Crossrail is the first transport project that is aiming to transform areas by delivering integrated station designs, focusing on the station itself, improved public spaces and developments above the stations.
The western section of the Crossrail route will run on the existing rail network from Paddington to Heathrow and Reading, and many of the stations are being upgraded in preparation. The service between Paddington and Heathrow will begin in May 2018, and the full route will be open December 2019.
Estate agents Romans, believe that in general, house prices will remain steady during the year, although a few areas will see a rise. Antony Gibson, sales director at Romans explains: “Crossrail is still going to play a part in house prices for the towns which are located along the Elizabeth Line, with West Drayton, Burnham, Maidenhead and Reading having already seen significant increases.”
Since the announcement of the Crossrail in 2007, it has been shown that properties at all 40 of the stations along the Elizabeth line have seen prices increase at double the average rate of England as a whole, with experts confident that there are still opportunities to buy and get good investment returns and offering a useful tool which will help to keep investors up-to-date with the property market along the route.
Slough
Slough is a large town in Berkshire, around 20 miles west of London. Once Crossrail arrives, Slough will see four Elizabeth line trains an hour in both directions, allowing residents to travel through central London without the need to change. Liverpool Street will be reached in just 39 minutes, and Canary Wharf in 46. Heathrow Central will be just 17 minutes away.
According to the Office for National Statistics, Slough experienced the second biggest house price growth in 2016 (up 19.6%). Slough is an area that is undergoing a great deal of regeneration. A partnership between Slough Borough Council and Mortgan Sindall Investments Limited is working to bring new homes, better school buildings and new leisure facilities to Slough, known as the Slough Urban Renewal (SUR). The scheme is providing hundreds of new homes, many of which are available through Help to Buy.
Wexham Green is the latest housing development by SUR, currently being built by Lovell. The development includes 104 two-, three- and four-bedroom detached and semi-detached houses.
Sales for Wexham Green are scheduled to start in summer 2017, and councillor Zaffar Ajaib, commissioner for housing and urban renewal, says: “Housing in Slough is at a premium and we need new and high quality housing for our residents. These homes are in a lovely setting, right of the leafy edges of the borough and within easy reach of the town and the hospital. And with the addition of new homes for affordable rent this is a real benefit for residents.”
Marlborough Grove from Barratt Homes is a new development located just half a mile away from Langley station, and around ten minutes from Slough, so residents will benefit from Crossrail from both stations from 2019. Marlborough Grove is made up of one- and two-bedroom apartments and three- and four-bedrrom houses and situated in a quiet residential area, while still offering residents all the benefits of the nearby town.
For families looking for another reason to move to Slough, the schools in Slough are highly regarded. There are several Ofsted rated outstanding primary schools such as Lent Rise Combined School and Khalsa Primary School, and many outstanding secondary schools, including Baylis Court School, Slough Grammar School and St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School.
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is another area that is also benefitting from the upcoming Crossrail programme. Improvements are underway at Maidenhead station, with platform extensions, a new lift and new signs and help points.
From 2019, residents will be able to enjoy the full benefits of the Crossrail line which will become the Elizabeth Line, linking Maidenhead with Essex via London. There will be two trains an hour from Reading calling at Maidenhead, East London and Central London stations. The new trains are set to will provide residents with a service to Bond Street in 40 minutes and Canary Wharf in under an hour, with access to Heathrow Central in just 25 minutes.
A £300m regeneration scheme is underway in Maidenhead town centre, introducing new office spaces, a new town square and several new cafés and restaurants.
It is also an area that is seeing new homes being built. Just a mile away from the town centre, Spitfire Bespoke Homes has developed a collection of seven luxury homes. This is a private development with four semi-detached homes with four bedrooms, and three detached houses, each with five bedrooms.
Richard Page, sales & marketing director of Spitfire Bespoke Homes, comments: “At Spitfire we are passionate about design, sustainability and quality, with each of our new homes at Green Gates characterising these elements. Launching in early spring, the homes are situated in an ideal location to benefit from great connections into London, which will further improve with the arrival of Crossrail in 2019, and also the peaceful adjacent countryside, making residents feel a world away from the hustle and bustle on offer in the nearby towns.”
Maidenhead is an area renowned for its education facilities, with highly rated primary and secondary schools, such as Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School and Burnham Grammar School. For families looking to move to the area, Manor Place from Charles Church could be the ideal development. Manor Place has a range of 52 three-, four- and five-bedroom homes, with a starting price of £470,000, and is in walking distance to the town centre.
For homebuyers looking for modern flats right in the heart of Maidenhead, The Loftings is a development from Redrow Homes, also within walking distance of the town centre. It is ideal for those looking to commute to London as it is located adjacent to the railway station.
Here you can also find out more about Abbey Wood and Woolwich at the South East end of the Crossrail route, also undergoing development.