Rising London property prices blamed for record exodus
England’s capital saw 330,000 people leave for greener pastures in the first six months of 2017, according to government figures
The number of people leaving London for a new life elsewhere in Britain has reached its highest level, according to an analysis of official data.
More than 330,000 people made the move during the year to June 2017. Newham was the London borough that experienced the biggest exodus, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.
As recently as 2016, London was the fastest-growing English region, but its growth rate halved in the space of a year, driven by people in their 30s and early 40s with young children deciding to pack up and leave, according to the ONS.
Property agent Knight Frank, which analysed the figures, said they showed that migration from London to other parts of the UK had reached a record level.
“As well as a desire to trade up the housing ladder in search of more space, increased employment opportunities outside London means people are becoming more confident to make the move from the capital,” it said.
Top destinations for London leavers were said to include Birmingham, Brighton, Thurrock in Essex, Bristol, Dartford in Kent and Epping Forest, on the border of northeast London and Essex.
