Tag Archives: London

Commuting to Liverpool and Manchester: The perks of living up north.

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It is time to stop kidding yourself that London offers the British equivalent of the American dream. The glitz and glamour of our capital and of city life has masked the unrealistic expectations that are associated with living in London. When examining national statistics and location-based surveys, there are several recurrent factors that prove that this is indeed not the best choice of places to live, especially when you factor in considerations such as health, raising a family and travel.   Finance and Accommodation According to a recent survey conducted by RightMove, the asking price of semi-detached properties in Banks, […]

Crossrail: London Reborn?

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£14.8bn is the expected cost of construction for Crossrail, with 73 miles of extra track length to be added to existing London’s transport systems, 200 million more journeys each year and 24 extra journeys to run at peak times of the day per hour. It is Europe’s largest and most ambitious infrastructure project to date and the largest scheme in London for more than 20 years since the extension of London’s underground system with the Jubilee Line in the late 1990’s. Until now, London’s transport system has generated a land value of £9billion. The Crossrail will no doubt take precedence […]

First Crossrail homes completed

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Woolwich at Royal Arsenal has received the first wave of competed homes to be constructed. First Crossrail homes completed have been built above a new Crossrail station in preparation for the new transport system to commence by 2018. More than one thousand homes have been developed as part of two separate developments, one of which has been built and developed by Berkeley Homes and the other by Crossrail itself. Berkeley Homes is one of the largest property developers in London and is responsible for building architecturally iconic, high-specification apartment towers in Central London. Berkeley Homes has developed Cannon Square, located at […]

The Rise of the Super Flat

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Turn on ITV at 9pm and you’ll most likely be greeted by the latest period drama boasting stately homes, acres upon acres of gardens and the richest Brits around. Back then the only way to make an exhibition of your wealth was by owning the biggest, tallest house on the manor. Drawing rooms, libraries and sweeping staircases have always been as much a tangible representation of wealth as champagne and lobster dinners. Well, not anymore. The newest generation of millionaire house hunters are ditching traditional London townhouses and stately homes for something more modern, uber-cool and altogether trendier – introducing London’s […]

Crossrail effect cripples young buyers

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crossrail effect

Source: Network Rail The Crossrail effect will make the rich richer and squeeze first-time buyers further out of London. Areas graced by any of the Crossrail’s links will enjoy multiplying property values, adding an estimated £5.5 billion overall, according to Crossrail’s land and property director, Ian Lindsay. The Crossrail’s benefits have been widely reported, and rightly so if the system lives up to its claims; putting an additional 1.5 million people within 45 minutes of London and reducing journey times across London by up to half. Even so, with further property price hikes, is this good news for the younger […]

West Ealing has green light for Crossrail

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The Crossrail project is heavily underway and with new stations planned and under construction, the new line will serve a greater purpose for Londoners, further extending the tube map to areas which have never had an easy route into London. The latest news off the press is that West Ealing has green light for Crossrail station to be built. Proposals for a major overhaul of West Ealing station has been approved by Ealing Council and was designed by Bennetts Associates. The new station will include a beautifully bright, modern and spacious new ticket hall with new glass and steel structures […]

Location, Location, Location: London Vs the Rest of the UK

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Ever sat on the London Underground dreaming of rolling hills, baby lambs and country roads where the kids can ride their bikes? You’re probably not alone, but taking the plunge and upping sticks to the countryside may be an irrevocable decision! And with London house prices increasing rapidly, moving out of the capital means you probably won’t ever make it back. So, questioning whether to live in London vs the rest of the UK can be a tough decision to make. The price gap in London vs the rest of the UK The property price gap between London and the […]

Crossrail Causes Surge in House Prices

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Europe’s largest infrastructure project is currently underway, since being given the green light to begin tunnelling in 2008. The Crossrail project, despite not even being completed yet, has caused a surge in house prices by almost 82%. The Crossrail is a 73 mile railway line that is expected to open in late 2018, and will provide faster routes into London without making any changes to the underground. The line extends from Maidenhead to Shenfield, where house prices within a short walking distance of stations have risen by 5%, more than the local market, gaining a 43% average since 2008. The […]

Restaurants are Bumping Up House Prices

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Restaurants are bumping up house prices. A sought after postcode is no doubt a catalyst for astronomical sale prices, however it’s become apparent that nowadays it’s not just where you live, but where you eat that can drastically up your property kudos. Hard to book a table at your local? Chances are it’s difficult to buy a house, too. Besides the obvious desire for premier schools, green spaces and a token shopping centre, buyers interested in upmarket properties will want upmarket everything, to match. Recently, Waitrose hit the headlines when it was reported that residing near the upscale supermarket chain […]