Shrewd commuters head to Micheldever

House hunters weighing up the pros and cons of living in London versus a daily commute are increasingly turning to rural Hampshire living in a bid to afford the kind of home they want.

It is not unusual to pay £1,000 per sq ft in London yet townhouses in the Hampshire countryside are closer to £300 per sq ft, providing massive savings for buyers, who can secure far more space for their money.

Even when commuting costs are factored into the equation Chris Husson-Martin from leading global property consultancy Knight Frank says that everything adds up to a move out of the city.

"The property market is under intense scrutiny this year and people looking to move are examining every aspect in great detail,'' he said. "The priority is for people to secure the right balance in their home and work lives and that means assessing everything from commuting times to local amenities and the cost for every sq ft they are buying.''

And Farriers Walk at Micheldever is proving a mecca for those commuters wanting a good work/life balance. The Berkeley Homes development is just an hour away from London Waterloo by train and therefore it has proved equally popular with those moving out of London looking for the perfect location for a city commute, as it has done with local buyers who appreciate the charm and convenience of the location.

Once complete there will be 30 new houses and apartments at Farriers Walk, including a number of three storey townhouses which are especially impressing purchasers wanting the best of everything. "Buyers love the space and low maintenance gardens together with the stunning location and of course the amount of house they can afford compared with London'' said Chris.

With more than 75 per cent of the properties now snapped up, the current availability includes two four bedroom townhouses priced from £430,000.

Externally the homes are of a traditional design incorporating warm red brickwork and timber paneling, a style which pays tribute to the architecture of the mill and grain stores that originally occupied the site.

Internally Berkeley Homes has placed the emphasis on creating spacious rooms and incorporating a high specification throughout. Features include individual designer fitted kitchens with integrated appliances, luxury bathrooms with Villeroy & Boch suites, thermostatically controlled showers and contemporary Hansgrohe fittings and pure wool carpets throughout.

For further details visit Knightfrank.com.