Cambridge &, Ipswich enjoy (and have done so for many years) a strong residential letting market especially within the single occupancy sector. The reason for this can be summarised as follows:     Mobility of population: the single occupancy market is largely based on a transient population of professional, contract, medical and business people working within the town on short-term contracts With the advent of student loans, many graduates and young professionals are not in a position of purchasing property outright. Therefore the renting of quality, well-located property is in great demand by this market sector Restrictive planning policies: there is an underlying shortage of housing in the town centre due to the restrictive planning policies and a shortfall of suitable sites for residential development Excellent road, rail and air communication links throughout the UK and Europe Ipswich’s hi-tech based industries will continue to grow   So far as rental demand in the future is concerned, it is virtually certain that demand is likely to increase even further due to the following factors:   The restrictive planning policies are unlikely to be relaxed especially within town and city centres. At the same time the south east of England is forecast to have one of the greatest increases in population of anywhere within the UK Science based industries within Cambridge and Ipswich are expected to grow substantially in numbers over the next decade   ©2003 Andrew Nickson