Research conducted by the Halifax has highlighted Knowsley as being one of the top ten hotspot areas in the country for first-time buyers.
Mortgage approval data has been used to calculate the findings looking at where first-time buyers are buying homes.
Over the last few years, multi-million pounds of investment has been ploughed into Knowsley which has helped to create demand for homes in the borough as well as creating a vibrant night-time economy in Prescot and Huyton, a new retail development delivered in Kirkby as well as the construction and opening of the iconic Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot. Plans are also underway to deliver improvements to recreation and leisure facilities, sustainable transport connections and an improved retail offer in Halewood.
Running alongside the council’s development plans for the borough has been an ambitious house building programme which has seen over 4,000 new homes built in the last five years – over 25% of which are affordable homes – providing choice in terms of size, style, budget and location.
Plus there’s also an engaging cultural events programme taking place in Knowsley including the popular Knowsley Flower Show, Elizabethan Fayre and Knowsley Music Festival and Knowsley has excellent transport connections too, meaning both Liverpool and Manchester are within easy reach.
In the research, Knowsley was rated 8th in the first-time buyer hotspot with 71% of first time-buyers among all mortgaged buyers in 2023 with the average first-time buyer house being £157,139.
Cllr Tony Brennan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said “I’m delighted that we have been highlighted as one of the top areas for first-time buyers.
“Our ambitious house building programme is ensuring that there is choice for everyone, whether it’s buying your first home through to executive family homes.
“The delivery of our regeneration plans across our town centres are also attracting more people into the borough, creating more job opportunities, opportunities to socialise and also more residents who are choosing Knowsley as their home.”