The Purple Plaques initiative has been launched by Zoopla.co.uk, to identify properties across the UK where a celebrity resided in the past. First to be highlighted are the former homes of David Cameron (West London), Gary Barlow (Northwich), Liz Hurley (Basingstoke), Lewis Hamilton (Stevenage) and Chris Evans (Warrington).
The idea was inspired by the Blue Plaques, which were introduced by English Heritage selecting and cataloguing properties associated with notable figures of the past, deceased for at least 20 years. The Zoopla Purple Plaque proposal honours living celebrities and pays homage to the sometimes unlikely humble starting abodes which they lived in across the UK.
Just because they are famous and wealthy today, does not mean that they always lived in the glitziest of places, since these household names come from all walks of life and many are proud of their humble property beginnings in contrast to their gated mansions or high-rise penthouses of today.
A survey of estate agents by Zoopla has revealed that celebrity linkage can notably 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 it can help add value to a property – over half of agents by as much as 5%.
Homeowners who live in a celebrity’s former home are invited go to www.zoopla.co.uk/purpleplaques to apply for consideration for a Purple Plaque.
Some Purple Plaque properties:
- David Cameron, 1995-2006, Finstock Rd, London, the property in which rose from relative obscurity to become Conservative leader
- Lewis Hamilton, 1997-2001, Woodfield Rd, Stevenage, the property where he was signed to McLaren aged just 13
- Gary Barlow, 1995 -2005, Delamere Manor, Cuddington, Cheshire, the property he rattled around on his Take That hiatus
- Liz Hurley, 2000-2006, Popham Lane, North Waltham, Hampshire, the property where she juggled film, model, TV and charity work
- Chris Evans, Greenwood Crescent, Warrington, Cheshire, the property where he planned his career in broadcasting
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