• Gloucestershire takes the top spot as the location with the highest total of Listed buildings, according to a new study by national estate agent Jackson-Stops, making it the perfect location for heritage lovers
• The top postcode here, GL7, witnessed a 21% rise in average house prices in just 12 months according to Rightmove, making a compelling link between period homes and property values
• Its neighbour, GL6, was one of the most prominent areas for newly registered Listed properties within the last decade.
• Its Heritage Homes survey revealed the most favoured building style to live in pre-1910 as Victorian (39%), closely followed by Georgian (23%) and thatched cottages (22%)
• Unique charm and character (32%) along with larger proportions (28%) are two biggest draws for purchasing a period home.
• 80% of people believe period properties hold their value as well as or better than newer homes • Only 12% of people who live in a period or Listed home wouldn’t buy an older home again
• First-time buyers make up over a third of period homeowners (37%), highlighting their multi-generational appeal

New research from national estate agency, Jackson-Stops, identifies the areas across England where period home lovers can find the highest density of Listed buildings . Its analysis of data from the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) , Jackson-Stops found that Gloucestershire, which appeared in four out of the top five postcodes for volumes of Listed buildings, is the county to look in for beautiful period architecture thanks to its mix of Georgian and medieval construction in and around Cirencester, Winchcombe, and towards Bath [see table 1].

The top postcode here, GL7, witnessed a 21% rise in average house prices in just 12 months according to Rightmove, making a compelling link between period homes and property values. All of the top 10 heritage hotspots with the highest density of Listed buildings witnessed a significant price increase of between 5% and 21% compared to the national average of a 1.1% increase in a year .

Looking at new heritage areas; locations in England with the highest volume of Listed buildings added to the Register in the last decade, out of the 4,694 new entries, around 600 were residential focused. It may be no surprise that the GL postcode featured high on the list again, with GL6 taking top spot. Areas here are typically rich in historical architecture and period buildings, including popular picture-perfect buyer locations such as Slad, Painswick, and Minchinhampton [see table 2]. Other Nouveau Heritage areas included Stoke On Trent, Southwark and Lewes.

Despite one in five homes being built before 1919, there are only around 400,000 Listed building entries in England of both residential and commercial, compared to around 25 million households. Assuming that at least half of these registered buildings are non-residential, from landmarks to Cathedrals, this equates to less than one percent (0.8%) of total housing stock, representing a finite number that will only proportionally dwindle as more new homes are built.

SOUTH HOUSE - Victorian villa undergone an extensive and sympathetic refurbishment program over recent years, constructed with mellow reds, enhanced with decorative brickwork and finials set under an attractive Dutch gabled roof. 
CREFFIELD ROAD, LEXDEN, COLCHESTER, CO3
Guide Price £1,250,000
Jackson-Stops Colchester 01206 982272

Nick Leeming, Chairman at Jackson-Stops, explains: “England has the oldest housing stock in Europe. Our heritage is inextricably linked to our love affair with period properties, a nostalgia that is reflected in their value and demand. It’s a classic period romance, one that buyers are spellbound by.”

He continues, “Our clients often include sellers of period and Listed properties across England and Wales, from historic thatched country cottages to sprawling edge of village manor houses, so we see this love affair every day. Once people become the proud owner of a heritage building, it’s more than likely they never look back.”

Jackson-Stops’ latest research reflects this sentiment. Noting its specialism in the sale of Listed houses, its Heritage Homes survey captured the views of 1,000 current period property owners to find that of those that answered with an intention of moving, 66% will buy a period or Listed home for their next home move. Whilst another 22% of respondents were neither likely nor unlikely, it was only a surprising minority of just 12% who cited moving to another period home - as opposed to a newer build - as either quite or highly unlikely.

Similarly, a confident majority of 80% of those surveyed believe that period property, such as Victorian and Georgian homes, hold their value either the same or better than their new build counterparts. Whilst 15% were unsure on this, just 5% believe that period properties hold their value worse than newer built constructions; a nod to the capital appreciation that can often be at play with Listed homes in central locations.

THE COURT: constructed of mellow Cotswold stone, this charming Grade II* Listed village house was built around 1600, restored and extended under the supervision of the well-known Cotswold architect Sir Guy Dawber at the turn of the 19th century. Today, the property has been newly renovated with gardens designed by landscape designer, horticulturist and writer, Dan Pearson.
SNOWSHILL ROAD, BROADWAY, WORCESTERSHIRE, WR12
GUIDE PRICE £4,500,000
Jackson-Stops Chipping -Camden 01386 840224

Interestingly, the data revealed that over a third of period property homeowners (37%) were first-time buyers, highlighting their multi-generational appeal. When asked what prompted respondents to buy their current period home, the overwhelming top two answers were down to their unique charm and character (32%) and larger proportions (28%).

The most favoured building style to live in pre-1910 is Victorian (39%), according to the survey results, closely followed by Georgian (23%) and historic thatched cottages (22%) [see graph 2]. Nearly half of all respondents lived in Victorian buildings (47%), reflecting both their relative prominence within England’s urban landscape, as well as their lasting popularity for families, seeing many stay loyal to their typically wider features and ornate details. Victorian houses are known for their high ceilings, big fireplaces, and structural durability, so it’s of little surprise then, that high ceilings (41%) and big fireplaces (36%) were the most desired features.

Dawn Carritt, Country House specialist at Jackson-Stops, says: “The kudos of Listed buildings remains a huge draw for buyers across the world, which is enhanced by our unique history. Our country houses for centuries have been the jewel in the crown of Britain’s property market, largely immune from wider fluctuations in demand. But expectations are starting to evolve, and Listed buildings that have already been renovated tend to attract more interest and hold their value best.

“The conservation of old buildings is one of the most effective ways we can protect our environment; as the custodians of our built heritage, the more buildings we can preserve or bring back to life the less we need to build new houses with all the natural resources they inevitably require.”

1 Listed buildings definition: Buildings on the List are given one of three grades which denote their level of importance, Grade I being the highest and Grade II the lowest: • Grade I (one) ¬ of exceptional interest • Grade II* (two star) ¬ particularly important • Grade II (two) ¬ of special interest Structures that might not be classified as ‘buildings’ ¬ such as railings, gate piers, walls, war memorials, gravestones, post boxes and telephone boxes ¬ can all be Listed Buildings.
2 https://opendata-historicengland.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/historicengland::national-heritage-list-for-england-nhle/about?layer=0 - The National Heritage List for England (NHLE) is the only official, up to date, Register of all nationally protected historic buildings and sites in England - Listed buildings, scheduled monuments, protected wrecks, registered parks and gardens, and battlefields.
3 Rightmove HPI: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/house-price-index/
4 ONS https://www.statista.com/statistics/232302/number-of-dwellings-in-england/
5 Survey of UK adults who live in period homes (pre 1910)