The place to be (From Free Press Series)

The place to be

Several decades ago Monmouthshire was 'discovered' by an intrepid band from the creative arts seeking an alternative to the city rat-race.

Those who took up residence, virtually unnoticed, in the Monmouth-Chepstow-Abergavenny 'triangle' included jazz singer George Melly, rock star Robert Plant, film producer Richard Gregson, playwright Jeremy Sandford and author and journalist Martha Gellhorn.

Now Monmouthshire has become THE location for people of all ages and backgrounds seeking 'quality of life' - and property prices have rocketed accordingly.

Roughly translated, quality of life means accessibility, low crime, good schools, upmarket shops and services, beautiful scenery and friendly neighbours.

A recent survey by Barclays Financial Planning showed that Monmouth parliamentary constituency is the second-fastest growing wealth hotspot in England and Wales, with an increase of 66 percent in the number of affluent people (earning over £60,000 a year) living in the area since last year.

There are plenty of ways for the newcomers to spend their money - dining out at nationally-renowned restaurants, dining in on produce from the local smokery, fishmonger, farm shop and organic butcher, relaxing with aromatherapy and shiatsu sessions, surveying the unspoilt landscape from a hang-glider or hot air balloon.

James Greenwood, managing director of property search company Stacks says: "There's phenomenal interest in Monmouthshire at the moment. We're getting four times as many requests as five years ago, both for rural properties and interesting town houses. "The appeal is to live in stunning countryside with good communication links not just to London but all points north, south, east and west."

As well as being popular with retired couples, Monmouthshire is also attracting younger people who would once have limited their search to the M4 corridor east of the Severn Bridge.

"The perception used to be that living 'over the border' would involve a lengthy commute. But working patterns have changed. It's quite feasible for many people to spend a day or two a week working from home, which means they can put quality of life higher up the list when they're house-hunting."

Monmouth estate agents Roscoe Rogers and Knight recently sold a house in Catbrook to former Spice Girl Mel C for £850,000. For a similar amount you could buy Glendower House in Monmouth - the former congregational chapel which was runner-up in the Channel 4 series Britain's Best Home for its unique contemporary interior design.

Marketing co-ordinator Bleddyn Richards said: "The people relocating here now are a complete cross-section. Some work in Bristol, Cardiff, Newport and beyond. Others are running specialist businesses in the town or from home. One couple I know have an internet mail order company exclusively devoted to train sets!

"The spread of the internet and broadband has made a huge difference.

"Monmouth is a very pleasant place to live. People appreciate things like the one-to-one attention in a traditional butchers or greengrocers, where staff know your name and your likes and dislikes."

Rhys Waldron of Waldrons Estate Agents in Abergavenny said: "Our most expensive property at the moment is a £700,000 five-bedroom period house at Llangattock with half an acre of land and a separate cottage. The same property a couple of years ago would have been £300,000!

"Rural properties have become so expensive that the main interest now is in houses in Abergavenny itself. I think the focus will turn next to the valley towns."

Lyndon Owen is managing director of E2L, an electronic engineering design company with customers worldwide - and its office base in Monmouth town centre.

Lyndon, a former professional jazz musician, has lived all over the UK, Europe, the US and the Middle East.

"Quality of life is a very important issue for the company. We do a lot of tele-working and only use the office for directors' and clients' meetings," he explained.

Lyndon regularly travels abroad but takes the environmentally-friendly option of catching the bus from Chepstow to Heathrow.

"I'm a bit of an evangelist about that! It's such a convenient service."

Business-wise he finds Monmouth ideal. "Our clients stay in local hotels, eat in really good pubs and restaurants and go away having had a delightful experience."

Lyndon and his Swedish partner Annica, a contemporary artist, have a flat overlooking Monnow Street.

"We enjoy the noise and bustle of the town - yet we're only 50 yards from the river!"

Garden designer Cheryl Cummings lives at nearby St James Mews with her husband David and their teenage son and daughter.

"We moved to Monmouthshire from Bristol some years ago because we decided the city suburbs were not a good place to raise children. The crunch was when our two-year-old got out of the house and crossed a busy main road.

"There are lots of advantages to living in this area - and Monmouth itself is a really friendly town where people of different ages mix together."

None of these attractions, of course, would come as any surprise to those 'early settlers' in the creative triangle.

But Martha Gellhorn might well turn in her grave to hear that her Welsh hideaway, once quaintly named 'Cat's Cradle', is currently on the market for £775,000!