South east London residents buoyed by Bakerloo line talks

There is a running joke, rather unfairly, about central London taxi drivers refusing to take passengers south of the river. It's a gag that chimes with travellers who also bemoan the lack of Tube connections south of Greenwich and the Elephant & Castle. South east London estate agents, however, are quick to point out that the transport jokes are about to end. Properties for sale in south east London already have a growing audience thanks to relative affordability when compared to other parts of the capital. Now there is something of a gold rush among buyers with news from Transport for London that they want to add an extension to the Bakerloo tube line beyond Elephant & Castle, which would sweep southwards through Lewisham, Catford and Sydenham before heading to Beckenham, West Wickham and Hayes, among other stops. Analysis by Winkworth shows a marked population shift to south-east London. The first wave was triggered by the arrival of the Overground three years ago, and the Bakerloo line extension will accelerate the trend. Dovetail this with the arrival of Crossrail during 2017/2018 and suddenly south of the river looks exceptionally well connected. Areas such asCatfordandSydenhamare packed full of good-value Victorian and inter-war terraced houses that can be reconfigured for modern living. Although the plans have yet to be sanctioned, early indications for the Bakerloo line extension look good. Both Greenwich and Lewisham councils have thrown their weight behind the proposal and properties for sale in south east London are already being bought with the allure of a Tube extension in mind. With details of proposed routes and stations already in the public domain, it's not only property buyers who are flocking to the area. Astute businesses owners are seeing a gap in the market with intentions to open in locations 'ahead of the curve'. Already areas such as New Cross, Peckham and Deptford have reinvented themselves as artisan quarters, with an influx of independent stores and the smartening up of existing facilities. Now the mere mention of a Bakerloo line extension is sending people into overdrive. Winkworth expects developing pockets of retail and leisure all along the proposed route, which will complement existing favourites, such as Greenwich and Blackheath, along with the emerging neighbourhoods of Lewisham, Catford and Sydenham. If you are interested in houses and flats for sale in south east London, especially those along the proposed Bakerloo line extension, please contact Winkworth today