I am sure thats true Rachel sorry I had dismissed the obvious if you live next to all the other brits on a complex your next door neighbor is so close he/she is reaching over the wire fence and dipping his/her Croissant in your coffee, Then I am sure you will have a number of small/medium shops to satisfy your cravings. However it is still a fact you will still use more fuel outside of those settings.

or indeed if you choose to live in one of those big towns or cities you would otherwise need that fuel to reach, of course.

not on their budget

Ah, I see. I have no idea what their house-buying budget is.

Down here, it seems cheaper to live in the city than to "live next to all the other brits on a complex". Plus, of course, you save on fuel.