Councillor labels Hucknall a 'boom town' as house prices increase by 16.2% across the Ashfield District since the start of the pandemic

House prices in the Ashfield District, which includes Hucknall, have increased by 16.2% since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic according to figures released by the Halifax.

Whilst Independent Councillor Tom Hollis has welcomed this news, which means that rises in house prices in the District are outstripping those across the rest of Nottinghamshire, he has also reiterated his call for more affordable houses to be built.

Councillor Hollis claimed the rises in Ashfield are down to various factors including the arrival of Amazon, consumer confidence in the District borne out by the council's ambitious regeneration plans, and huge improvements to parks and open spaces.

Councillor Hollis, deputy leader of Ashfield District Council and Cabinet Member for Housing said: "Ashfield District Council are building the first social houses for a generation with over 100 new homes in the process of being built.

"We need the private sector to ensure that every application over 10 homes though includes affordable homes. We also need to ensure that any further house building is matched by improvements to the infrastructure including better roads, more doctors' surgeries, improved public transport and school places. This is especially true in places like Hucknall where the council are in advanced talks to improve access to health care.

"The news that house prices have increased higher than anywhere else in Nottinghamshire is no surprise to anyone at the Council. Thousands of jobs have been created in partnership with Amazon in Ashfield with another 500 recently announced. The news that Ashfield District Council has been successful in their £62.6million Town's Fund bid for Kirkby and Sutton has helped – as have the plans to regenerate Hucknall via the Government's 'Levelling Up Fund'.

"Our major conurbations such as Hucknall, Kirkby and Sutton are boom towns but we must not leave poorer residents behind. The Council have also spent almost £2million on our parks in the last year alone. Attractive places to live with great services on the doorstep help lift house prices."