Just how many people move to London from around the UK? If it’s a question you’ve often pondered, wonder no more as the answer is here. The Office for National Statistics has published new research that sheds light on internal migration to the capital, with almost 200,000 people moving to London from within the UK on an annual basis.
As well as identifying how many people are moving internally to London, the research also revealed where the movers are settling. The trend is for south of the River Thames. Top of the list was the borough of Wandsworth, (13,100 people approx), followed by Lambeth (12,300 people approx) and Southwark (10,000 people approx).
While there are indicators that the south of the river is favoured for better affordability, the ‘emerging’ status of these boroughs is certainly a lure that should be factored in when relocating professionals. South London has benefited from improved transport links in recent years, with the Jubilee Tube line and DLR extensions two of the most notable, but Crossrail in 2018 is set to put the South on an equal footing with the North and the West of the capital.
“Traditionally relocation professionals have focused their efforts on Central, South West and North West London but there is an increasing fascination with neighbourhoods on the south side,” comments Alex Hancock at Klippa Relocation. “As well as some more established areas, such as Clapham Common, Putney and Earlsfield, places like Crystal Palace, Peckham and Battersea are fast becoming residential hot spots. South of the river is a hot bed for culture, social opportunity and employment prospects, and is generally better value-for-money when it comes to rental accommodation. You only have to look at Nine Elms, with its profusion of new homes, businesses headquarters and embassy relocations, to see why South London should be on the relocation radar.”
The office for National Statistics didn’t just focus on people moving to London though. Its data was analysed to find out where the thousands of people leaving London go. The highest number (6,500 approx) move to Birmingham– often classed as the UK’s second city. Taking second spot was Brighton – known as London by the sea (5,600 approx) and the third most popular relocation spot away from the capital was Thurrock in Essex (4,900 approx).
“While Birmingham is an employment hub in its own right, it’s interesting to discover a large proportion of people leaving London are choosing places that are a commutable distance from the capital. Brighton has long been a place for city workers to retreat to after the working day – with a train journey of around one hour – but Thurrock is a surprising third place. This Essex neighbourhood – home of Lakeside shopping centre and close to the M25 Dartford crossing – is obviously being chosen for a reason and should be an area to consider when relocating professionals within the UK,” concludes Alex.
Klippa Relocation has agents working across the South of London – in Wansdworth, Lambeth and Southwark – as well as in Birmingham, Brighton and Thurrock. If you’d like to know more and rental accommodation and orientation in these areas – or anywhere else in the UK – contact us today.
