In a poll of recent UK home buyers, the most popular answer to the question “What is number one on your wish list for your new home?” was “Proximity to transport connections.” Closely followed by “An easier commute/school run.” For these buyers, the quality, reliability and speed of the public transport links service are the most important influencers on where they will look for a new home.
For example, Troy Homes recently launched their luxury homes development, Crown Gardens in Farnham Royal. Within a month, three of the four properties were sold to buyers from London Boroughs who wanted more space, contemporary style, top quality design and build, better lifestyle opportunities and, above all, an easy commute to the City. After all, there is no point having a perfect home if I can’t get back to it easily!
When Crossrail opens in 2019, journey times across London will be slashed for many commuters and, just as importantly, they are expecting to travel in more comfort than is currently the case on may underground lines. This will transform the Home Counties as commuters will be able to get across the city quicker than ever, while enjoying the space of living out of town.
Richard Werth, CEO of Troy Homes, explains: “We can, and do, improve everything on the land we buy to make our homes a special place to live but, the one thing that we cannot change is the local transport infrastructure. If that is not up to scratch, we will probably not consider buying the site. For sustainability, convenience and the best use of their time, our buyers demand excellent public transport networks on their doorstep. Another significant change is the way that people holiday. Many of our buyers are young and they tend to take more mini breaks and long weekends abroad than previous generations did. Therefore, they want quick access to an airport that has good services to and from interesting destinations.”
With this in mind, Plantation Road in Amersham boasts an exclusive development of four luxury family homes, with either 3 or 4 excellent sized bedrooms, set in a private select close alongside its Grade II listed neighbour. This development is located just half a mile from Amersham-on-the-Hill which offers easy access into central London and Heathrow alike, giving families space to grow, travel and live with easy access to the urban lifestyle and careers.
At Harvester Close in Royston there will be nineteen 3, 4 and 5 bedroom semi-detached and detached homes in a lovely location, just a short walk from the town centre. Under an hour to London and just 40 minutes to Stansted airport will make these homes particularly desirable to families looking to shorten their commute and maintain the local lifestyle while giving fast access to international travel. Construction has started on Harvester Close, with the show home opening this Autumn. You can register your interest for site visits and further information here.
Richard concludes, “Without good travel and public transport infrastructure, rural and semi-rural communities face an uncertain future as, no matter what is in the Local Plan, buyers have said that fast, reliable and stress-free travel is non-negotiable and it tops their list of priorities (only slightly ahead of great space and energy efficiency). So, I am extremely glad to see public transport is now getting the investment it needs because it opens up so many opportunities for us to breathe new life into market towns and villages with top quality new homes that will be sustainable and viable for many years to come.”
If you are interested to explore any of the sites listed in this blog, please get in contact with Troy Homes here.
