Kent’s popularity soars as high speed rail service moves step closer

Existing residents and prospective purchasers at Berkeley Homes (Kent) Ltd's flagship developments will benefit from faster rail times next year. Travel times between Kent and London will be slashed from December 2009, with Holborough near Maidstone and Kingsbrook Park in Canterbury reaping the benefits.

The prospect of the new Southeastern-run service, which has been dubbed the ‘commuter bullet', is already driving people to towns along the route, with interest in the two Berkeley Homes (Kent) Ltd developments gathering momentum. Piers Clanford, Managing Director for Berkeley Homes (Kent) Ltd, comments:

"It's clear that the new rail service will elevate places like Canterbury and Snodland but with the service 18 months away, now is the time to invest in a new home in these areas. Our Holborough and Kingsbrook Park developments offer quality accommodation for young professionals, families and rail travellers. Demand for our properties is increasing as the new train service gets closer, so we're urging interested parties to reserve now."

Both Holborough and Kingbrook Park are situated in an invigorated area of the South East. The new rail service is a catalyst for further regeneration and growth, with enhanced job prospects and improved leisure facilities due to follow. As well as cutting commuter times to London, the new service will also run to a trio of Kent's most charming coastal towns - Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate.

An increase in people looking to buy a home in Snodland and Canterbury, coupled with growing visitor numbers and more two-way rail traffic, will attract further investment in Kent, and presents great long-term potential for those purchasing at Holborough and Kingsbrook Park.

The first two trains to run on the service have arrived from Japan and initial tests have seen them running at up to 100mph - well on their way to reaching their final running speed of 140mph. The current rail journey from Canterbury to London takes 102 minutes but the new line will reduce this time to just 61 minutes.

The super fast service will depart from Canterbury West train station, which is located a 10-minute walk from Kingsbrook Park. As a result, projected journeys from Canterbury West will increase from a current annual figure of 1.2 million to 2.1 million journeys a year - a clear indication that Canterbury will become a serious commuter hub.

Set on the corner of Broad Oak and Kingsmead Road, Kingsbrook Park comprises 264 three and four bedroom houses, and one, two and three bedroom apartments. Bordered on three sides by the River Stour and with views of historic Canterbury Cathedral, Kingsbrook Park is a welcome addition to the Kent property market. The development is accessed via a bridge spanning the River Stour and is characterised by traditional render and weatherboard facades that are directly inspired by Kent's stunning vernacular. Berkeley Homes (Kent) Ltd is enhancing the neighbourhood's long-term future, with the creation of a new public park of approximately 2.5 acres, a new children's play area, an ecological habitat zone and further improvements to the existing river walk.

The superior Berkeley Homes specification is featured at Kingsbrook Park, with the added option to personalise your home with select fixtures and fittings through the Berkeley Homes Signature service. Complementing the build quality of Kingsbrook Park are outstanding green credentials, with ratings of ‘Very Good' and ‘Excellent' achieved in an independent EcoHome assessment. An eco styling initiative is also in operation in the show apartment, with many of the styling products chosen for their organic, green or low-carbon footprint status.

Holborough in Snodland already enjoys good transport links to London and the wider Kent county but the new high-speed rail service, which will call at nearby Ebbsfleet station, is set to improve the development's commuter status. The journey to Stratford will be 10 minutes from Ebbsfleet, with London St Pancras just 17 minutes* away. Holborough is a 20-minute car journey from Ebbsfleet and with over 3,000 car parking spaces at the station, commuting by rail will become far less stressful.

Families with commuting parents are flocking to Holborough because of the wide variety of homes on offer. The flexible living accommodation includes various the three, four, and five-bedroom house types for growing families. For young professionals, first-time buyer and downsizers, The Lexington Apartments provide an unbeatable first home or next step up or down on the property ladder.

Holborough is a tranquil haven, with landscaped grounds, a pond and a lake making for a very verdant setting. Every home bears a New England-inspired façade, with a timber frame construction (using sustainable wood), weatherboarding details and a pastel wash of colour. Internally, each home has a fitted kitchen with a range of integrated stainless steel Bosch appliances as standard. Bathrooms and en suites feature stylish fixtures and fittings by Hansgrohe and Villeroy & Boch, and contemporary white suites add timeless appeal. Every property benefits from a private balcony, Juliette balcony, terrace or rear garden.

Also within every home at Holborough is Super E technology - an air filtration system that filters out dust and pollen particles and keeps in warm air. Thanks to these innovative building methods, the air is cleaner for allergy sufferers and the naturally warmer home means less dependency on central heating, therefore lower energy bills - a great benefit in today's economic climate of rising fuel costs.

Current prices at Kingsbrook Park start from £175,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, £200,000 for a two-bedroom apartment, from £320,000 for a three-bedroom townhouse and from £395,000 for a four-bedroom townhouse. For further information on the development, visit Kingsbrookpark.co.uk.

Prices for the Birchleigh phase at Holborough start from £165,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, from £205,000 for a two-bedroom apartment, from £249,000 for a three-bedroom house, from £265,000 for a four-bedroom townhouse and from £389,950 for a five-bedroom townhouse. For further information, visit Holborough.co.uk.