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Spotlight along the Elizabeth Line

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Running from Reading in the West, through central London and Essex to Shenfield in the East and through Canary Wharf and Woolwich to Abbey Wood, The Elizabeth Line is London’s newest line. Detailed planning started in 2001 and construction began in 2009 at Canary Wharf. It is fitting that the late Queen Elizabeth II unveiled the new roundel naming the Elizabeth line in 2016, and formally opened the line in May 2022. With journey time from Slough to Canary Wharf in under an hour, towns and villages along the Elizabeth Line have become more desirable for commuters and house prices have seen a corresponding uplift over the decade prior to its opening.

From the mid-17th century onwards, Slough was a popular stop for stagecoaches on the journey west from London. It has been a “commuter stop” ever since and is now one of seven stops outside Zone 6 on the line to Reading. A massive two-phase redevelopment of Slough is now underway, aiming to bring investment, community spirit and activity to the town centre. The project will reinforce the existing High Street and provide new flexible space for shops and restaurants. Proposals include more homes located within the town centre with a mix of housing types and tenures, including provision of affordable homes.

A range of schools, excellent sport and leisure facilities are attractive to families moving to Slough. They can enjoy the many public parks and play areas in the area as well as riverside walks, woodlands, and natural landscapes. There’s so much more to Slough than first meets the eye and with the additional opportunities that The Elizabeth Line brings, the town’s future looks exceptionally bright.

Langley lies one stop east of Slough on the Elizabeth line, and just off J5 of the M4. Its excellent transport facilities include regular bus connections with Slough and Heathrow Airport and easy access to the motorway network; the M25, M40 and M3. Its Elizabeth Line station now gives direct access to central London and Canary Wharf with a resulting impact on property prices.

A range of excellent schools can be found in Langley, from primary schools to East Berkshire College which offers Further Education. Local shops cater for most daily essentials and more extensive shopping centres can be found in nearby Slough, Windsor and Uxbridge. Langley has a variety of sports facilities to offer with a leisure complex, recently refurbished gym and pool in Parlaunt Road and a choice of golf courses, including Farnham Park, Richings Park and Iver, with Wexham Park Golf Centre also nearby. A multi-purpose sports centre is open to the local community in the evenings and at weekends, at East Berkshire College. Sailing, windsurfing and watersports can all be found locally at Queen Mary Reservoir and there are beautiful walks along the Grand Union Canal. Award winning Langley Park and Black Park offer acres of scenic open space for walking and outdoor pursuits.

A full range of property is available in Langley from contemporary studio apartments to detached period family homes. The centre of Langley has a wealth of Victorian properties retaining much architectural character. Throughout each decade since the 1930s housing stock has continued to develop creating a thriving cosmopolitan community.

There’s a timeless quality to the village of Burnham which lies one stop west of Slough and close to J7 of the M4. The village was first recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. Fast forward to 2023 and transport links are excellent, with a choice of Elizabeth line stations at Burnham and Taplow, connecting to London and Reading. Journey times have improved with the advent of the Elizabeth line and have already raised property prices and a desire to live in the area.

Our Frost office is right in the heart of Burnham, so we get a real appreciation of just how vibrant village life is there with a diverse range of shops, cafes, and restaurants. Community spirit is lively and local leisure facilities include archery, clubs for cricket, football and tennis and Burnham Beeches Golf Club. Recently modernised Burnham Park hosts social events throughout the year such as open-air cinema and an annual donkey derby which attracts about 3,000 people and raises over £10,000 for charity.

So, what does the future hold for this pretty village? The Elizabeth Line has enhanced commutability with journey times to Canary Wharf in under an hour. Property values are already significantly above the UK average and the “Elizabeth Line effect" has added to that. Housing stock is varied with old timber-framed cottages alongside neo-Georgian houses and contemporary eco-homes giving buyers a wide selection.

For more information or to see our properties for sale and to rent along the Elizabeth Line please visit www.frostweb.co.uk or call your local Frost office and talk to your local property expert.