Winkworth are currently looking at areas in the country to add to the 40 existing offices across the South-east, South-west, East Anglia, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire, in addition to the 60 offices in London, according to the agency’s chief executive Dominic Agace.

“We are looking for areas that affiliate with London, particularly the family house market, which have always been far more popular out of London,” he said.

Agace explains more about Winkworth’s plans in the firm’s latest episode of The Property Exchange podcast: Delighted of Tunbridge Wells: will the race for space in the country markets continue?

He said: “Country markets are still very busy and have been since the pandemic. However, I believe we may have passed peak country. The country markets had not seen much activity since 2008. It’s well overdue and it has been a catch-up period. In the medium to long term, it’s looking healthy.

“Most recently, we have seen increased demand for the more traditional areas such as Tunbridge Wells and Farnham for those who need to commute to London – or to the South coast for a complete change of lifestyle. People are being called back to London and I think there will less demand for the places with longer commutes.”

“I know of a family who are living in two separate one-bed flats in Bath while waiting for the right house to buy. However, some people are city born and bred. I have heard anecdotal evidence of people returning to Notting Hill because they thought the countryside would be like Soho Farmhouse. Another couple were looking forward to coming back to live in town so they could have Deliveroo options.”

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