Spotlight on Heywood

WHERE: Ten miles north east of Manchester positioned between the M62 and M66 on the fringe of open countryside.

WHY: Originally a mill town its position now close to the motorway network has made it a distribution hub and easily commutable to Bury and Rochdale or into Manchester. While historically the back-to-back terraces have made up the housing stock, the Hopwood area has seen a number of executive estates, the latest from Westbury Homes.

Massive investment under New Deal Funding is helping update the neglected housing near the centre, which is sparking other regeneration.

WHO: While the building of the housing estates on the edge of town prompted some newcomers the majority of people who buy in Heywood are already local and are either moving up or embarking on the property ladder.

TRANSPORT: Easy motorway access from either Junction 2 of the M66 or junction 19 of the M62. The only train service is the steam one provided by the East Lancs Railway which recently opened a new link here and the buses take you to Rochdale or Bury.

THE RESIDENT'S VIEW: "I have lived in Heywood for 28 years and for the last three years I've been in a rented house near the town centre which is handy for work," says Wendy Conway.

"The town centre has improved a lot in the past few years. You can tell that money is being spent and it's nicer to shop in.

"I have thought about buying my own house but I think I have missed out. Prices have gone up so much. An ex-council house would now cost £60,000. My son is 21 and he would like to buy his own place but they are too much."

THE AGENT'S VIEW: "Much of the property is back to back terracing which had been falling into disrepair," says Stephen Kelly, of Andrew Kelly Associates.

"But the investment to improve this housing stock has really made a difference both to the feel of the area and to the confidence of both buyers and sellers.

"Prices in Heywood have increased substantially over the last year. A three-bed semi I sold 12 month ago for £90,000 is now back on for £120,000 and that is pretty typical really. The houses most in demand are those at the bottom end of the market, the terraces and the small semis and they are still increasing in price."

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