Buying in St Mary's island Chatham Kent

Alan2020

Dear All,
I am looking at buying in St Mary's island, are any of you familiar with the area? Is it hard to get insurance due to flood risk (if any?) If you have pointers would be most appreciated

k66yla

Never heard of that area of the Medway flooding but who knows what'll happen in extreme weather or when the USS Montgomery blows up

Alan2020

Thanks, are you local to that area? How is life on the island?

k66yla

No I don't live in Medway but heard St Marys island is quite nice.

Mint1955

You cant go wrong with ST Marys Island. Insurance is not a problem. What size style of house are you thinking of? Do you know the Island at all?

jimpix12

Hello!

I lived on St Mary's Island for 3 years, and I enjoyed it, it was very friendly, full of Australians and Americans who worked in Grain - not sure if that's the case now it was around 2007 period. Walking / jogging round the perimeter of the island on a hot summer's day is highly relaxing

One thing: I lived right near the Docks that was the biggest negative for me, the noise at 7am of the drilling etc about 1-2 days a week if I remember correctly. If you're towards the georgraphic East of the island I'd definitely recommend checking this out, it goes on during the day also.

Flooding is not a risk as it's not freshwater... if it floods there it's going to flood everywhere in other words. Upstream is where the flooding occurs What part of the island are you looking at? The Primary School is quite highly regarded I believe.

Alan2020

Thank you all :-)

@ Mint1955 I am looking for a semi / end of terrace if possible! I don't know it that well, what's the cost of insurance like for a 2 bed? Do you live on the island if you don't mind my asking :-)

@spunko2010 Thanks for the tip, Any part of the island I can afford really, its not that big, so never thought it would be different :-O !

jimpix12

Are you looking at brand new? What about an apartment or must it be a house? Now that new home building is quite slow there is nowhere near as much as there was available. And there does appear to be a fair variation in price across the island, as small as it is. As you come over the bridge for example there's the townhouses on the waterfront which are (or were?) the most expensive, I remember when they were upwards of £400k asking price, they aren't now: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-33444326.html?premiumA=true

However there is LA housing also on the island at the bottom end of the market. If you're looking at end of terrace I'd say these ones are nice, if they are within your budget, as they are right on the waterfront, round the "back" (the northern side) which is quite sheltered and there is views to Upnor Castle etc:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-19643601.html?premiumA=true

They aren't as cheap as elsewhere in Medway, though, and with good reason If I was going to live in Medway again I'd definitely check out St Mary's Island, seems a nice place to bring up a young family.

Running_Horse

There used to be rumours (probably totally untrue) that residents were not allowed to dig their gardens too deeply because of contamination from nuclear submarines. It's not really my kind of place; I don't drive and prefer established communities. But it compares favourably with some of the surrounding areas. Where will you be commuting to?

Alan2020

@ Spunko2010 No looking for second hand, prefer freehold house to leasehold flat - noise etc Where about is the LA house on St Marys Island ? Are there streets to avoid on the island?

@ Running Horse Oh dear! I am moving there so as not to commute, I work at the University :-)

jimpix12

Running_Horse wrote: »

There used to be rumours (probably totally untrue) that residents were not allowed to dig their gardens too deeply because of contamination from nuclear submarines. It's not really my kind of place; I don't drive and prefer established communities. But it compares favourably with some of the surrounding areas. Where will you be commuting to?

Hehe, I was waiting for someone to mention this rumour, although it sounds like you've mixed up the "can't dig too deep because of the French soldiers buried here from the Napoleonic Wars" and the "there was a nuclear submarine base here and the toxicity levels are dangerously high" rumours.


I'd be more concerned with the flammable explosives that are stored in the docks:

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/upset_over_explosive_plan_for_chatham_s_dockyard_1_1040339

Though they don't do that now.

I don't think there is LA housing actually, that was just what I was told but who knows.. The area where I was told is here and these are (or were) the cheapest in terms of prices: http://g.co/maps/tyjmv , Cheldoc Rise, Goldcrest Road etc but that is only because they are smallest. Probably just to fulfill the Affordable Housing quota.