
Britain's failing ghost towns revealed: The 14 unexpected places house prices are plummeting as experts warn 'get out before it's too late!'
From boarded up shops to empty houses with rubbish-strewn gardens, it's easy to spot the signs of communities in decline. Although we are more likely to associate such so-called 'ghost towns' with the American West – beloved of the opening credits of countless Netflix dramas – the UK is not immune to the phenomenon. Indeed, scattered across Britain are deserted towns and villages which lie abandoned.
It's a situation which isn't just depressing to the eye. According to experts, it's also particularly astonishing considering the chronic housing shortage which continues to plague the UK.
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