Friday 29 Mar 2024
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For astute buyers seeking property investment opportunities in the UK, Berkeley and St Edward offer a range of new homes – and good value - in the South East of England, outside of London but within easy and quick reach of the capital by train. Property prices are substantially lower than in central London, yet forecasts predict 16.5% house price growth in the South East over the next five years, compared to 8.2% in the capital. Rental demand often outstrips supply, as Londoners continue to move out in search of homes with more space, greener surroundings and great transport links.

From town centre apartments in Staines-upon-Thames to spacious family homes in semi-rural locations in Reading and Fleet, investors can expect excellent yields and strong capital growth.

Eden Grove, Staines-Upon-Thames: Surrey’s latest property investment hotspot

Eden Grove is a new residential quarter in the riverside town of Staines-upon-Thames in Surrey, surrounded by countryside yet just 17 miles from London and three miles from Heathrow Airport.

Staines-upon-Thames has undergone extensive regeneration and today it is in the top 10% of UK authorities for long-term growth potential. The town is now home to many global businesses including BP, Bupa, Samsung and the famous Shepperton studios; Heathrow also supports tens of thousands of local jobs.

The town has a strong rental market, with demand up 78% in October 2022 on the previous year, according to local real estate agent there. 82% of the population is of working age (16+), compared with 67% in Manchester and 65% in Birmingham, providing a large labour market. In addition, the population is expanding and by 2029 a 11% increase is predicted in the number of 25 to 29-year-olds living in the town.

The average property is around £100,000 less expensive than in London, making a purchase here a much more affordable option without sacrificing quick and convenient links into the capital.

Close to the town are some of Surrey’s most affluent destinations, including Windsor, home to the British Royal Family and Ascot, famed for the Royal Ascot racecourse. The 21 independent schools within a six-mile radius of Staines-upon-Thames include ACS Egham International School, the UK’s only school to offer all four International Baccalaureates; top independent school Eton College and Royal Holloway University.

Frequent trains from Staines reach London Waterloo in 35 minutes. Three Crossrail stations are within a short drive; it takes 26 minutes to Bond Street in London’s West End and 40 minutes to Canary Wharf. The M25 motorway is close to Staines-upon-Thames and provides swift access to the M3 and M4 motorway network.

At Eden Grove, spacious one, two and three-bedroom apartments are housed in individually designed buildings set around central landscaped gardens, a brief walk from the High Street and station. Resident facilities will include a 24-hour concierge service, private gym, cycle studio and cinema, together with co-working space and a meeting room, supported by ultra-fast broadband.

Bankside Gardens, Reading: London-style living and exceptional travel links

Exceptional connectivity with the capital combined with a fast-growing economy and active rental market has meant that Reading offers fantastic potential for investors. Annual residential property price growth is outperforming London and is significantly outperforming other asset classes over the long-term.

Named as one of the UK’s fastest growing cities in 2022 by EY with annual GVA growth exceeding 3% (UK average is 2.5%), extensive investment has transformed Reading. Over the past ten years, property prices in Reading have risen by 59.5%, outperforming the FTSE 100 average price growth of 30.3%.

The town is home to many high-profile businesses including PepsiCo, Cisco and Microsoft. As a result, the town has an exceptionally strong rental market enhanced by Reading University’s large student population. Local Estate Agency in Reading estimates that yields of up to 4.9% are achievable at Bankside Gardens, compared with 3% in London Zones 1-4.

There is an excellent choice of schools in the area, including the development’s own primary school, Green Park Village Academy. Close by are ‘outstanding’ rated secondary schools, top-performing grammar schools and the world-class University of Reading is around 12 minutes away by car.

London Paddington is as little as 23 minutes away by train from Reading with direct Crossrail services reaching Bond Street in under an hour and Canary Wharf in just over an hour. The new Reading Green Park train station is expected to open by Spring 2023, linking to Reading town centre in six minutes.

Bankside Gardens, just three miles from the town centre, offers stylish one and two-bedroom apartments in a beautiful lakeside setting. The homes provide a high-end specification and bold, modern design, inside and out, while residents benefit from an array of exclusive hotel-style amenities including a concierge service, a gym, co-working studio and a cinema room. A Tesco Express convenience store will be located on the ground floor of one of the apartment buildings.

The expansive nine-acre Longwater Lake at Bankside Gardens creates a tranquil setting, while the development itself is surrounded by parkland and offers landscaped podium gardens.

Hartland Village, Fleet, Hampshire: village living, green spaces and fast links to London

Hartland Village is a community-centric development in a prime Home Counties location in Hampshire. It enjoys an abundance of green space, including a 70-acre Country Park, and trains to London take just 36 minutes from nearby Farnborough Main Station.

Hart District consistently features in lists of the best places to live in the UK and is highly sought after by families and professionals. House prices in the area rose by 14.7% in 2021.

The town of Fleet has a thriving business ecosystem. It is a top location for global corporations in sectors including aerospace, digital, telecoms, financial and professional services. Hartland Village is conveniently located close to Farnborough Business Park and Cody Technology Park.

High rental demand is driving attractive rental yields; Local real estate agent in Fleet predicts that up to 4.7% yield is achievable at Hartland Village, and there has been a 36% increase in rental tenancies agreed over the last 12 months here.

There are excellent schools and colleges for all ages in the area, including St Nicholas’ Primary School, Fleet Infant School and Farnborough College of Technology. The high-rated University of Surrey is around 14 miles away.

Hartland Village is located just six minutes by car to Fleet station and eight minutes to Farnborough Main train station, where services into London Waterloo take from 41 minutes and 36 minutes respectively. Trains from Farnborough North station, a nine-minute car journey away, travel to Guildford, Reading and Gatwick Airport. A station shuttle is available to book for residents, providing minibus and car transfers to Farnborough Main station.

St Edward’s vision for Hartland Village is to create an exceptional place – in design, architecture, and in the delivery of a true community. Over time, the Village Centre will include a new primary school, shops, cafés, and other facilities, making it a destination in its own right. Currently available at Hartland Mews, the most recent phase, is a collection of traditionally inspired three and four-bedroom houses, each individually designed, and located close to a superb Village Green, which will be delivered in the next phase.

An Outer London Collection Exhibiting in Malaysia For the First Time

Launching exclusively with Red Bean Consultancy (RBC) in Malaysia, the showcase will exhibit these 3 projects together for the first time in Kuala Lumpur on the 17th & 18th November (Thursday and Friday) at RuMa Hotel KL. There will be 2 sessions each day at 11.00am and 5.00pm with seminar presentations.

Ms Shelvin Tan, CEO of RBC said: “We have been receiving an increase of buyers wanting to invest outside of London and thought this will be a good time to bring in UK developments which are well located and attractive for rentals. Whether it is your first time investigating into UK properties or as a seasoned London investor seeking value outside of central London, the Outer London Collection will offer education through our seminar from local expert flying in from London, and options with apartment prices starting from GBP316,000 and house prices starting from GBP610,000 which are fantastic value propositions. There will also be special incentives and discounts given during the launch which makes the properties even more attractive with yields even higher.”

For more information and to register for the event sessions, please contact Ms Shelvin Tan at 0122857618.

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