BNP Parabis, a French realtor, has uncovered ideas regarding the housing recovery over the next few years in the UK.  Their recent survey indicated growth would originate in the capital city where more than 40% would add to the revitalization within the next four years.  The past twelve months have seen more than 2.6% growth, and the following twelve are expected to see more than 6.5%.

Head of residential at BNP, Tim Cann, commented on the UK housing market, saying: “Activity in the UK housing market continues to remain sluggish, as values in South East (outside London) have been flat or have fallen in the last nine months, but since our summer report there have been some very early tentative signs of improving market conditions.

“At a regional level, London and the South East remain resilient and are the only markets where we are forecasting positive house price growth this year.”

Cann continued: “England’s seven remaining regions are forecast to see negative house price growth in 2012, with five of these regions expected to see greater falls than those experienced in 2011.”

Debbie Taylor, head of land and new homes at BNP Parabis, commented on the sharp contrast which exists between the North and South, saying: “The UK remains separated by a very distinct North/South divide - the North remains constrained by there being greater costs on remediation and infrastructure against what is achievable in terms of sales revenue, due to the region’s industrial legacies. The South is more affected by the level of affordability of the stock than by availability.”