High speed rail link brings surge of interest at Kingsbrook Park

Commuting in Kent is about to be dramatically improved, with the full timetable for the high-speed rail link into London St Pancras due to start on 13th December.

Residents and prospective buyers at Berkeley Homes (Capital) Plc’s Kingsbrook Park development in Canterbury will benefit from slashed journey times into London, and this is already causing a surge in interest.

When the new, 68-mile line connecting St Pancras to the Channel tunnel goes into operation, domestic commuter services will start flying through the countryside at speeds of up to 140mph. Areas along the line are set for continued regeneration as it expected to bring added investment and opportunities, which bodes well for potential future appreciation of property.

Canterbury – where Berkeley Homes (Capital) Plc is building its Kingsbrook Park development – is set to become one of the big success stories thanks to the new rail line. Until now, the rail journey from Canterbury to London has taken on average 110 minutes, but the new line will reduce this time to 59 minutes. The service will depart from Canterbury West train station, which is located just a 10-minute walk from Kingsbrook Park.

Piers Clanford, Operations Director for Berkeley Homes (Capital) Plc, comments: “Suddenly locations further out in Kent are going to become new commuter hot spots, with travel times vastly reduced. Canterbury was previously regarded by most as too far away for London commuters, but will now become a viable option for those working in central London with the journey time reduced to under the magic hour mark. Kingsbrook Park offers quality accommodation for young professionals, families and rail travellers looking for a peaceful location in the Garden of England combined with easy access to London.”

Set on the corner of Broad Oak and Kingsmead Road, Kingsbrook Park comprises 264 three and four bedroom houses, and one and two 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 façade. Kingsbrook Park also includes a new 2.5 acre public park with childrens’ recreational facilities, an ecological habitat zone and further improvements to the existing river walk.

Piers Clanford continues: “Canterbury is set to follow the same path as Brighton – with stressed out London-based commuters looking for a more rural, tranquil place to live away from the City but still within a feasible commuting distance. Our Kingsbrook Park development offers a peaceful, culturally-rich setting just over an hour away from London St Pancras. We have seen a rise in enquiries from buyers looking to address the balance between quality of life and commuting distance.”

Currently for sale at Kingsbrook Park is a selection of four bedroom townhouses with river and cathedral views starting from £390,000.

Coming phases at Kingsbrook Park will include a new collection of apartments, to be released in the New Year. Buyers are urged to register their interest early to avoid disappointment. For further information, visit kingsbrookpark.co.uk.