CONTENTS: INTRODUCTION - ASHFORD, KENT - BATH, SOMERSET - BECKENHAM, KENT - BEDFORD, BEDFORDSHIRE - BILLERICAY, ESSEX - BIRMINGHAM CITY CENTRE, BIRMINGHAM - BOURNEMOUTH, SUSSEX - BRENTWOOD, ESSEX - BRIGHTON, SUSSEX - CAMBRIDGE, CAMBRIDGESHIRE - CANTERBURY, KENT - CARDIFF, WALES - CHELMSFORD, ESSEX - CLEETHORPES, LINCOLNSHIRE - COLCHESTER, ESSEX - EPPING, ESSEX - GRANTHAM, LINCOLNSHIRE - GREAT YARMOUTH, NORFOLK - GUILDFORD, SURREY - IPSWICH, SUFFOLK - KETTERING, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE - KINGS LYNN, NORFOLK - LEICESTER, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE - LIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE, LANCASHIRE - LUTON, BEDFORDSHIRE - MANCHESTER, LANCASHIRE - MILTON KEYNES, BEDFORDSHIRE - NORWICH, NORFOLK - OXFORD, OXFORDSHIRE - PETERBOROUGH, CAMBRIDGESHIRE - READING, BERKSHIRE - ROMFORD, ESSEX - SOUTHEND-ON-SEA, ESSEX - ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE - STANSTED, ESSEX - SWINDON, BERKSHIRE - WELWYN GARDEN CITY, HERTFORDSHIRE - WISBECH, CAMBRIDGESHIRE
| Area: | CARDIFF, WALES | |||||||
| Category: | A | |||||||
| Investor Profile | Pension, Retirement, University, Downshifter and Cash&Equity | |||||||
| Population aged 15+: | 276,801 | |||||||
| Actual | National Average | |||||||
| Percentage Class ABC1: | 51% | 44% | ||||||
| Crime: | Violence | Sexual | Burglary | Motor | ||||
| Per 1000 population | 13 | 1 | 7 | 10 | ||||
| Yield Range: | 4.0% - 8.8% | |||||||
| Price Ranges | Low £ | Hi £ | Low £pw | Hi £pw | Low | Hi | ||
| Flats&maisonettes | 48,000 | 72,000 | 81 | 110 | 7.9% | 8.8% | ||
| Terraced | 89,600 | 134,400 | 99 | 134 | 5.2% | 5.7% | ||
| Semi-detached | 111,200 | 166,800 | 123 | 166 | 5.2% | 5.8% | ||
| Detached | 149,600 | 224,400 | 127 | 172 | 4.0% | 4.4% | ||
| Valuations above the national average by: | 0% | |||||||
| Actual | National Average | |||||||
| Capital growth last 12 months: | 23% | 18% | ||||||
| Capital growth last 5 years: | 80% | 80% | ||||||
| Large employers in the area: | Many | |||||||
| Demand For Letting: | Good | |||||||
| Average void period: | 2 week | |||||||
| Total (out of 10) | Capital Growth (out of 5) | Yield (out of 5) | ||||||
| Out of 10: | 7 | 3 | 4 | |||||
| Summary: | The safest place in Wales to put your money. | |||||||
| Description: | Cardiff is home to the largest university in Wales and came 7th out 106 universities for research. The university is considered as a major engine for economic development for Wales. The Cardiff University Innovation Network has helped at least 250 companies to the skills and resources the university offers. The University’s transfer activities, from the success of start-up companies and the licensing of new products, have contributed over £20 million to the economy yearly. Cardiff University is a major player and has close links with business. I predict that property prices will play catch up with the rest of the South East as Cardiff is making itself in to one of the key cities for research and business. There are also two key developments occurring in Cardiff at the moment: St Davids Centre Phase II - This project will be a key opportunity to improve the environment of the Cardiff City Shopping Centre and the quality of the overall city centre generally. It will also heighten Cardiff's image and place it in the retail shopping league of shopping centres. St Davids Centre Phase 2 is a regeneration plan approved by the council for Cardiff's City Centre in 2005. 'Phase 2' will increase the retail space by 750,000sq ft and add to the original St Davids Centre. It will be crammed with stores, leisure centres, restaurants and bars. The centre will also include public open spaces and squares and a public covered mall. Callaghan Square – An office development grouped around a beautiful landscaped square next to the city centre. It offers high spec offices and unrivalled services. It totals 52,500 sq m (565,110 sq ft) in floor space area and could end up poaching many businesses in surrounding areas. Both these developments will certainly attract people towards the city hence increase demand for good rental properties. | |||||||
| Mainline railway station: | 40 minutes to Bristol Parkway 2 hours to London Paddington | |||||||
| Road Access: | Main access M4, A470 & A48(M) 45 miles west of Bristol 6 miles from M4 | |||||||
| Local Newspaper | South Wales Echo 02902022 3333 | |||||||
| Estate Agents: | Name | Address | Tel | Web | ||||
| Mansells Estate Agents | 3 Heol y Deri Rhiwbina Village Cardiff CF14 6HA | 029 2052 1600 | ||||||
| Peter Mulcahy | 64 Albany Road Cardiff CF2 3RR | 029 2049 6452 | ||||||
| Peter Alan | 86 Albany Road Cardiff CF24 3RF | 029 2046 2246 | ||||||
| Chris John & Partners | 95 Pontcanna Street Cardiff CF1 9HS | 029 2039 7152 | ||||||
| John Williams | 18c High Street Llandaff Cardiff CF5 2DZ | 029 2055 2666 | ||||||
| Michael Jones & Co | 70 Whitchurch Road Cardiff CF14 3LX | 029 2034 2331 | ||||||
| Letting Agents: | Name | Address | Tel | Web | ||||
| Thomas George | 32, Churchill Way Cardiff South Glamorgan CF10 2DZ | 029 2039 5563 | www.thomasgeorge.net | |||||
| Chris John & Partners | 95, Pontcanna St Cardiff South Glamorgan CF11 9HS | 029 2039 7152 | www.chrisjohn.co.uk | |||||
| Allen & Harris | TBC | 029 2022 5660 | www.sequencehome.co.uk | |||||
| R H Seel & Co | TBC | 029 2037 0100 | www.rhseel.co.uk | |||||