Exeter has UK's greatest lockdown growth

Survey says 'commuter city' is booming

A survey to see which commuter areas have "prospered most from the pandemic" has put Exeter top of the list.

Dojo, a payment card provider, says that because many businesses have embraced home-working and cut the amount of time people are needed in the office, "many city workers are willing to live further away from their place of work and relocate to neighbouring towns."

The calculate the change in prosperity from pre-pandemic January 2020 to March 2021, they looked at average property prices, property sales, job vacancies, average salaries and footfall data. 

Exeter, they conclude, has been: "the most successful commuter city during the covid-19 pandemic." It's grown 18 pre cent over lockdown, narrowly topping Eastbourne. All other locations come nowhere near. Worthing and Norwich, in third and fourth place grew 4.6 and 4.5 per cent respectively.

Dojo's survey suggests that job prospects boomed, going from 1,245 vacancies pre-pandemic to 3,278. The average salary - at least according to this survey - is £36,199.  

As well as job vacancy increases, average house prices in Exeter rose from £263,141 to £278,158 between January 2020 and January 2021. Residential sales also increased from 130 in January 2020 to 140 in November 2020.

Jon Knott, head of customer insights at Dojo said: “With working from home here to stay and less time needing to be spent in the office, many city dwellers have decided to relocate from built up urban areas. Despite a longer commute time when venturing into the office, the benefits of generally cheaper and more spacious properties in commuter towns has attracted many to these areas. 

“Despite fluctuations and instability, the coronavirus pandemic has brought growth to new businesses and has helped consumers appreciate the value of independent businesses. With more people now choosing commuter towns as their place of work and leisure, small businesses in the area will enjoy an uptick in footfall.

“Now lockdown is easing, businesses could be set to boom from customers determined to make the most of rediscovered freedoms.”

Dojo's report is here.