UK’s top house price performer revealed

Woking in Surrey recorded the biggest rise in house prices among major UK towns and cities over the past year, according to the latest Halifax Town House Price Survey.

Based on Halifax’s own house price data, the average selling price in Woking was 16% higher than in the previous year, increasing from £257,590 in 2010 to £299,654 in 2011. Woking is a large commuter town within easy reach of central London by rail.

Falkirk in Scotland experienced the second biggest rise in house prices with a 12% gain. Like Woking, Falkirk is within easy commuting distance of major commercial centres, lying almost equidistant between Edinburgh and Glasgow. The town also has relatively low average property prices, making it more affordable than many other areas close to Scotland’s two largest cities.

Towns in London and the South East accounted for nine of the 20 recording the strongest price rises in 2011. Overall, 28% of the towns surveyed saw some increase in prices over the year.

Nine of the ten towns that saw the biggest declines in property values are outside southern England, reflecting the generally weaker performance of the housing market outside the south.