The London suburb overlooked by first-time buyers that ‘ticks every box’

This is the London suburb giving first-time buyers a chance (Picture: Metro)

A few minutes’ walk from the river, the Elizabeth line and the bars and restaurants of Woolwich, Plumstead, is diverse, friendly and changing fast.

New homes are being built, improvements are being made to the high street and infrastructure and independent shops and cafés, are opening – but Plumstead hasn’t lost its edge.

Visitors unfamiliar with the area are always amazed by the number of green spaces of which the largest, Plumstead Common, holds a secret – a steep ravine formed in the Ice Age.

Locals comment that people look out for each other here, and love it so much that they don’t want to leave.

Plumstead Common is a big pull factor (Picture: Metro)

‘Having the Elizabeth line on my doorstep is a game changer’

Take Reece Miles, a 25-year-old recruitment consultant, who grew up in Plumstead. He began thinking seriously about moving out when his mum announced plans to retire and relocate. ‘Before she moved, I wanted to get myself sorted,’ he says.

‘I’d always lived at home but it felt like the right time to take that next step and have a place of my own.’

However, he didn’t want to leave the area or alter his routine or his commute into central London.

Reece loves living in Plumstead, so much so that he didn’t want to leave to buy his first home (Picture: Supplied)

‘I’ve lived in this area my entire life, all my family are here, I know the neighbourhood inside out and
I really didn’t want to move miles away just to be able to afford something.

‘There were rental apartments being built
near my family home but renting just didn’t make sense. I knew I’d be paying a lot of money every month and not actually owning anythingat the end of it.’

Reece spotted an open day advertised online for shared ownership homes at L&Q’s Rockcliffe Square. He bought a 25 per cent share in a studio flat with a balcony there and moved in at the beginning of this year.

‘Everything just fell into place. It genuinely ticked every box – location, price, the fact it was a new build and I didn’t feel the need to keep looking.

‘I work in Farringdon, so having the Elizabeth line basically on the doorstep is a game-changer. It makes getting into central London so easy – I honestly couldn’t have picked a better location.

‘Shared ownership felt like a much smarter move’

‘Shared ownership felt like a much smarter move, especially as it meant that I could afford to stay local.’

Rockliffe Square in Plumstead provides light, airy rooms (Picture: Metro)

There are Southeastern trains from Plumstead station to London Bridge (about 30 mins) and Cannon Street, plus Thameslink services to Luton via St Pancras and you can travel direct to Dartford and Rainham in the other direction.

Things get more exciting from Woolwich station, within walking distance, as the Elizabeth line gets you to Canary Wharf in seven minutes, Bond Street in 23 and Heathrow in well under an hour.

Check out lqhomes.com/rockcliffesquare for more information

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