Anyone know much about the area?
The gf and I have been planning to buy somewhere (first time buyers) for a while. We are still a little way away from being able to yet but hope to get there in a couple of months (gf has just got a promotion but will be 2 months before she starts that and we need that salary to get an agreement in principle) so have been stepping up our research so we are able to take advantage if the market falls.
We've ended up looking at Kidbrooke for a number of reasons:
Seems to be reasonable Value for money in terms of what you can buy within half a mile of the station compared to a lot of other places we have looked at.
Top of the A2 so easy to drive back to see both our families based in medway.
Easy commute for my gf to London bridge.
Commute not too bad for me into Victoria (although it is the dreaded South Eastern and through the notoriously shit Lewisham junction).
My brother is in Eltham.
Proximity to The Valley
Bus back from North Greenwich if we miss the last train home.
Any insights to the area or challenges to what I said above are greatly appreciated.
@kidbrookeaddick @KidbrookeAddick2019 over to you guys! 😜
Comments
Area seems to have changed a lot since the Ferrier estate became Blackheath Village and has all the advantages you mention but it's not Greenwich or Blackheath no matter what the estate agents say.
But, being serious, the area looks pretty good these days.
For some it will take a long time to lose that association.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/rising-from-the-rubble-the-1-billion-village-replacing-hellhole-south-east-london-estate-8685003.html
In terms of going to the Valley, depending on where you end up living you could get the 286, or 132 bus and get off down near Maze Hill Station or Blackheath Standard (depending on bus) and walk 20 or so minutes to the valley from there.
Obviously your only a stones throw away from Greenwich and Blackheath as well if you want to go to the park, or find some decent/wanky places to go out to eat/drink local.
In complete fairness apparently this was a regular thing there so we shouldn't have taken it personally
It gained quite a reputation over the years, who could forget the ambience and a la mode of the Watt Tyler.
Fast forward to last year and imagine my surprise on an aimless drive around the old haunts. The place is unrecognisable and held up as a template for modern regeneration.
on the face of it, it looks a completely regenerated area. 2,000 knocked down and 5,000 new homes over a 20 year period. Station close, David Lloyd, smart apartments, great position, new retail etc. Looks ideal for a young couple.
would do some serious research from those living there whether it’s new look is not just a pretty face. 35% was set out to be affordable housing.
Ended up having to get an uber home down the road which was pretty embarrassing.
Canters I'll take you to the Long Pond or Rusty Bucket in Eltham. Unless you turn out to be a wrongun...
Then I'll just take you up Shooters Hill instead.
Quick commute and walking distance to Blackheath / Greenwich Park. The only downside is that the commute is a pain if the trains are bad but the bus route to north greenwich has eased that a bit now. The parking situation annoyed me when I lived there as they made it permit holders only all the way down Weigall Road but refused to let anyone in the development buy a parking permit.
They opened a Youngs pub there last year which was the main thing it was lacking. It's a bit quiet but decent enough, has a quiz every thursday as well
I lived in Blackheath until age 25 (same post code SE3), so I have a good idea.
What sort of roads are you looking at ?
The "new" developments or the older houses?
Lived on the Heygate at the Elephant for a bit. Soon learned when it was bin day as the night before bin bags would rain down from the top floor.
The beer festival (ms Strasbourg is the organiser) is at Charlton Park rugby club in Broadway. So only a short stroll. Not happening as planned from next week obviously this year.
The area is very nice overall and to be fair Eltham is only a 20 minute walk or 5 minutes on the bus.