Darwen – the town that has it all!

With Darwen featuring in a new list of places with the fastest-rising house prices, we speak to one estate agent who explains why it’s the place to buy.

When Darwen was named in a recent Rightmove list of the top 10 places with the fastest-rising house prices in the UK, estate agent Karl Baxter wasn’t surprised.

Karl, who heads up Hunters Estate Agents in Darwen, has been in the industry for more than 30 years and has witnessed first-hand the recent boom in house prices here.

So, when asked by The Shuttle what was behind those rising prices, he was quick to answer:

It’s simple, really – Darwen has it all.

He tells us about the beautiful rolling countryside surrounding the town – the iconic Jubilee Tower standing proud on the moors – as well as the wonderful parks.

He also highlights Darwen’s ‘excellent facilities,’ including the leisure centre, health centre, and great primary schools too.

The town’s commuter links are another huge factor, with direct trains to Manchester and good access to motorway networks.

People come to Darwen and are genuinely blown away, 

It’s no secret that house prices here have long been lower than in neighbouring areas, which offers real value for buyers and renters.

But it’s also about Darwen itself – the people, the strong sense of community, the town centre, our outdoor spaces, parks, leisure facilities, the busy evening economy, and more. And it’s all within easy reach.

Karl says new housing developments are also strengthening the market too, with affordable homes also being built across the town.

A prime example is the new development off Ellison Fold Way, which includes a mix of first-time buyer homes, larger family properties, bungalows, and affordable housing delivered by Great Places. Karl explains, 

 We’ve seen a real shift in first-time buyer patterns, 

People are waiting longer to buy, entering the market at a higher price point – the new-build homes are perfect for that.

Investment in Darwen is also at an all-time high.

The Darwen Town Deal is helping unlock £100m of new investment, and the Government has also recently confirmed the £20m Long-Term Plan for Towns scheme.

Already, a new HQ for Brookhouse, a major employer in the town, has been completed – supported by the Town Deal – helping to safeguard high-value aerospace jobs.

With support from the fund, Perspex has also recently been granted planning permission for a £40m extension to its Chapels site – securing existing jobs while creating new opportunities. The project will also introduce new technology to make production greener, significantly reducing energy use.

Meanwhile, work is beginning on a neighbouring business development, another Town Deal-supported project. Discussions are progressing to bring the AMRC – a world-leading Sheffield University institution – to the town. This could be a major coup for a place long renowned for innovation in manufacturing.

The town centre is also set to benefit from huge investment, supported by the Town Deal and the Council. The historic Market Hall, the beautiful Carnegie Library, and Darwen library Theatre are all set to benefit.

And let’s not forget about the new youth centre, which will soon start to take shape. Additional Government and Council funding has been secured to double the size of the previous building.

Karl, who lives in the town says, 

Housing stock levels in Darwen just can’t keep up with demand

It was no surprise to me that Darwen made it into this top 10, and I expect this rise to continue.

Darwen joined the likes of Sunbury-on- Thames, in Surrey, and Bristol in Rightmove’s list of house price hotspots for 2024.

The figures showed that average asking prices had risen by 6.9% – from £166,179 in 2023 to £177,631 in 2024.

Councillor Phil Riley, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Chair of the Darwen Town Deal Board, added:

This is an exciting time for Darwen.

Confidence in Darwen has never been higher and planned investment in the town centre will create further momentum over the coming years.

This is a place well and truly on the up!

You can read more about investment in Darwen and across the borough at: www.discoverbwd.com