An apartment on Deansgate in Manchester city centre sold for £1.2m in April

Location, stagnation, resignation

Not surprisingly, the streets in our regular survey of the region's house prices are reflecting the dire market currently affecting the whole country. Four of the ten reported no sales in the last three months and the remaining six barely managed a dozen between them. Jayne Dowle reports.

Deansgate, Manchester M3

Prime city-centre residential territory boasting two new top-end apartment schemes in Number One Deansgate and Beetham Tower, has seen 441 properties change hands since 2000.

Number of properties sold March-May 2008 - 4
Average price, £441,875
Number of properties sold in 2007 - 156
Average price, £365,964
Number of properties sold in 2006 - 16
Average price, £271,494

Analysis: So it could be true then. The standard line trotted out by estate agents that despite the doom and gloom everywhere else, the top-end of the Manchester city centre market is still busy is borne out by activity on Deansgate. Evidence? The sale of an apartment at Number One Deansgate for a cool £1.2m in April. Agents reckon that those who don't need to bother with a mortgage are sniffing around for bargains.

Old Hall Street, Liverpool L3

Lots of redevelopment: 272 properties sold here since 2000 - in centrally placed residential location for business, transport, retail and cultural activities.

Number of properties sold March-May 2008 - None
Number of properties sold in 2007 - 8
Average price, £326,981
Number of properties sold in 2006 - 35
Average price, £147,094

It might be the Capital of Culture, but it's right in the middle of the credit crunch. Not one property has changed hands on Old Hall Street since February. "Liverpool's dead as a city just now," says property developer Chris Nisbet, who converted the Albany on Old Hall Street in 2005. He blames the proliferation of serviced apartments deterring buyers, and the bubble of over-inflated prices bursting - "places were being sold for more than £300 a square foot, but no-one will pay above £240 now" - for the stagnation.

Chapel Lane, Hale Barns WA15

Dominated by mid-20^th Century detached houses, Chapel Lane is in the centre of this ultra-smart Cheshire village.

Number of properties sold March-May 2008 - 2
Average price, £532,500
Number of properties sold in 2007 - 5
Average price, £511,200
Number of properties sold in 2006 - 6
Average price, £915,833

Although it might look impressive that there are still people with half-a-million quid to spend on houses in Hale Barns, "things can't get any quieter, transaction levels are so low," says agent Clive Hall at Holland Hall. "There are buyers out there, but they are holding on, waiting for prices to drop lower." He says that sellers have accepted that asking prices have had to be chopped by between 5% and 7%, but are not budging any further if they don't have to move.

Abbey Road, Barrow-in-Furness LA14

Characterised by large Victorian houses, Abbey Road is a major route into Barrow-in-Furness, a Cumbrian regeneration hotspot.

Number of properties sold March-May 2008 - 2
Average price, £208, 500
Number of properties sold in 2007 - 13
Average price, £223,496
Number of properties sold in 2006 - 9
Average price, £222,083

Average prices have dropped, but there is still some action on Abbey Road, which attracts families who want a lot of house for their money and people wanting to start bed-and-breakfasts. "There are two types of buyer in Barrow," says David Corrie at Poole Townsend estate agents, "those who live here, and those who are coming here to work." The new BAE Systems contract to build two super-aircraft carriers in Barrow is creating 900 jobs and underlining relative economic prosperity for the town.

Warwick Road, Carlisle CA1

Rapid turnover of stock in an area of the city characterised by terraced houses - and serious flooding in 2005.

Number of properties sold March-May 2008 - 4
Average price, £204, 750
Number of properties sold in 2007 - 27
Average price, £172,111
Number of properties sold in 2006 - 23
Average price, £146, 697

Carlisle does not seem to be suffering as much as some large towns and cities. Warwick Road, a major route from the M6, has a wide range of property, from small flats to four-bedroom family homes. Some period houses, including Victorian and Georgian, add to the mix. "It's quite unique," says agent Adrian Tod at Hayward Tod Associates. "Because there is such a variety of property, sales have not been affected solely by one part of the market having problems."

Clare Avenue, Hoole CH2

Popular terraced houses with relatively high turnover, close to transport links and a favourite with commuters and first-time buyers.

Number of properties sold March-May 2008 - 1
Price, £199,950
Number of properties sold in 2007 - 10
Average price, £169,690
Number of properties sold in 2006 - 4
Average price, £176,750

Sales have really slowed down. Although the property which did sell, in April, went for £30,000 more than the average price for the previous year, higher mortgage rates and the rising cost of living seriously appear to be impacting on residents, and would-be residents, of this usually-popular road. One agent, who didn't want to be named, says," if things aren't busy on Clare Avenue, then they are not going to be busy anywhere. I can't see them picking up this year at all."

Norley Close, Warrington WA5

Mixture of new-build houses and apartments on the site of a former cake factory, favoured by commuters and workers at nearby Warrington Hospital.

Number of properties sold March-May 2008 - None
Number of properties sold in 2007 - 9
Average price, £107,378
Number of properties sold in 2006 - 8
Average price, £118,869

Nothing is shifting on Norley Close. Surrounded by older terraced properties, this small pocket of private brownfield regeneration was built in the past five years. Although some apartments were bought as buy-to-let investments, most of the properties are owner-occupied. Local agents say there has been little interest in sales this year. The average selling price has dropped since 2006. These factors suggest a stagnant market for the foreseeable future.

Vance Road, Blackpool FY1

A road of typical Blackpool guest-houses, close to Central Pier and the revamped Houndshill shopping centre.

Number of properties sold March-May 2008 - None
Number of properties sold in 2007 - 6
Average price, £126,750
Number of properties sold in 2006 - 4
Average price, £164,987

The new extension to the Houndshill shopping centre, within staggering distance of Vance Road, opens in August, so it will be interesting to see if the presence of Debenhams, La Senza, Coffee Republic et al has any effect on persuading buyers to invest in property nearby. In general, prices for guest houses in Blackpool are on a downward trend. Despite the millions pumped into transforming the resort's infrastructure, with some impressive results, the credit crunch looks unlikely to alleviate this situation.

Addison Street, Blackburn BB2

Elevate East Lancashire, a major regeneration programme, has transformed a once-declining area dominated by 19^th Century terraces.

Number of properties sold March-May 2008 - None
Number of properties sold in 2007 - 24
Average price, £109,589
Number of properties sold in 2006 - 3
Average price, £47,334

Quiet, following a hectic year or so. Places for People built 110 new houses, available for shared ownership, priced at around £130,000 full value, on the site of demolished houses. Blackburn with Darwen council renovated surrounding homes; the last older property sold in January for £76,950, a huge increase on the 2006 average. One local regeneration expert says that Addison Street and its environs is now "a place of choice for the Muslim community", indicating potential future demand.

Belfield Road, Rochdale OL16

Within the Rochdale/Oldham Housing Market Renewal area and part of a major regeneration scheme in its early stages.

Number of properties sold March-May 2008 - 1
Price, £84,000
Number of properties sold in 2007 - 3
Average price, £71,750
Number of properties sold in 2006 - 9
Average price, £74,833

With its variety of terraced housing, social housing and former industrial plots, Belfield Road is a typical example of a mixed regeneration site requiring sustainable planning for future success. Part of the £6.57m East/Central Rochdale regeneration budget is earmarked for new housing and a health centre. The only property sold in the period was a terraced house, and the price rise suggests this type's perennial popularity. A range of residential tenures locally means sales turnover is not the only indication of market performance.