Sheffield one of the greenest places to live in the UK - Emerging Real Estate

Sheffield one of the greenest places to live in the UK

05/11/2011

 Sheffield is one of the greenest places to live in the UK

Here at Emerging Real Estate we like to offer outstanding off market investment deals around the UK and one location we have had a lot of interest in is Sheffield. This vibrant city attracts people for a whole host of reasons but one of its main charms is the amount of green space in and around the city. Sheffield may be a big city with a proud history of steel production but it is by no means simply an urban metropolis or an industrial city – Sheffield has over 2 million trees, more than any other European city, and almost three quarters of the city is taken up by greenery and waterways.

There are 78 parks and over 150 woodlands in Sheffield, which means that 44% of the city’s population lives within 5 minutes walk of woodland and half the population are within 15 minutes of the open countryside. Sheffield is the only city to contain a national park within its boundaries and the Peak District National Park hosts a third of the city.

Sheffield has also undergone some major urban regeneration projects in recent years and has even more earmarked for the future. The city is home to the award winning Crucible theatre and prides itself on its vibrant nightlife, entertainment and culture, only narrowly missing out on being named the UK’s City of Culture for 2013. All this goes some way to explaining Sheffield’s enduring popularity but what is somewhat surprising is that with all this on offer the cost of living is also appealing, at only 90% of the national average and 25% lower than the cost of living in London.

There are many reasons for the discerning property investor to consider Sheffield and there is a constant market from prospective tenants for good quality rented accommodation. As well as the many young professionals seeking homes, Sheffield has a student population of 50,000 and this helps keep the demand at a high level. With yields often around 8%, this really is a city worth investing in.