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Thematic report · 3 min read read · Updated July 2026

Fastest-Growing Property Markets in England & Wales, Q2 2026

206 towns rising, 179 falling in Q2 2026. Full town-by-town rankings with transaction data.

01

Q2 2026 Market Overview

Of 401 towns with meaningful transaction volumes (>5 sales in Q2 2026), 206 are recording year-on-year house price growth whilst 179 are seeing declines. This report ranks every housing market by price momentum to highlight where developers face rising end values — and where land acquisition bargains may be emerging. Land Registry registrations for the most recent weeks of April to June 2026 are still incomplete at the time of publication, so these figures are provisional and will be refreshed as further sales register.

This report is built from HM Land Registry Price Paid Data, the same transaction-level source underlying the official UK House Price Index, covering house prices and sales across England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland use separate registration systems (Registers of Scotland and Land and Property Services) and are not included in this analysis.

02

Major City House Prices

House prices in England's largest regional cities remain a key reference point for developers weighing regeneration schemes against smaller-town opportunities.

CityHouse Price (Median)YoY ChangeTransactions (12m)
Manchester£245,000+2.1%4,460
Birmingham£220,0000.0%7,241
Liverpool£167,000+5.7%4,607
London's house prices are covered separately across Greater London's boroughs, each with distinct local dynamics rather than a single city-wide figure.

03

Top 20 Fastest-Rising Markets

#TownCountyYoY ChangeMedian PriceTransactions (Q2 2026)
1PwllheliGwynedd+50.0%£337,50020
2WorkingtonCumbria+36.0%£170,00053
3NewtownPowys+33.9%£272,50016
4CamborneCornwall+31.3%£256,00029
5Market DraytonShropshire+27.8%£315,00021
6PorthmadogGwynedd+24.1%£245,0008
7GlastonburySomerset+22.3%£351,00016
8ScarboroughNorth Yorkshire+22.1%£210,000119
9PenzanceCornwall+21.6%£295,00036
10DolgellauGwynedd+21.5%£240,0006
11BudeCornwall+21.2%£360,00024
12CreweCheshire+20.9%£234,500114
13PeterleeCounty Durham+19.4%£80,00033
14BrightonSussex+18.4%£450,000243
15FarnboroughHampshire+16.2%£377,50060
16Berwick Upon TweedNorthumberland+16.1%£194,50020
17BuckinghamBuckinghamshire+15.8%£440,00029
18LiverpoolMerseyside+15.3%£173,000407
19Bishop AucklandCounty Durham+15.0%£115,00073
20WallaseyMerseyside+15.0%£172,50068

Pwllheli in Gwynedd leads the table with +50.0% growth, where the median price now sits at £337,500. Workington follows at +36.0%, with Newtown in third place at +33.9%.

Rising markets offer developers the advantage of appreciating end values during the build period. For schemes funded with development finance, this can improve profit margins between drawdown and exit.

04

Top 10 Markets Under Pressure

#TownCountyYoY ChangeMedian PriceTransactions (Q2 2026)
1MarlowBuckinghamshire-42.6%£340,0008
2LeatherheadSurrey-30.3%£440,00031
3Notting HillGreater London-28.8%£915,00092
4KensingtonGreater London-28.8%£915,00092
5ChelseaGreater London-28.8%£915,00092
6WestminsterGreater London-26.5%£750,000123
7MayfairGreater London-26.5%£750,000123
8MaryleboneGreater London-26.5%£750,000123
9HammersmithGreater London-25.6%£580,000131
10FulhamGreater London-25.6%£580,000131

Declining markets are not necessarily a warning sign for developers. Lower land values reduce acquisition costs, and strategic development through a price trough can deliver strong returns as the market recovers. The key is conservative appraisals and adequate contingency in your development finance structure.

05

Regional Patterns

Welsh markets feature prominently among the fastest risers, with towns in Gwynedd and Powys showing strong momentum. In the North, Tyne And Wear and County Durham towns appear in the growth table, suggesting a northward shift in demand.

The South and East of England show more mixed results. Whilst individual towns are growing, county-level averages tend to be more subdued, reflecting higher base prices and the impact of elevated mortgage rates on buyer affordability.

06

What This Means for Developers

For bridging loan exits, rising markets provide greater certainty on refinance valuations. In declining markets, mezzanine finance can help bridge the gap between senior debt and equity when valuers take a cautious view.

Whether your scheme is in a rising or falling market, Construction Capital sources competitive terms from 100+ lenders. Submit your project via our deal room for a no-obligation quote.

Common questions

Frequently asked
questions.

Where are property prices rising fastest in Q2 2026?

Pwllheli in Gwynedd leads with +50.0% year-on-year growth in Q2 2026, based on Land Registry transaction data.

Where are property prices falling the most in Q2 2026?

Marlow in Buckinghamshire has seen the largest decline at -42.6% year-on-year. However, price declines can create opportunities for developers acquiring land at lower values.

How does price growth affect development finance?

In rising markets, lenders are typically more comfortable with forward-looking valuations and may offer higher loan-to-value ratios. In falling markets, valuers will be more conservative, meaning developers should stress-test their appraisals and consider additional contingency.

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