Having an upmarket shop like Waitrose on your doorstep might improve house prices - but Brits would rather live near a Greggs, according to new research by residential property services provider, FirstPort.
Showing the nation’s love for sausage rolls - and their vegan equivalents - more than one in six (15%) surveyed stated they would prefer to live near the high street bakery giant over a Waitrose branch (8%).
Some 2,000 UK adults took part in the study, which explored the brands and amenities Brits would most want to live near to – and the local heroes that help strengthen communities.
When asked more generally about the kinds of places people would want to live near to, a post office was the number one choice for a third of Brits (33%), followed by a park or green space (27%). Proximity to a good school came relatively low down the list (15%), meanwhile, below newsagents and pubs (both 24%).
With more and more people now choosing to shop locally, the most popular brands to have close to home include Tesco (25%), Boots (20%) and Sainsbury’s (19%), with high street favourites such as Wilko (14%) and Superdrug (12%) also scoring highly.
Highlighting the success of the discount retailers, Aldi was the third most popular grocery brand with nearly one in five Brits (19%) wanting to live near one. However, access to good independent shops, cafes and restaurants appears to be a bigger priority, with nearly two thirds (64%) stating a preference to live near independents than high street chains.
Proving the importance of the morning brew for Brits, more than one in five (21%) admitted local independent coffee shops would be a draw for them to move to an area. Chain coffee shops were less popular though, but of the most well-known brands, Costa was the preferred choice (12%).
The study also explored Brits’ travel habits and priorities, with a bus stop proving the most popular option to live near (25%), followed by a train or tube station and a petrol station (both 19%). Having local access to a public bike or electric scooter hire station both scored low (both 3%).
David Young, Chief Operating Officer at FirstPort, said: "We all know location is essential when choosing where to live, but what does that actually mean in practice?
"Greggs performing so highly as the place Brits want to live near, shows the importance of having convenient and affordable food and drink options close to home, and how it can enhance residents’ enjoyment of their area. That’s why our concierge and site teams at the developments we manage make the point of really getting to know their customers and what might appeal locally to them, so we can help them make the most out of their area.
"It is also interesting that the research highlighted the value of independent brands and shopping local.
"This suggests a real appreciation for living somewhere with a sense of community, something we always strive for in our FirstPort managed developments. Integrating our developments within the local community is a really important part of what we do as a property manager, making local connections that enhance the experience for our customers and benefits the wider community too."
Top 10 places Brits want to live nearby:
- Post office (33%)
- Park/green space (27%)
- Bus stop (25%)
- Newsagent (24%)
- Pub (24%)
- Baker (24%)
- Food market (23%)
- Greengrocer (23%)
- Butcher (22%)
- Hairdresser/barber (21%)
Top 10 brands Brits want to live nearby:
- Tesco (25%)
- Boots (20%)
- Sainsbury's (19%)
- Aldi (19%)
- Marks & Spencer (17%)
- Asda (17%)
- Lidl (15%)
- Greggs (15%)
- McDonalds (14%)
- Morrison's (13%)
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