Spotlight on Rochdale

WHERE: Fifteen miles north east of Manchester in the foothills of the Pennines with its own motorway spur off junction 20 of the M62.

WHY: Historically had some of the cheapest property in the region with rows and rows of back-to-back terraces built to house the mill workers. But even this bottom-rung accommodation has seen remarkable increases over the last 12 months. When four ex-health authority houses all needing renovation were put on the market for £25,000 each last year, 70 people were bidding to buy them and they eventually went at £45,000 each - all to one investor. The wonderful town hall and the cobbled streets surrounding it contrast sharply to the sprawling shopping centres hemmed in by the ring road. But two major developments are set to add new life to the town. The Kingsway Business Park with its much-anticipated jobs and the Metrolink tram network are both due to happen in the next three years.

WHO: People born here tend to stay here and the pattern is to move out of the town centre to the more desirable areas on the outskirts. There is big demand for top-end properties and the first £1m property hit the market last year.

TRANSPORT: The train service from Manchester Victoria to Rochdale takes about 20 minutes but the station is a 10-minute trek to the town centre. The journey by car takes about the same. The Metrolink connection which will come right into the centre along Drake Street, will dramatically improve transport links.

SCHOOLS: Beech House School just outside the town centre is the authority's top performer, getting 67 per cent of its pupils through five or more A-C GCSEs

AGENT'S VIEW: Stephen Barton, of Barton Kendal, said: "Rochdale has a very insular market. Outsiders may wonder who would want to spend £1m on a house here but there is a surprising amount of wealth in the area and people want to stay here. They are very loyal. In 2003 prices at the top end were very strong, the £500,000 properties went quickly because there were few around. And at the opposite end, the sub-£50,000 terraces were seen as a good investment. Like all mill towns the best areas are to the north west of town away from the prevailing winds which blew the waste from the chimneys. Big schemes are on the horizon for Rochdale which will radically affect the town and I think property prices in 2004 will continue to increase, though not as quickly as last year."

RESIDENT'S VIEW: Sheila Hornby, who has lived in Rochdale all her life, said: "I have always liked Rochdale. It has a very compact town centre and the shops and indoor market have everything you need. There are regular farmers' markets as well. There are also lots of places to go for a night out too - plenty of restaurants, pubs and bars. The people are very friendly and you almost always see someone you know when you walk through the town centre. The town is nice and clean as well. It does have its share of problems but it's easily as good as anywhere else."

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