COUNTRY home values in Hampshire are set to grow in 2014.

The confident forecast comes from upmarket estate and lettings agents Carter Jonas.

In fact, unlike other parts of the country, values in Hampshire have held steady and led the market since the inaugural Carter Jonas Farmhouse Index was launched in 2010 - never dropping below the starting point of around £2.2million.

Carter Jonas partner Simon Randall, based at the firm, in London Street, Basingstoke, said: “The area around Basingstoke is laced with villages that all have ready access to mainline stations, some even offering a choice along the lines east through from Whitchurch, via Overton and Basingstoke to Hook with Micheldever Station adding to the choice in the south.

“Another winning factor is the rich combination of the verdant surroundings with the River Test, a world-renowned chalk stream, springing to life just west of Basingstoke.

“Add to that cultural centres in Winchester, Basingstoke, and Newbury and it's easy to see why values here never declined for former farmhouses set in around five acres, and why they must be set to rise in the Spring.”

Simon added: “The Carter Jonas Country Cottage index also shows values beginning to rise in some areas but, again, in the central south they have not declined and are set to take off again.

“Rising values in other areas immediately trigger recognition of the appeal of this part of the country, and buyers exiting the London market with capital to spare have a strong presence in our area so the money exists to ensure vendors here with prime properties reap the benefits in early 2014.

“It should be sufficient for market forces to at last push some cottage properties through the £500,000 Stamp Duty threshold that has been artificially limiting their price growth.”

For more details of the Carter Jonas Farmhouse and Country Cottage surveys, email Basingstoke @carterjonas.co.uk.