According to a recent Lloyds TSB report, properties for sale in Crawley and other new towns in England and Wales are at their most affordable since the housing market peaked in 2007.
Our series on England’s new towns continues with a look at Crawley properties for sale. Along with Basildon, Bracknell and Hemel Hempstead, Crawley was one of the 11 new towns constructed around 60 years ago and were meant to house East London communities displaced by the blitz.
Located in Sussex, Crawley properties for sale are good for those looking for regular trains to London and a more affordable alternative to Brighton and Hove property prices.
Pros of Buying Property for Sale in Crawley
Sale properties in Crawley come with a number of benefits. This may be a new town, but it has ancient roots. The area has been occupied since the Stone Age and has been a market told since medieval times. So although it’s technically a new town, Crawley does have an old heart.
One of the major pros of buying property for sale in Crawley is the close proximity to Gatwick Airport, which lies on the edge of town.
Unlike new town such as Stevenage, Crawley has a centre. Its 13 residential districts branch out from the middle of the Old Town. You’ll get more for your money than you would in London. Houses tend to have gardens and parking. There’s also a good variety of housing types to choose from and an absence of the tower blocks which have blighted some of England’s other new towns.
Crawley properties for sale are good for those in search of easy access to good shopping. Queen’s Square is a big, pedestrianised shopping area with high street chains and a smattering of independent shops and cafes. There’s also the K2 Leisure Centre, with its Olympic-sized swimming pool.
House prices are more affordable here than they are in nearby Brighton and Hove. The average house price in Crawley currently stands at £198,281. In Brighton and Hove, it’s £270,748 and in Horsham it’s £287,982.
Cons of Buying Property for Sale in Crawley
Although the Old Town is attractive, the aforementioned 13 residential districts aren’t quite so charming. It’s a town of industrial estates, Tesco superstores, buildings on stilts and grey concrete office blocks. Like Stevenage, Crawley has its own slightly tired looking leisure park, with cinema, Hollywood Bowl, chain bars and restaurants.
There’s also not much going on in the way of arts and culture, except for The Hawth, which is the town’s theatre venue.
If you want chocolate box charm, the average property for sale in Crawley probably won’t fit the bill.
Having said all this, it’s still early days for all of England’s new towns. In another 60 years, it may well be a different story. Chocolate box charm takes time.
Property Types and Prices
The average prices for different types of property are as follows:
- Flat £138,332
- Terraced £178,851
- Semi £208,347
- Detached £325,673
Search My Homes Unlimited for a wide range of homes for sale in Crawley.
Sources: BBC News.