Rebirth of the commuter belt

IT'S hard to believe it was only five years ago that the nation was told to work from home because of Covid. The bad news for those who moved to isolated coast or countryside is that a return to the office is the new normal for 2025 - at least it is from Tuesdays to Thursdays.

- By Deborah Stone

This is now beginning to boost commuter belt house sales, particularly in the home counties around London, according to industry expert Edward Heaton.

"As more employers call staff back into the office, we're seeing a noticeable shift with families and professionals in their 30s and 40s increasingly relocating to the home counties to make the London commute more manageable," says Edward, founder of buying agency Heaton & Partners.

"Many people are moving from areas like Dorset, Somerset and the further reaches of Wiltshire in favour of locations such as Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire.

"These areas offer a great balance of easy access to the City, excellent schools and the lifestyle benefits of living in the countryside without sacrificing connectivity."