Bexley: A great place to live

Families looking for property to rent in Bexley will find an area that offers a high quality of living for its residents.

Located in the south-east of London, the borough used to be an ancient parish of Kent - indeed its most striking landmark is St Mary's Church, which has an octagonal cone on top of a shortened pyramid.

Transport routes in the location are well serviced, so those without a car should have no problems getting around. Five separate bus routes run through the town (including Bexleyheath and Thameshead), while Bexley Railway Station connects to Charing Cross, Waterloo, Cannon Street and London Bridge. These excellent transport channels mean it will never take people too long to get to the city centre.

Parents with young children will also be interested in what the school system is like. In total, there are 82 publicly maintained schools in Bexley, while 43 of them have nursery facilities. As well as this, 42 are community ran and two are controlled by volunteers. The majority of learning establishments also have a sixth form and there are also four grammar schools.

Those considering a lease in the area may be interested to know the Bexley Education Improvement Partnership is currently running. It involves 15 primary and secondary schools coming together to try to improve the quality of teaching and it has been in place since 2005.

There are also nine town shopping centres and 52 neighbourhood units, so people should not be stuck if they are looking for somewhere to indulge in some retail therapy. 

Slade Green is an area that individuals could consider, after it was handed a £1 million grant from the Big Lottery Fund to enhance the location. The money will be awarded over a ten-year period and it is hoped that by the end of it the area will be regenerated.

"The redevelopment scheme will see the construction of around 370 new homes, new flexible community provision and the expansion and redevelopment of both Slade Green Infant and Slade Green Junior schools," Bexley Council remarked.

In the 2011-12 financial year, Bexley was allocated £300,000 in additional finance to deal with the problem of potholes. This initiative means residents can look forward to seeing roads in tip-top condition.  

Bexley also takes the issue of recycling very seriously. The borough is currently the number one ranked in London for disposing materials with a recycling rate of 51 per cent - eleven years ahead of the government's target. This means anyone considering moving into the area will have to stick to the sustainable living plan outlined by the local authority, as its Waste Management Strategy runs to 2014.

The legacy of the Olympic Games is also set to be felt in Bexley. The Europa Centre was recently opened and it will encourage kids and adults in the area to get active. Cash has been received from Sport England, the Olympic Delivery Authority and the Sports Legacy Facility Fund. Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "As well as hosting Olympic hopefuls in the build up to the Games, it will provide crucial world class training facilities for London for generations to come."

Posted by Martyn Glynn

Published 8th March, 2012

© 2012 Estates IT Limited