West Oxfordshire is the place to be as the area has seen the biggest growth in demand for homes in the UK, according to new research.

Coulters Property found the local authority with the biggest increase in transactions during the past five years is West Oxfordshire with 29.2 per cent. The region includes towns such as Burford and Chipping Norton and borders the Cotswolds.

Coulters Property research found in West Oxfordshire there were 34,789 transactions in 2015/6 but 44, 946 in 2020/21.

Harry Gladwin, head of The Buying Solution, Cotswolds, said how people return to work may affect the trend but ”my suspicion is that this region will continue to draw buyers in from across the UK and overseas because it sits in the ‘Goldilocks’ zone, offering outstandingly beautiful countryside, easy access to London, excellent schooling, unrivalled amenities (think Daylesford, Soho Farmhouse, The Chequers at Churchill) and a great mix of people from hugely diverse backgrounds – all these points make this arguably one of the best places to live in the UK."

He added: "The Cotswolds/Oxfordshire market continues to see the same trend that we saw last year – a chronic shortage of stock and continued demand from those looking to move within and from outside the area (including many from overseas, looking for a ‘trophy’ property in the countryside or a base for their children to access UK schools).

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“Add to this the Stamp Duty holiday and it’s no surprise that when properties do appear for sale, they are generating huge interest from a backlog of buyers anxious not to miss out on the opportunity.”

Erling Lindoe, associate director at Penny & Sinclair in Burford, added: “Demand is exceeding supply 10/1. Yes, buyers are coming from London however we are receiving enquires from all over the UK, and indeed the world, and prices have grown, especially in the £1million + market considerably over the last 12 months.”