Sheffield Property Investment

If you are considering investing in student property, residential buy to let or even commercial property then taking a more detailed look at Sheffield property investment opportunities and what the wider metropolitan area has to offer could be just what you’ve been searching for. If you are unfamiliar with the region, the city of Sheffield is considered to be one of the northern economic powerhouses with historic roots set in heavy industry, the industrial revolution and the specialised production of steel. Located in South Yorkshire it is one of the largest English cities with a population of over 560,000. The metropolitan district of Sheffield is even larger with over 1.5 million people living there.

One of the main factors which makes Sheffield such a good place to buy property for investment purposes is the presence within the city of two of the UK’s largest universities, it is also the home to one of the biggest education colleges in the country.

This all means that Sheffield has a youthful population throughout the year and there is consequently excellent demand for good quality, rented student accommodation.

In fact, at the last count the annual population of students migrating to Sheffield was estimated to be over 50,000 a year, so it comes as no surprise that a recent survey found that there was a shortage of good quality student accommodation in Sheffield, especially outside of the main university halls of residence.

Investment Property Partners property investment buyers guide covers a number of important factors that you may need to consider if you are reviewing Sheffield property investment opportunities.

What about the Universities in Sheffield?

Consider one or two other facts and figures to emphasise the importance of the student fraternity to the life of the city.

The University of Sheffield, with its main campus situated only half-a-mile to the west of the city centre is currently ranked 15th in the UK and 97th in the World in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Sheffield University is a member of the Russell Group of universities, which has produced five Nobel Prize winners, and it has previously been voted the Sunday Times University of the Year.

The city of Sheffield itself has also previously won the influential “Most Popular UK Student Destination”.

Neighbouring Sheffield Hallam University, which has its main campuses one mile south west of the city centre, is the third largest university in the UK, with well over 36,000 students.

There are also a good percentage of overseas students studying at both Sheffield and Hallam Universities.

A large percentage of Sheffield graduates choose to stay in Sheffield, thus boosting rental demand still further on completion of their studies.

Transport Links & Communication Facilities in Sheffield

There is however, more to Sheffield than its world-class educational facilities.

With a population of more than 1.5 million the metropolitan borough of Sheffield is England’s third-largest and its location right in the middle of the country makes it ideal with regard to accessibility and travel.

Four airports within less than half an hour’s drive facilitate travel to and from overseas destinations, vital for both business and pleasure.

The city lies adjacent to the M1 motorway and is served by other important cross-country routes which link Sheffield directly with cities and towns in all four corners of the country.

There are also fast direct train links to and from London – possibly becoming even faster with the proposed advent of a new high-speed rail facility, which, if plans are approved will have a station at nearby Meadowhall.

Investing in Sheffield… Buy-to-let Property & Student Accommodation

Little wonder then, that for more and more people Sheffield has become such a popular place to work, live and study in recent years.

The result is that the demand for property including houses, shops, offices and rental property is increasing at a faster rate than it can be provided.

It is therefore the buy to let property and student accommodation rental markets which are the basis of the high optimism that there is in Sheffield’s property investment sector.

The strength and resilience of the private rental market can also be attributed to the limited number of high-quality centrally-located housing schemes currently available in Sheffield, especially when compared with other regional centres.

Sheffield’s Strong Economy

If you are seriously considering Sheffield property investment opportunities then you’ll be encouraged to learn that economically Sheffield has ridden the most recent financial downturn well.

Sheffield has a fast-growing economy that is now worth more than £7bn a year and Sheffield Hallam is in the top ten of the country’s richest towns.

Sheffield’s Gross Value Added (GVA) performance has increased from £5.6 billion in 1997 and is now over £9 billion.

The economy has been enjoying steady growth averaging over five per cent annually, and has been growing at a higher rate than has been experienced in Yorkshire and Humberside.

Investing in Sheffield… the Steel City

Most people are aware of the fact that Sheffield’s economy was originally built on steel, engineering and cutlery – not for nothing is it known worldwide as ‘the steel city’ – but while it remains one of the country’s leading manufacturing areas and a centre for advanced engineering, in more recent times the predominant feature of the local economy has been the steady growth of the service industries.

All around the Sheffield area business and financial services have increased, along with digital and new media, energy and environmental technology, so that the city’s international reputation of leading edge service delivery has been further enhanced.

Meadowhall Shopping Centre

Add to all this the fact that one of Europe’s largest shopping and leisure complexes, Meadowhall, is also situated here with more than 400,000 people visiting every week, and it becomes even more apparent that Sheffield has all that it takes to be a leading player in the property investment market.

An Environmentally Friendly City

Just to put the icing on the cake with regard to the appeal of this location for any property investment, Sheffield is one of the greenest cities in the UK, with a reputed 2 million trees, 150 woodland areas and 83 parks.

Sheffield has one of the lowest crime rates in the UK and Sheffield people have built up a reputation for their friendliness and hospitality – exactly the opposite of the typical dour Yorkshire image that is so often portrayed.

The advantages of buying investment property in Sheffield… a truly thriving city seem almost endless.

Buying Investment Property in Sheffield

If you are considering investing in student property, residential buy to let opportunities or even commercial property then a look at Sheffield property investment opportunities could be just what you’ve been searching for.

If you are an active investor looking to invest in property in the Sheffield and surrounding areas then Investment Property Partners have an excellent selection of public and off-market student accommodation and buy-to-let opportunities available.

Sheffield Property Investment Solutions

As a leading independent property and land investment specialists Investment Property Partners offer expert advice and support to clients across our specialist areas of expertise helping them to achieve their investment objectives.

If you are a property investor searching for commercial property, residential buy to let or student property investment opportunities in Sheffield and the surrounding areas please contact us today to discuss how Investment Property Partners can help you.