Move up the line to get more for your money

For travellers from Northamptonshire St. Pancras is no longer the end of the line but the place to change platforms for trains to Europe and beyond. However it is not just the holidaymaker who is taking advantage of excellent transport links.

More and more commuters are realising the benefits of living in the county where they can get more house for their money and still have a manageable journey to work.

“We have seen a significant increase in families moving into the area looking for a better quality of life,” says Simon Manning of Connells Rushden office. “Rushden is still very competitively priced compared to other areas, as just a quick comparison of the sort of properties that £270,000 will buy you as you travel down the line to London shows.”

Connells is currently selling an individual four bedroom, three reception room detached house in an exclusive tree lined cul du sac in the village of Irthlingborough, six miles from the Midland Mainline station at Wellingborough. With re-fitted kitchen, including drinking fountain, master bedroom with dressing area and en-suite shower room, study, dining room and lounge it offers good family accommodation.

The larger than average, private landscaped garden has three patio areas and stunning views over the surrounding countryside. In short, it’s an ideal rural retreat after the hustle and bustle of the city.

Go a bit further down the line towards London and according to the Rightmove website, the same money would get you a three bedroom 1930s property in Bedford or a four bedroom home on a large, modern estate in Luton. And in London itself, within a couple of miles of St. Pancras, you are probably looking at a two bedroom ex local authority house in Camden or a two bedroom maisonette in Gospel Oak.

“Prices have been steadily increasing in this area of Northamptonshire as people become more aware of the excellent communication network but there are still many reasonably priced family homes to be found,” says Simon Manning.

In addition to the train service to London, the A45 provides a fast link to both the M1 and the A14, making commuting to employment centres such as Cambridge, Leicester, Milton Keynes, Coventry and even Birmingham a very viable option. “As people move further out from the property hotspots looking for better value for money, prices in the Rushden area are bound to rise so now’s the time to snap up a bargain family home.”