With a population of over 1.8million (2015 estimate), Kent is the UK’s sixth most-populated county. In addition to the urban areas of county town Maidstone and other substantial and well-connected settlements such as Tonbridge, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Sittingbourne, Dartford and Ebbsfleet, the ‘Garden of England’ has extensive rural areas, with parts of the North Down and The Weald, as well as many resorts around its long and attractive coastline.
It makes for a compelling choice of destinations for seekers of new build homes to consider – first-time buyers, families, commuters, downsizers and those looking for a retirement home.
At the end of 2016, the district of Tonbridge and Malling made it to 14 (of 418) in the Halifax Quality of Life survey, taking account factors such as employment, health, education, life expectancy, earnings and housing.
The latest figures from the Land Registry show Kent property prices rising 7.2% from 2016 to 2017 and the average county price (£277,761) 17.4% higher than the national average.
Kent still operates a grammar school system, appealing to many family homebuyers looking for highly reputed state schools. The county has campuses serving four universities, the two main ones being the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University.
Kent is a very well connected county. Its main arterial routes from London by road are the A2/M2 to the north, and A20/M20 via Ashford towards Folkestone. The M25 and M26 are also in the county, with the former linking over the River Thames at the Dartford Crossing into Essex and providing a convenient link north from there.
There are plenty of rail connections into London Bridge, Cannon Street, Blackfriars and Victoria stations, with dozens of towns and villages boasting a regular service into the capital – excellent choice for commuting homebuyers. Kent also benefits from High Speed 1 and Eurostar, linking Ebbsfleet and Ashford to St Pancras International and the Continent.
Dover and Folkestone are two major ports, with frequent commercial and passenger links to France. Folkestone is where the Channel Tunnel takes road and rail passengers across to France.
Though without its own major airport, the M25 provides convenient links to get to Gatwick, Stansted and Heathrow.
There are many thousands new homes planned for Kent over the coming years, reflecting its significance in the market in the South East.
Ebbsfleet Development Corporation is planning up to 15,000 new homes as well as new parks and a commercial centre in the form of a new Garden City at the north Kent stop on the High Speed/Eurostar rail line. Some of the early homes are already for sale.
In March 2017, the government announced a plan for 5,750 new homes near Ashford, to be built in four phases by Hodson Developments and other large and small housebuilders. The first 1,500 homes at new village Chilmington Green are expected to be delivered by 2022.
Other districts and boroughs also plan their own considerable increase in housing stock.