Fast trains to London put Kent homes in the spotlight

From December 2009, high speed passenger services will run from Kent to London on High Speed 1 (HS1); the UK’s first high speed rail line. A new station in North Kent, Ebbsfleet International will be only 17 minutes from St Pancras International and Ashford’s journey time will be cut from a gruelling 1 hour 23 minutes to just 37 minutes!

This amazing change to accessibility to the metropolis from beautiful outlying Kent is expected to change the way people view the possibilities of living in the county. In this part of the South East, property prices have always been good value, particularly when you bear in mind the superb open countryside and everything the county has to offer including major towns such as Maidstone and Ashford. This new link however, makes this area ripe for growth and good investment.

The new services will make Kent more accessible from key cities in the Midlands and North with Oxford and Nottingham via St Pancras International taking only about 2 hours, Birmingham about 2 hour 30 and Manchester just over 3 hours from Ebbsfleet International The Olympic site will be only 7 minutes from Ebbsfleet.

However, it is the amazing reduction of travel time from Ashford International to London that will make such a marked different to all the towns and villages in the area.

“This is going to radically change people’s perspective of where they want to live”, says Jo Richards, Marketing and Corporate Manager for Hillreed Homes, developers of private housing throughout the region. “In truth it will probably be quicker to take the train into London from Ashford than to try and drive in from say Streatham!”

Locate in Kent, Locateinkent.com is already geared up to offer free, impartial advice for thosebusinesses looking to succeed in Kent. Kent County Council KCC is also aware of radical changes and is taking all matters into account ready for the upsurge in numbers looking to work and live in the region.

For those looking for investment in housing and those looking to buy and still work in London on London salaries, the possibilities are enormous so searching out a property now, before the rush, makes sense.

Currently, Hillreed Homes is building at Highland Park, Hoxton Close in Ashford, Kent.

There is a choice of brand new two bedroom apartments from just £144,950 with parking.

Incentives currently include:

- 5% deposit paid
- Or 15% equity share
- Or £250 mortgage subsidy for 24 months

Houses start from £267,950 for a four bedroom link detached with garage.

Incentives include:

- £10,000 discount on selected plots
- Or £250 mortgage subsidy for 24 months

Concluded Jo Richards, “I know the mantra is “There has never been a better time to buy”, but in this case it really is true!”

For more information, visit Hillreed.co.uk.