Agent upbeat about 2015 market outside London

Provincial towns and cities are likely to be Britain's best performing local housing markets next year according to Carter Jonas.

The agency's research analyst Lee Layton says that while the national market will continue to cool we expect demand to remain strong within desirable cathedral cities and market towns such as York and Cambridge as the trend towards urban living gathers pace.

The agency expects these locations to see price rises of as much as seven per cent over the course of 2015.

Good quality rural property will perform well, too, rising by two to five per cent.

There's steady demand for good quality product, not requiring work. On the other hand, properties requiring extensive renovation works appear to be proving less popular as the nations love for carrying out renovation works subsides explains Layton.

In line with many forecasters he says prime central London may see price falls, or at best negligible rises, as the market stalls because of nervousness over the election. Outer London prices may move up by around three per cent.

But Layton tips some areas of the capital to buck the trend and do well, mostly thanks to infrastructure pledges.

Announcements regarding Crossrail 2, HS2 and the redevelopment of the area in and around Euston Station will ensure that capital value movements in neighbouring areas such as Fitzrovia, Marylebone, and the Nash terraces surrounding Regents Park out-perform those of PCL as a whole he says.