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House prices are highest in NW

5/ 1/2003

PROPERTY prices in Macclesfield are the highest compared to income in the North West.

Figures show that the borough's average property prices are now 7.43 times higher than local earnings despite the area having among the highest incomes in the region at £24,535.

The average property price is £182,319 according to a survey done by Barclays.

There are concerns in parts of the borough, particularly Wilmslow, that primary schools could be at risk because of the spiralling cost of a family home. Falling numbers of pupils because of fewer families being able to afford to live in the area could threaten school viability.

But according to Cheshire County Council this situation is not replicated in Macclesfield.

A spokesman said: "The situation generally is very much down to the falling birthrate which is showing itself all over Cheshire."

He said one school in Macclesfield, which had less than half its capacity was not in an affluent area, so house prices were not really relevant.

Governors are concerned about Warwick Community Primary School, on the Weston estate, and its future will be discussed by the county's education advisory committee.

A survey by the Halifax showed that Macclesfield had more £1 million houses than other areas in the country apart from London and the South East. Both county council and borough council spokesman agreed that expensive properties in places like Prestbury and Alderley Edge could bump up the average figure for the whole of the borough.

Despite the average price being nearly £200,000 there are regularly houses under £70,000 advertised in the property pages of the Macclesfield Express newspaper.

Bob Dyson, borough housing needs manager, said the council had not seen more families asking for local authority housing following spiralling property prices.

Mr Dyson said: "There has been no significant increase in our waiting lists."