LIVING ON WATER

The new craze in city centre living

Fancy a bit of city living? It's what every upwardly mobile person is hunting in 2004, but with city centre property prices going through the roof what is the answer? Inside Out North West does a bit of lateral thinking and comes up with a new type of "liquid asset" for city slickers.

Getting your hands on an apartment or townhouse in Manchester city centre is going to set you back a fair amount of your "hard-earned" - upwards of quarter of a million pounds in many instances.

So what is the alternative for those who crave the bright lights of the city? Well, it seems a new type of address is making a splash in the trendy circles - living on water.

Exclusive address

An escalation of house prices in London sparked the craze for living on water, with increasing numbers of young professionals looking towards canal living.

Advertisements now pop up regularly in the property pages with residential canal boats or moorings being listed for sale alongside the city apartments.

Residential canal boats can help boost an area's economy

Many people are finding living on water is the perfect solution to owning their own home in an area that would usually be priced above their budget.

But this interest hasn't just stayed in the south. It seems the word is spreading about living onboard canal boats and the fad is heading our way.

Inside Out's Nichola Dixon travels to Gas Street Basin in Birmingham to get a taste of what Manchester may have to offer in the near future.

From the horse's mouth

Birmingham has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years, partly spurred on by the decision to let more people live on the city centre canals.

Roger Herrington, from British Waterways, commented on the changing face of canal boat owners in the area.

"The sorts of people who buy (the canal boats) has changed and many professional people now own them," he comments.

Penny Barber lives aboard her canal boat at Hockley Port

It seems the old idea of a retired couple slowly cruising their way around the UK's waterways isn't always accurate anymore.

Penny Barber is certainly someone who breaks the traditional mould of canal boat owners.

"I think it's a shame it's not a more popular choice for young professionals," she says.

Penny points out that the logistics involved in having a floating address could suit many young workers.

Often people have to move around the country for their job, and as Penny says, "Most cities have got some water in them."

Make the move

There are thought to be around 15,000 people living aboard canal boats in the UK.

So why can't we just take Penny's lead and change lifestyle to become one of them?

Well, buying the boat is the easy part - finding a residential mooring is the tough bit.

Moorings are provided by British Waterways or by independent providers, depending on where the site is located.

Getting a mooring doesn't mean you are allowed to live on your boat though. For that you need a specific residential mooring.

British Waterways restrict the number of people who are allowed residential moorings and on popular waterways there is often a waiting list as they are so sought after.

Floating community

Middlewich in Cheshire is one place where residential moorings have been approved in the North West, so people can, and do, live there 365 days a year.

Canal boat owners were determined to see their dream of living aboard their boat become a reality, and now a small but strong narrow boat community has flourished.

Andy McAllister is part of that community with his wife Maureen and son David.

David McAllister says he has everything he needs on his canal boat

Andy spends his days driving the motorways of the UK in his job as a travelling salesman, but come nightfall he joins the floating community on his 60ft narrow boat.

As David gives Nichola a tour of the family home - which comprises two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and bathroom - it's Andy who cautiously tries to sell her the idea of living afloat.

"Investigate it thoroughly and make sure you are aware of any problems… but if you are prepared to change your life to suit those conditions - go for it," Andy says.

The signs all seem to say that you will be able to "go for it" pretty soon as well.

Looking to the future

It appears British Waterways and other organisations are looking to open up residential moorings around the North West.

Those wanting to head in the direction of Ducie Street Basin near Manchester's Piccadilly Station could be living on water within a few years. It may not look like much now, but it could become a floating community to rival any in Birmingham.

With state of the art canal boats costing around half the price of an average inner city apartment the idea is tempting.

And if inner city living doesn't float your boat you can try out Pomona Dock - where the Manchester Ship Canal joins the Bridgewater Canal.

This site has already been earmarked for development and within 18 months residential boat owners may be able to move in.

Mike Webb is involved in the development Pomona Dock and is excited at its prospects. "We're looking at a 50 berth marina, with approximately 20 residential berths," he tells Nichola.

If waiting isn't a problem then perhaps an address to consider is Liverpool.

2007 looks to be the date when the link between the Leeds-Liverpool canal and the Albert Dock complex is re-opened, perhaps bringing with it the opportunity for floating homes in the local marina.

Too late for some

All these developments in the future are great for those planning a change of lifestyle but they have come too late for some.

John and Mary's friends had mixed opinions when they first moved aboard their boat

John and Mary Mines both work in Liverpool, but have had to travel 80 miles a day to return back to their residential boat mooring in Cheshire for the last nine years.

For this couple the daily commute has been more than worth it.

"We've got all we need," says Mary.

"We've got all the usual paraphernalia that any house has got. Washing machine, microwave, fridge, and proper cooker… what more could you want?"

It seems this floating lifestyle really does fit the bill for many people.

And as people like Penny, Andy, John and Mary all slowly drift off along the canals, you have to feel just a little bit tempted to join them!