£1m property sales treble

The number of million pound properties sold in England and Wales has trebled in the past five years, according to Halifax Estate Agents. They estimate that there are now 88,000 homes valued above £1m. London accounted for 58% of all million pound property sales in the year to June 2007 but other regions ? namely in the Cheshire areas dubbed "footballers' wives" favourites? have reduced London's share of the prime property market. The number of properties sold for £1m and above outside the south of England has more than doubled over the past two years. The survey shows that only 5% of all postcodes account for 70% of million pound sales SW3 in Chelsea had the most million pound sales over the past year (200), followed by SW7 in South Kensington, W8 in Kensington and SW6 Fulham. Outside London, the most million pound sales were in KT11 in Cobham in Surrey. Cheshire districts of Altrincham and Macclesfield have most million pound sales in northern England Properties valued at £1m and over accounted for 0.5% of all home sales in the year to June 2007. Colin Kemp of Halifax Estate Agents says: 'Million pound property sales are now taking place right across England and Wales and not just in inner London. At the same time, million pound property clusters are emerging. In London, million pound sales are centred on Kensington and Chelsea. There are other clusters around Cobham, Esher and Weybridge in Surrey and around Altrincham, Macclesfield and Wilmslow in Cheshire.'

Most expensive post codes in England & Wales

Number of £1m+ properties sold between 2002 - 2007 LONDON_SW3: 909 LONDON_SW7: 868 LONDON_W8: 807 LONDON_NW3: 590 LONDON_SW1X: 541 LONDON_SW6: 524 LONDON_NW8: 482 LONDON_W11: 453 LONDON_W2: 443 LONDON_SW10: 419 LONDON_SW15: 301 LONDON_SW19: 299 LONDON_SW1W: 296 COBHAM_KT11: 258 LONDON_W14: 250 LONDON_W4: 248 WEYBRIDGE_KT13: 247 LONDON_SW13: 244 LONDON_NW1: 231 LONDON_SW11: 228 RICHMOND (SURREY)_TW10: 223