Signs that a place is on the up...

[Unburnished]

... or going down the pan.

I live in the middle of nowhere between a very smart market town and a very depressed market town.

I’d like to move to be closer to work, family and friends but I’m struggling to put my finger on quite what I should be looking for in terms of somewhere being on the up/being gentrified.

The last two areas Ive lived in started to decline as soon as I moved there so I’d like to avoid that happening again.

So you help me identify a declining place (or one that’s likely to decline) from one that’s on the up?

I've heard that a place on the up will likely have new businesses opening up and thriving, shops, cafes and restaurants etc. Investment in the area, like the council putting money into the area and providing new facilities, perhaps improving transport links. Houses will be getting done up, so look for signs of renovations like skips out the front, things like that.
I guess the opposite is true for somewhere on a downturn, shops and businesses closing, maybe schools not doing well, housing market slowing.

Both previous places declining once you moved there...hmm...

Look at transport links and where money is being planned to be spent. Near here a previously run down area has had a massive injection of money and I can imagine it will overtake nearby towns in terms of desirability in the next few years.

Busy coffee shops and shops selling high end merchandise rather than everyday essentials. Newly opened M and S Food or Waitrose. They've done the research for you.

TildaTurnip I know! I’m a harbinger of doom!

Also, look out for graffiti, rubbish in the street and good signs like tended front gardens and public flower beds.

Good point Beebumble2 It’s very noticeable when the public spaces such as roundabouts and verges arent well kept.

Sourdough. If you can buy sourdough (from an independent shop), it's on the up

You’re too late by the time Waitrose makes an appearance.

Phil and Kirsty always used to say you should look for skips and independent coffee shops. But I do like the sourdough test .