In many UK cities, the strongest-performing areas are no longer always found at the centre.

Fringe locations, the neighbourhoods just beyond established city cores, have gained traction as affordability constraints reshape how people choose where to live. These areas typically offer a balance between access and cost, sitting within reach of employment centres while providing more space and lower entry prices.

The shift is partly economic. As central areas become more expensive, both buyers and renters look outward. But it is also behavioural. Hybrid working has reduced the need for daily commuting, allowing tenants to prioritise living environment alongside proximity.

Cities such as Liverpool and Manchester illustrate this pattern. Districts that were previously considered secondary are now attracting consistent demand, particularly where regeneration is visible and infrastructure is improving.

Transport links play a central role. Fringe locations that are well connected tend to perform more reliably than those that are simply cheaper. The difference lies in usability. Tenants are willing to move slightly further out, but not at the expense of convenience.

For investors, these areas offer a different set of considerations. Entry prices are typically lower than in prime city-centre locations, but performance is more closely tied to local progress. Regeneration, planning activity and infrastructure investment all become relevant indicators.

This does not guarantee outperformance. But it does explain why certain fringe locations are delivering stable occupancy and steady rental growth even as the broader market moderates.

The pattern reflects a wider shift in how urban space is being used. City centres remain important, but the definition of what sits within them is gradually expanding.