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Queenborough on Sheppey 'the best place to buy property' in south east

If you want to pick up a bargain to buck the Brexit property price gloom then Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey is the best place to buy property.

The ME11 postcode has been named the number one area in the south east by forecast site PropCast.

Queenboorugh Harbour. Picture: John Nurden
Queenboorugh Harbour. Picture: John Nurden

It analysed 119,718 property sales in 87 postcode districts to identify the strongest and weakest markets for homeowners.

Solicitor Richard Murr, from Faversham, is one who has already snapped up a flat.

He said: "I first discovered Queenborough with its attractive Georgian High Street and harbour more than 30 years ago.

"I had been a frequent visitor to the Island as a child with my parents but we had always gone to Minster.

"Over the years, I wondered why nobody else, except those with a nautical leaning, had ever visited the little town.

Classic Boat day at Queenborough
Classic Boat day at Queenborough

"Times have changed for Queenborough, though.

"The new bridge over the Swale, the shopping centre at Neats Court, the all-tide landing stage attracting yachts from northern Europe and the new housing have all brought about an influx of visitors.

"I was one of those a year ago when I saw an agent's for sale sign outside an elegant Georgian building and was soon the owner of a ground-floor flat large enough for my needs for half the price of a similar property in trendy Faversham or a quarter of the price of one in Whitstable.

Old House at Home pub, Queenborough (18941548)
Old House at Home pub, Queenborough (18941548)

"I was staggered at the low prices but could see that this was not going to last.

"I just hope that as Queenborough becomes a property hotspot it does not lose its old-fashioned charm."

Swale Cllr Simon Fowle, a retired engineer who lives in the town, said: "This is wonderful news for Queenborough and rightly so.

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"The area has an incredible community spirit and is a unique place to live in, with everything on our doorstep. There is always something to do.

"It has also been recognised by companies as a place to invest in with Neats Court, Aldi, Aesica pharmaceuticals, and MediChem."

The town, which has its own railway station with a direct service to London, has a chequered history.

It once boasted a castle, it had two MPs in 1572 and was the only place in Britain to surrender to the Dutch in 1667.

It was only officially handed back to Britain in 1967 and now holds its own Independence Day celebrations every June.

The town, which has a population of around 3,500, still retains a Guildhall and has a string of popular pubs including the Old House at Home on the seafront, the Flying Dutchman, the Rose and award-winning micropub the Admiral's Arm named after Lord Nelson.

Guildhall, Queenborough
Guildhall, Queenborough

It boasts its own ferry service to Southend and once had a member of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, Chris Driver, as its mayor.

Gavin Brazg, founder of PropCast, said: "You may find there are some postcodes which could surprise you.

"But it is important to emphasise that we are not reporting on which is the nicer place.

"We are reporting on where buyers are most willing to pay the prices house-sellers are asking as Brexit’s October 31 deadline looms ever closer."

He said 74% of postcodes are expected to see house prices rise.

To see the full list visit www.theadvisory.co.uk/propcast/

Read more: All the latest news from the Isle of Sheppey

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