Human League's Phil Oakey lived in northern city where houses cost just £240,000

Phil Oakey Sheffield

Phil lived in Sheffield for many years

GETTY
Sarra Gray

By Sarra Gray


Published: 05/11/2023

- 05:01

Updated: 05/11/2023

- 10:17

Phil Oakey lived in the north of England for many years

Phil Oakey found fame in the 1980s pop band, The Human League.

The English singer was born in Hinckley, Leicestershire and settled down about an hour further north.


The singer bought a house in Sheffield and lived there for many years.

He bought a house in the area in 1983 when the band were enjoying lots of success.

Peak District

The Peak District National Park is located nearby

PA

Phil stayed in the property for several years and converted it into a recording studio.

“I bought it at the peak of our success," he told Liverpool Echo in 2008.

"After that, I wasn’t getting any richer, so I wasn’t going to buy anywhere better.

"I just stayed where I was and luckily I continued to love it there.

“We were always going to stay up north. [Human League's] Joanne and Susan’s parents were here and we never saw the point of moving them away to London.

“Plus I don’t like it down south. It’s not so friendly. It never feels like home.”

Sheffield is a city located in South Yorkshire.

It has lots of lovely countryside nearby, including the Peak District National Park.

Sheffield river

Sheffield has more affordable housing than parts of the south

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House prices are more affordable than areas in the south of England.

Over the last year, the average property has sold for £239,708, Rightmove found.

Musician Bob Geldof has lived in a British market town for more than 35 years.

Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant lives by a "beautiful" English forest with "great" walks.

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