Why central London has seen the biggest rises in house prices, despite COVID

As many predicted, the pandemic led to a demand for bigger homes and gardens. But with supply limited by Britain’s strict planning regulations, and the market propped up by a stamp duty waiver and the furlough scheme, prices for detached houses have risen. Contrary to received wisdom, Paul Cheshire, Christian Hilber and Olivier Schoni (LSE) find in a new Centre for Economic Performance analysis that they rose most in areas close to the centre of London.