London leavers boosting Brighton prices

House prices in Brighton have risen by some 16 per cent over the past 12 months as more Londoners leave the capital in favour of nearby areas, Hamptons International has said.

The estate agency has said that 16 per cent of its business in the Brighton area has come from Londoners so far in 2007, with the latter group accounting for 72 per cent of all Brighton purchasing activity in May.

Hamptons cites research from Technical Forecasts, which estimates that flat prices in Brighton will rise by 53 per cent over the next five years, as evidence of the city's growing popularity among professionals in the south-east.

"Brighton is not your typical seaside town. It remains active during the winter as it has a large student population and a growing influx of commuters from London, who have it as their permanent base - ensuring it is always vibrant," said George Dobson of Hamptons.

"Brighton is a trendy town and with young buyers from London keen to make the right move. It has its own ‘hotspots’ and sought-after areas," Mr Dobson added.

Average house prices across the UK as a whole rose by 0.7 per cent last month, according to Nationwide.

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