Commuter belt regeneration hotspots

Updated
Commuter belt regeneration hotspots
Commuter belt regeneration hotspots

Pic: Getty

With property prices in the capital unsurprisingly the highest in the country, many Londoners are looking to leave their city flats and upgrade to a family home a little further afield.

Although there many of the most popular towns in the home counties also command premium prices, regeneration in some of the commuter belt's up-and-coming towns means there are still reasonably affordable homes to be had.


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Harlow, Essex
Chelmsford and the like have long been popular with City workers thanks to the half-hour commute into town, but Harlow could be the place to buy if it's value you're after.

Transport links to London are excellent, with commuters reaching Liverpool Street station within half an hour, and the M11 and Stansted airport making things easy on other travellers.

And though some areas of Harlow has previously suffered with a poor reputation, a £67 million scheme to replace some of its council estates with new homes ready to move into in 2016, it's a great spot to pick up a relative bargain.

Gillingham, Kent
Kent's Medway towns are also in line for some much needed regeneration, and if a riverside property is your idea of perfect commuter living, then Gillingham is a good place to start. Berkekley First's Victory Pier development is due for completion in 2019, and will include 775 new homes, along with shops, offices and hotel. Two bedroom flats can be picked up for £172,000 and three-bedroom homes from just £265,000, and it's only a 41-minute train journey to St Pancras from the town centre.

In the longer-term, Chatham is also worth considering, as a planned £650 million redevelopment of Chatham docks, including 950 new homes, shops, offices and open spaces, will undoubtedly boost prices in the town.
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Redhill, Surrey
Neighbouring Reigate is a well known commuter hotspots, but in Redhill you can pick up a property that's roughly 25 per cent cheaper. It might not be the prettiest of towns, but the rail station is due for a £50 million revamp, with shops, flats and a new town square, while Redhill Memorial Park and the Donyngs Leisure Centre are also in line for an upgrade.

With the average house price around £277,237, according to Zoopla, and three-bed period properties on the market for around £320,000, it's definitely worth considering if you're looking for a family home, and you'll arrive in London Victoria by train in under half an hour..

Are you looking to get out of the city and head for the commuter belt? Which towns and areas are you keen on? Leave your comments below...

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