Why are houses in a Medway so cheap? Specifically looking at St Mary's Island

Gordon_Hose

Darnley Road is in Strood - stay away! :rotfl:

Househuntingwoes

St marys island prices seemed higher than many surrounding areas but still within budget. It's the marina access there that makes it a great option for us.

I have read the radioactive rumours but apparently they are urban myths- hopefully!

House prices round Medway don't seem to have recovered from the recession anywhere near as well as much of the rest of the South East- is that just because of it's reputation? It has such good transport links to London that it doesn't make sense to me.

Gordon_Hose

I'm actually very surprised that house prices in Medway aren't considerably higher considering the good connections to London.

I used to commute to Cannon Street from Faversham which is a 1h 20m train journey which is 30 mins more than Gillingham yet the house prices in Faversham are sky high at the moment, yet Gillingham has stayed reasonable.

Gordon_Hose

Not sure what it is like now, or when they complete the new station at Rochester, but it was rare to get a seat on the train at Rochester. The last station you're pretty much guaranteed a seat is Gillingham, the train was full leaving Chatham.

cloo

I think maybe a combination of bad rep and train links to London still being slow considering the distance.

Househuntingwoes

Do you know if the new station at Rochester will make journey times shorter or will it just increase capacity?

Gordon_Hose

Neither, it'll still be the same 12 carriage commuter trains using it. Rochester was always a short station, the rear two carriages weren't accessible via the platform on a 12 carriage train.

We have the High Speed javelin trains as well, which take 40 mins to get to St Pancras from Gillingham.

Househuntingwoes

Ah, that makes sense- thanks Gordon

Gordon_Hose

No problem

Wyre

St Mary's Island is ok (not sure if the restrictions on growing consumable foods is still in place though), Hempstead, Wigmore, Darland area of Gillingham and most of Rainham and Rochester are all good.