Is Reading The South East’s Newest Hotspot?

Reading in Berkshire could be the newest hotspot in South East England for property investment. Exceptional connectivity with the capital – with trains as quick as 23 minutes to London Paddington already and the impending arrival of Crossrail – as well as excellent rental yields and a fast-growing economy, mean that properties in this vibrant town offer investors fantastic potential.

Extensive investment over the past decade has transformed Reading into a dynamic town with a host of accolades and a very bright future. It is forecasted to be a fast-growing location (2020-2023), is ranked among the UK’s top five performing innovation economies in a PwC report, and has been named in the Haslams Price Index as one of the best places to live and work in the UK.

Mike Shearn, chief operating officer at Haslams Estate Agent, commented: “Reading – and the wider Thames Valley region – is demonstrating an incredibly buoyant job market and when this is coupled with interest rates remaining at an all-time low and people with an appetite to move home, the result is an incredibly strong lettings and sales market. This in turn has driven capital values, rents and yields.”

The Haslams Price Index indicates that house prices have increased by 4% year-on-year and 1% compared to the last quarter.

Reading is one of the UK’s most prominent technical hubs. Many other international companies are also based here, including global brands Microsoft and PepsiCo, employing many skilled people seeking high-quality lets. Added to this, the top-ranking Reading University has a large student population, many from overseas, and many stay in the town after graduation providing a steady supply of potential tenants.

Mike Shearn said: “Data from Goodlord has shown that 94% of tenants no longer have any cause for concern over the pandemic affecting their income and ability to rent a home, which follows high levels of activity in the market. In terms of rental values, the last three months saw a 5% increase caused by the lack of stock and the resurgence in the number of international tenants; travel has opened back up and students and foreign businesspeople returned. In the same period, we also saw an all-time low for void periods.

“As we enter the last three months of the year, there is an exciting opportunity to achieve an excellent return on investment, with demand continuing to remain at a high.”

Bankside Gardens

Bankside Gardens, St Edward’s development, offers London-style living in a superb Reading location. The one and two-bedroom apartments at No.6 – the latest phase of homes - have been designed for modern living. The living areas lead out onto to a balcony or terrace for stunning views over the landscaped gardens, while the kitchens feature the latest Bosch, Beko and Smeg appliances. Every two-bedroom home provides an en suite bathroom for the main bedroom.

Residents will have access to a co-working studio, state-of-the-art gym, cinema and concierge service. Commercial and retail space will be located on the ground floor of some of the apartment buildings. Private landscaped gardens are complemented by acres of surrounding parkland.

Paul Vallone, executive chairman at St Edward, commented: “Reading is a serious hotspot for people who are looking for an out-of-London property. We expect these homes to be especially popular with young professionals; Bankside Gardens offers all the lifestyle benefits of urban living, from superb travel connections to luxury amenities, as well as the advantages of living out of the capital – lower price points and immediate access to plentiful outdoor space.”

Green Park Business Park is just a short walk away and home to offices, a public gym and a range of eateries while the new Reading Green Park railway station will be located directly next to Bankside Gardens, making travel extremely easy with services reaching Reading station in just six minutes. When Crossrail opens in Reading, direct services will reach Heathrow in 38 minutes, Bond Street in under an hour and Canary Wharf in just over an hour.

Prices at Bankside Gardens start from £290,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. Find out more from St Edward.

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