They can be unlikely starting places on the road to fame, but now the former homes of today’s stars such as Cheryl Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Lord Alan Sugar, David Beckham and even Dappy from N-Dubz will qualify for the new Purple Plaque scheme launched today by leading property website Zoopla.co.uk.
The Purple Plaques initiative has been launched to identify and recognise properties across the country where a celebrity has lived in the past.
First to be honoured under the scheme are the former homes of David Cameron (West London), Gary Barlow (Northwich), Liz Hurley (Basingstoke), Lewis Hamilton (Stevenage) and Chris Evans (Warrington).
Inspiration for the scheme was taken from the Blue Plaques presented by English Heritage to properties associated with notable figures of the past – providing they have been dead for at least 20 years.
The Zoopla Purple Plaque scheme will honour living celebrities and pay homage to the council flats, terraces, suburban semis and picturesque pads where they have lived across the UK.
Today’s household names come from all walks of life and many are proud of their humble property beginnings compared to their penthouse suites and gated mansions of today.
Cheryl Cole‘s childhood home in Heaton, Newcastle, where the average property value is £145,671 according to Zoopla.co.uk is a far cry from Hurtmore House in Oxshott where she lived with Ashley Cole and valued at £3.3m.
As well as giving the property some celebrity kudos, a survey of estate agents by Zoopla has revealed that celebrity association can significantly increase the desirability of a house.
Three in four (75%) agents polled agree celebrity association will help sell a property and almost three in five (58%) agree celebrity association can help add value to a property – over half of agents by as much as 5%.
Nicholas Leeming of Zoopla.co.uk said:
“Our hunger for anything celebrity-related has as much impact on the property market as it does fashion, food or anything else. A property is more than just bricks and mortar and a unique history can improve a home’s marketability.”
“Where Blue Plaques honour names of the past such as Sir Isaac Newton, Sir Edward Elgar and Lord Byron today’s buyers are just if not more interested in where Sir Elton John, Katie Price and Stephen Fry once lived.
"We will be awarding many more plaques in coming months and years and would encourage anyone who thinks their home may be eligible to get in touch.”
Marc Goldberg, Head of Sales at Hamptons, said:
“Every property has its own unique story to tell but an interesting history or owner can often provide an additional talking point for buyers and can help to differentiate one property from another.
"A property’s previous owners can paint an interesting picture of its personality and character, which can in turn improve its marketability.”
Homeowners treading the same boards that a star of stage once did or kicking a ball in what was the garden of a Premier League superstar are invited go to www.zoopla.co.uk/purpleplaques to apply for consideration for a Purple Plaque.
