• shottymcb@lemm.ee
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    2 months ago

    Absolutely, I live a metro area with about 5 million people, it’s not an international hub of anything. It’s big enough to offer most of what you get in a big city aside from public transport, since our population density is wayyyyy lower.

    Is it really worth it for your back yard to be 3 feet of sidewalk and a 3ft^2 patch of unruly grass? Why is that grass even there? Feels like an insult to me. Just draw a frowny face on a block of concrete. People aren’t meant to live like that.

    • FourPacketsOfPeanuts@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Space in London is really a trade off. Many are there just to kick start their career which in the UK London offers far more opportunities than, say, Birmingham or Manchester.

      It’s the same as why people put up with small apartments in Manhatten. Or Hong Kong to some extent.

      Many live in smaller places early in their career and then when it’s time for marriage / kids they migrate out to the commuter belt where they get larger, nicer places with a more countryside feel and a longer train ride into the city.

      I think the kind of professionals who would buy the above are comparing it to a smaller (nicer) 2 bed flat closer into the city in a greener area but with no personal outdoor space. That’s the trade off. They might have started a family and so just want a little outdoor space for toddlers until they move out somewhere bigger for schools.

      Or some people like living in smaller urban environments and want to get in early into areas that are “gentrifying”. This has happened over and over in London - move into fairly cramped run down area but with easy commute to work - many other professionals do too - more upmarket shops open locally / cafe culture - streets tidy up, prices explode. Then you sell up and move further out for the country village pad and the train ride to work.

      Also, there are many careers in the UK which you can really only pursue in London (or at least it’s where all the opportunities are). Finance / legal / certain arts etc.