Spotlight on Prestwich

WHERE: Five miles north of Manchester, bounded by the M60 motorway to the north.

WHY: Good transport links, minutes from junction 17 of the M60 but the biggest benefit is the Metrolink station which gets you into Manchester in 10 minutes. Good mix of housing and shopping from the huge Tesco store to small individual shops. Pizza Express is due here soon.

WHO: Traditionally a Jewish area, there is now a broad mix of people, particularly families attracted by the good schools, public transport, excellent local facilities and the proximity to Heaton Park.

PRICES: The demand for homes in the very religious Jewish area of Broughton Park has been huge, sending prices spiralling with a knock-on effect of increasing prices in neighbouring areas.

A four-bedroom detached here sold within hours of going on the market last week for the asking price of £360,000 - £100,000 more than its valuation a year ago. Around Prestwich village itself two-up, two-down terraces are now fetching £70 to 80,000, while in the streets behind the large Victorian villas will now make up to £375,000.

AGENT'S VIEW: "Eighteen months ago the village was a mess. A lot of the shops were grotty and dilapidated and we struggled to let them. But the transformation since then has been phenomenal," says Johnny Dines from Alex Dines and Co.

"All of a sudden M&S came in and the street was re-born. We have just let a shop as a poodle parlour for heavens sake!

"The old Sainsbury's store is being converted into apartments and there is a lot of good new building which has renewed confidence. The average rise over the year was probably about 22 per cent but some pockets have seen increases way above that.

"And it is not slowing much. We have 110 properties on our books and almost half have sold, many within days."

Related stories