Tempted to move to Tamworth? You’re not alone.
The Staffordshire market town named after the River Tame that flows through it, is experiencing an upsurge in popularity from both home movers and businesses relocating.
There are many good reasons for living and working in the Tamworth area, a town recently cited by The Guardian newspaper as being one of ‘10 UK property hotspots’.
But what is driving this current demand for both domestic and commercial properties in and around Tamworth?
Location, Location, Location
Location is a major plus point. Conveniently located next to the A5, M42 and M6, Tamworth is centrally located at the heart of the Midlands road network. It’s also close to excellent rail and air transport links.
Birmingham and East Midlands airports are close by and London is just over an hour away by train. Birmingham City Centre is less than 30 minutes away by car or train.
This all makes Tamworth a viable contender for city commuters. Tamworth also neighbours the popular towns of Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield but Tamworth benefits from significantly lower average house prices.
Job Opportunities
Many businesses, especially those involved in, or reliant upon, distribution, warehousing and storage, are benefiting from having premises, or even headquarters, based in the Tamworth area.
Once again, its central location makes travelling convenient to most parts of the UK so logistically it’s very accessible. The emergence of many new industrial parks is making Tamworth a viable proposition for businesses of all sizes. This is being supported by the recent construction of a prime, 32-acre distribution centre just off junction 10 of the M42.
UPS has chosen Tamworth for the location of its largest hub in the UK. Aldi’s UK headquarters is also nearby and is a major employer in the area.
Other big employers include Ocado, Bunzl, Volkswagen, Euro Car Parts, CEVA Freight, Stormking Plastic to name but a few.
Fashion brand ASOS plans to create 2,000 jobs through it’s investment of £90 million in a state-of-the-art fulfilment centre at Fradley Park, near Lichfield.
Industrial zones such as Birch Coppice Business Park, Amington Industrial Estate and Drayton Manor Business Park are facilitating a wide range of commercial enterprises.
When taking all this activity into consideration, there is certainly real potential for job opportunities in and around Tamworth.
But Tamworth has not moved, so what else is fuelling its popularity?
As a Tamworth self storage business, we’ve seen more and more people utilising self storage whilst moving to Tamworth. Here’s a few more of the reasons why.
Escape The More Populated Cities
Tamworth has the advantage of ‘bridging the gap’ between town and country. While the town naturally has more activity with shops, restaurants and cafes, there are quieter rural villages on the outskirts, such as Alvecote, Drayton Bassett, Middleton, Shuttington and Wigginton.
There are local nature reserves run by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, as well as country parks in the vicinity of Tamworth, which have (especially in the current climate) made the town even more appealing as a place to live.
Dosthill Park, with its sculpture trail and children’s play area and Wigginton Park Tree Trail being just two examples of quieter places to take the family. Sutton Park Nature Reserve is only about six miles away and Kingsbury Water Park is a beautiful nearby nature spot.
With countryside on Tamworth’s doorstep, there are many places to see wildlife on local walks and cycling routes for those who prefer a faster pace on two wheels.
Property Prices
With job losses, high inflation, high interest rates and pressure on household incomes, some people are moving out of more expensive city dwellings to outlying areas. This trend can be mirrored in business too, as revenues and corporate budgets come under pressure. People are realising they can get far more for their money when buying homes, or leasing business premises, outside of prime city centre locations.
Tamworth ticks a lot of boxes. The average house price in Tamworth stands in the region of £220,000. This was some 28% up on the previous year. Compare this with the average house price in England (UK House Price Index) which is around £250,000.
Property developers are not blind to the potential either. They are being lured by the trend for Tamworth. New family home developments are springing up all around the town. Commercial property developers have already identified Tamworth as prime ‘real estate’ with many construction projects well underway.
So, buying a property in Tamworth now could make financial sense for many reasons, given the current upward trend. A good investment for the future perhaps?
A Step Back In Time
One of the most famous landmarks is Tamworth Castle, dating back to Saxon times. Like any castle, it has a fascinating history and at one time was a centre of Royal power. Yes, Tamworth was once the capital ancient kingdom of Mercia! Today, visitors can explore the history and castle grounds.
Royal connections don’t stop at the castle. Tamworth Assembly Rooms were built in 1889 in commemoration of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee of 1887. The venue has since hosted many famous entertainers from the world of pop, rock, comedy and magic. Fully refurbished in 2019, it is today a popular centre for a diverse range of Arts & Events.
Another notable historical link is related to the Victorian Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel, who was back in the day, a member of Parliament for the town, and lived in Drayton Manor. There is a statue of him in the town centre as well as the local Sir Robert Peel Hospital named in his honour.
We can’t forget our four-legged friends, the town being the place where the famous Tamworth Pigs originated from, apparently bred for the first time by Sir Robert Peel himself.
Local Tamworth Attractions And Things To Do
Another enticement for families to move to the area are local attractions such as Drayton Manor Park, the Snowdome, the Jump Xtreme trampoline park and the nearby famous Belfry Golf Course providing entertainment for a wide range of age groups and interests.
If retail therapy is more your thing, then Tamworth’s tremendously popular and successful Ventura Retail Park, hosts numerous major retail brands and popular eating venues.
The historic, old Tamworth town centre also offers a great selection of independent shops and cafes as well as the local weekly market.
Evolving Education
Education is clearly a major consideration for families moving to the area. In and around Tamworth, there is an excellent choice of nursery, primary, junior and secondary educational establishments.
In conjunction with the various new house building projects, several brand new schools are also in the pipeline.
Thinking Of Moving To Tamworth?
Tamworth, has a great deal going for it. Its central location and first class transport links are perhaps the main attraction. But easy access to the countryside, value for money a rich history and plenty of nearby attractions and amenities enhance it’s appeal still further.
It’s popularity is certainly growing and the future for the town is bright as it’s benefits as a place to live and work are increasingly recognised.
If like for so many other people, Tamworth is tempting you to move home or relocate your business to, you may find yourself needing a little extra storage space.
Extra Room Self Storage can help with any short or long term self storage requirements you may have. We offer competitively priced self storage units in a wide range of sizes, all immaculately clean with state-of-the-art security to provide a safe environment for you to store your things.
Whether you need additional business storage in Tamworth, or want to create more space at home, we can offer an affordable, flexible solution.
Call us on 01827 722 122 to find out more about our self storage in Tamworth, click here to see some of the size options or go online for a quote.