CONTENTS: INTRODUCTION - ASHFORD, KENT - BATH, SOMERSET - BECKENHAM, KENT - BEDFORD, BEDFORDSHIRE - BILLERICAY, ESSEX - BIRMINGHAM CITY CENTRE, BIRMINGHAM - BOURNEMOUTH, SUSSEX - BRENTWOOD, ESSEX - BRIGHTON, SUSSEX - CAMBRIDGE, CAMBRIDGESHIRE - CANTERBURY, KENT - CARDIFF, WALES - CHELMSFORD, ESSEX - CLEETHORPES, LINCOLNSHIRE - COLCHESTER, ESSEX - EPPING, ESSEX - GRANTHAM, LINCOLNSHIRE - GREAT YARMOUTH, NORFOLK - GUILDFORD, SURREY - IPSWICH, SUFFOLK - KETTERING, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE - KINGS LYNN, NORFOLK - LEICESTER, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE - LIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE, LANCASHIRE - LUTON, BEDFORDSHIRE - MANCHESTER, LANCASHIRE - MILTON KEYNES, BEDFORDSHIRE - NORWICH, NORFOLK - OXFORD, OXFORDSHIRE - PETERBOROUGH, CAMBRIDGESHIRE - READING, BERKSHIRE - ROMFORD, ESSEX - SOUTHEND-ON-SEA, ESSEX - ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE - STANSTED, ESSEX - SWINDON, BERKSHIRE - WELWYN GARDEN CITY, HERTFORDSHIRE - WISBECH, CAMBRIDGESHIRE
| Area: | ASHFORD, KENT | |||||||
| Category: | A | |||||||
| Investor Profile | Pension, Retirement, Downshifter, Business and Cash&Equity | |||||||
| Population aged 15+: | 47,154 | |||||||
| Actual | National Average | |||||||
| Percentage Class ABC1: | 49% | 44% | ||||||
| Crime: | Violence | Sexual | Burglary | Motor | ||||
| Per 1000 population | 9 | 1 | 5 | 3 | ||||
| Yield Range: | 6.2% - 8.5% | |||||||
| Price Ranges | Low £ | Hi £ | Low £pw | Hi £pw | Low | Hi | ||
| Flats&maisonettes | 49,600 | 74,400 | 81 | 110 | 7.7% | 8.5% | ||
| Terraced | 84,800 | 127,200 | 112 | 151 | 6.2% | 6.9% | ||
| Semi-detached | 89,600 | 134,400 | 120 | 163 | 6.3% | 7.0% | ||
| Detached | 144,000 | 216,000 | 195 | 264 | 6.4% | 7.0% | ||
| Valuations above the national average by: | 11% | |||||||
| Actual | National Average | |||||||
| Capital growth last 12 months: | 17% | 18% | ||||||
| Capital growth last 4 years: | 78% | 74% | ||||||
| Large employers in the area: | Van den Bergh Foods, Letraset, Quest International, Techpro, Coty Manufacturing UK, Stena Line, Computer Crafts and Alliance & Leicester Girobank | |||||||
| Demand For Letting: | Good | |||||||
| Average void period: | 2 weeks | |||||||
| Total (out of 10) | Capital Growth (out of 5) | Yield (out of 5) | ||||||
| Out of 10: | 9 | 5 | 4 | |||||
| Summary: | This will be an international address in 10 years time. The Channel Tunnel Rail Link will really put this place on the map and being only 36 mins to London and 90 mins to Europe – it will be the capital of Kent. | |||||||
| Description: | This town has really seen a dramatic change in the last 100 years. It has grown from a small railway town to now a gateway to the whole of Europe for the south east of England. What I expect to see is the location of many medium to large sized European export businesses locating to this area due to the opening of the Channel Tunnel which will only increase the population and hence demand for rental properties. There is a fully functional International Passenger Station at Ashford which can only mean that governmental investment in to the town will consistent and for the next 10 years at least. The high speed railway link to London will now make Ashford (59 miles from London) a commuter town, being only 36 mins to the city of London. I do not know of any other town being nearly 60 miles away yet a travelling time of just over half an hour to the city! Residents here will get the best of all worlds – close to the countryside, close to Europe and close to London. The proximity to Europe would make Ashford an ideal retirement home for those who wish to travel. Knowing that you can be in virtually any part of Europe within the day you travel will make this town a jumping ground for those who are regular travellers but still love being UK residents. The influx of tourists will also make the demand for hotel accommodation rise. I suspect that quaint, very English B&Bs will be sought from the tourists as Ashford will the alternative place to visit from our capital city, London. Due to the Channel Link the roads have seen major improvements. The M20 is completed (and to be honest is very under-used) and the M2 is undergoing a road widening programme. Road travelling times are going to be heavily reduced which will open up the whole of Kent but especially Ashford. | |||||||
| Mainline railway station: | 35 minutes to London Charing Cross 45 minutes to Cannon Street, London | |||||||
| Road Access: | Main access M20 54 miles south east of London 2 miles from M20 | |||||||
| Local Newspaper | Kentish Express Series 01233 623232 | |||||||
| Estate Agents: | Name | Address | Tel | Web | ||||
| Gould & Harrison | 1 Middle Row High Street Ashford Kent TN24 8SQ | 01233 646411 | N/a | |||||
| Hunters Estate Agents | 73a High Street Ashford Kent TN24 8SF | 01233 643535 | N/a | |||||
| Connells Estate Agents | 77 High Street Ashford Kent TN24 8SF | 01233 622206 | N/a | |||||
| Milton Ashbury Ltd | 102 Manorfield Ashford Kent TN23 5YP | 0800 970 7349 | N/a | |||||
| Letting Agents: | Name | Address | Tel | Web | ||||
| Connells | 77 High Street, Ashford, TN24 8SF | 01233 634156 | www.connells.co.uk | |||||
| Countrywide Residential Lettings | 01233 622212 | www.rightmove.co.uk | ||||||
| Bradford & Bingley Geering & Colyer | Bank St Ashford Kent TN23 1BP | 01233 640200 | www.bbg.co.uk | |||||
| Calcutt Maclean Standen Lettings | The Granary, Bridge St Wye Ashford Kent TN25 5ED | 01233 812606 | www.calcuttmacleanstanden.co.uk | |||||
| Your Move | 01233 645588 | www.your-move.co.uk/lettings | ||||||