AREA DECISION REPORT
Preston area decision report
Balanced shortlist area
Median affordability sits at 5.2x in 2025, which reads as stretch. Gigabit availability is 81.7% with median download at Unavailable. 4G strong coverage reaches 100% and 5G reaches 40.4% in the current area summary. Nearby planning activity is quiet in the current area radius. 3 featured postcodes are ready for deeper due-diligence follow-up.
Live across price, affordability, connectivity, planning, and postcode follow-up | Sold prices through 26 Jun 2026 · Affordability year 2025 · Broadband source year 2024 · Mobile source year 2025
- Median sold price, last 5 years £172,898Based on 14,378 sales · Latest sale in data: 26 Jun 2026
- Affordability StretchMedian ratio 5.2x in 2025
- Gigabit availability 81.7%Ofcom source year 2024
- 4G strong coverage 100%Area-level mobile source year 2025
- Nearby planning QuietCurrent applications plus recent decisions linked to the area radius
Area summary
Use this summary to decide whether this shortlist survives, then move into postcode-level due diligence where the evidence looks strongest.
Affordability and price
Stretch at 5.2xMedian house-price-to-earnings ratio is 5.2x in 2025, with a median house price of £192,000 and residence earnings of £37,214.
Broadband
Gigabit 81.7%Gigabit availability is 81.7%, with median download at Unavailable and below-USO share at 0.2%.
Mobile
4G 100% · 5G 40.4%4G strong-coverage share is 100%, with 5G at 40.4% in the current area-level summary.
Planning watch
No nearby matchesNo nearby planning rows matched Preston in the current live coverage yet.
Schools
60 nearby school rows60 nearby school rows matched postcode area PR1 1AS for Preston. Use the schools flow to compare them in more detail.
Transport
828 mapped stopsPreston currently links 828 mapped transport stops, including 816 local bus or tram access points and 7 rail or metro stops. Where NaPTAN status is present, 738 stops are marked active and 90 inactive. Top localities include Preston City Centre (137), Fulwood (81), Ashton-on-Ribble (56).
Local business
Score 100/100Preston currently links 654 mapped local businesses across 8 tracked categories. Top amenity groups include 244 food and drink, 112 grocery, 91 nightlife. The current amenity availability signal scores 100/100.
Jobs
3,623 online job adverts observedPreston local authority · Jun 2026. No comparable movement yet
Postcode follow-up
3 featured postcodes3 featured postcodes are ready for deeper due-diligence follow-up under Preston.
Crime
Latest month 1,785Preston recorded 1,785 crimes in Jun 2026. Rolling twelve month context shows 21,204, with a 7.3% fall against the prior twelve months and violence and sexual offences as the top recorded type. Lancashire Constabulary contributes the largest matched force share in the latest month.
Local business
This area-level OSM snapshot shows the amenity mix currently mapped around Preston, so you can judge everyday convenience before you spend more time on postcode-level checks.
Amenity availability
Convenience score 100/100
Basis: nearest matching geography. Area local-business counts use postcode tags first and nearest-postcode fallback when the OSM record has no usable postcode tag.
Amenity group
Food and drink
244 mapped places currently map into this amenity group, led by fast food (131), cafe (65), restaurant (48).
Amenity group
Grocery
112 mapped places currently map into this amenity group, led by convenience (78), supermarket (22), bakery (8).
Amenity group
Nightlife
91 mapped places currently map into this amenity group, led by pub (70), bar (21).
Amenity group
Personal services
84 mapped places currently map into this amenity group, led by hairdresser (63), beauty (21).
Compare against another area
Keep at least one alternative area in view while you weigh cost, connectivity, planning pressure, and postcode follow-up coverage.
Featured area
Birmingham
Birmingham has 63,331 recorded sales with a median sold price of £220,400.
Open area researchFeatured area
Leeds
Leeds has 60,832 recorded sales with a median sold price of £225,000.
Open area researchFeatured area
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire has 59,996 recorded sales with a median sold price of £260,000.
Open area researchPostcodes worth checking next
These are the best current postcode follow-up routes from the live area brief, so use them to move from early shortlist thinking into deeper due diligence.
Featured postcode
PR1 1AS
PR1 1AS has 77 recorded sales with a median sold price of £125,000.
Open postcode researchFeatured postcode
PR4 0JU
PR4 0JU has 74 recorded sales with a median sold price of £259,495.
Open postcode researchFeatured postcode
PR1 3AW
PR1 3AW has 71 recorded sales with a median sold price of £142,250.
Open postcode researchSchool comparison
Compare nearby schools
Open side-by-side school comparison for Preston before you shortlist homes.
Open school comparisonRecommended tool
Check sold prices
Use the sold price comparator to pressure-test what local sales mean for your budget.
Open sold price comparatorRecommended tool
Check affordability
Use the affordability checker to see whether Preston still fits your income and deposit.
Open affordability checkerRecommended tool
Check planning nearby
Open planning watch for a faster view of live nearby applications and recent decisions.
Open planning watchRecommended guide
Read area guides
Open move guides that help you compare neighbourhoods, trade-offs, and local risks.
Browse area guidesRecommended guide
Use area planners and templates
Open planners and templates like the area comparison sheet, school visit checklist, and before you move checklist while you narrow your shortlist.
Open planners and templatesFollow up action
Ask vetted agents
We can route your enquiry to vetted partner estate agents covering Preston.
Next step