Commuter towns 'growing in popularity'

Commuter towns such as Milton Keynes and Hemel Hempstead are becoming more popular with Londoners who have been priced out of owning a home of their own in the capital, the National Housing Federation (NHF) has said.

The substantial growth rates seen in cities around the south-east mean that urban sprawl is now extending to new commuter areas, the association noted.

However, despite developers capitalising on this increased interest, there are still too few homes being built in such areas and indeed in London itself, the NHF added.

"Towns like Milton Keynes, Hemel Hempstead, Leighton Buzzard; these are all towns which have seen many more new homes and many more commuters arriving in them, as the capital simply isn't able to provide affordable housing or suitable homes," an NHF spokesperson asserted.

"While we definitely need more homes in and around these commuter towns, we also need to build many more homes of all types – not just one and two bed flats, but all sizes of home – actually within London itself," he added.

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