon Jacobs added: “People come from far and wide to get their children into the schools. You can buy a three-bedroom classic 1930s terrace house for around £400,000, which is affordable for those looking to move from London.”

Dominic Agace, Winkworth’s Chief Executive, told the podcast: “The traditional commuter belt used to offer more value than London. It was once the case that you bought a London house and then traded for a family house in Surrey and commuted into town. Now the cost is broadly the same. Prices are roughly the same in Acton or Shepherds Bush as in Weybridge or Cobham. To cash in your London terrace and buy a detached house with a bigger garden, you now need to go further to places such as Salisbury or Marlborough.”