Southfields: An up and coming area for professionals and young families alike

Southfields is a suburban district located in the London borough of Wandsworth. It is an incredibly popular city among young, up and coming professionals, although perhaps the thing that makes it stand out from some of the other districts in London is the fact that it offers more value for money than many other parts of leafy South-West London.

Interestingly, the area used to be full of mainly green fields in the latter part of the 19th century. 

Once the industrial era began to tighten its grip, it then grew into a predominantly working class area. 

It was one of the last places to become densely populated, and used to be the opening of the Wimbledon to Putney Bridge, in 1889.

However since then, there has been a significant number of developments and regeneration in the area, and it has since blossomed into a thriving, metropolitan hub, which has seen its fair share of gentrification over the years.

There are several decent primary schools and parks in the borough, which makes it a great choice for young families looking for a place to settle.

It is also highly sought after by buyers and tenants alike. In that sense, Southfields has become an established area in its own right.

In fact, according to a study published by the Sunday Times, Southfields was voted one of the best places to live in London. The newspaper conducted an analysis of some of the the top places to live within the zone three Tube map.

What it showed was that Southfields was growing steadily popular with "couples and families upsizing from Fulham, Putney and Chiswick flats".

It is also an area where ambitious parents flock to, according to the report, because of its reputation for having a "cracking state education".

Commenting on the study which was released in September, Wandsworth Council leader Ravi Govindia said: "It will come as no surprise to people living in Southfields and Balham that the rest of world is quickly waking up to their attractions.

"Both have great local schools and shops and both are very close to the kinds of wide open green spaces that are key priorities for young families. The bus and Tube links are excellent too. Crime rates in the borough are the lowest in inner London, while local services are ranked among the best in the country."

Therefore, it is fair to say that Southfields has become a well-established area in its own right.
 
Where once it may have been a second choice for homebuyers, now it has become a mecca for the professional and hardworking family.

In addition, it has one of the lowest council tax rates in the country, and is reputed for having a strong community spirit.

In terms of shopping, it offers more variety and has well-known brands such as Starbucks and Sainsbury's. It also has a number of independent stores and retail outlets.

The housing in Southfields consist mainly of attractive period properties - mainly Edwardian and Victorian, often with large gardens - as well as modern flats and green spaces.

Both homebuyers and renters tend to flock to the area of Southfields known as the Grid, which runs south from Replingham Road to Revelstoke Road.

This also happens to be where the most affordable homes are located. In the central areas of Southfields, house prices can often shoot up to £1,000,000. This is mainly due to prices rising over the last 12-18 months, by 20 per cent.

However, the Grid is an area where you can pick up an extended four-bedroom terraced house that hits the £850,000-£900,000 mark.

Rental prices in the area are fairly reasonable too. The average rental value stands at £597. But when you are looking at rental price ranges, then it is fair to say that you could pick up a flat or house from around £392.31 - £775 per week.

The majority (67 per cent) of properties in Southfields are houses, while apartments make up the other 33 per cent.

Transportation in the area is another big hit among consumers, because of its regularity and the fact that it is fairly quick to travel to some of the more central places in the city.

Southfields is serviced by bus routes 39, 493 and 156. It does not have a National Rail service but the underground service makes it easy to get to other destinations in London.

Another big advantage of living there is the fact that it is located in such a popular, and in many ways, successful borough.

In November, accountancy and consulting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers and leading think-tank Demos published a joint study which showed that people living in Wandsworth have better lifestyles and have improved economic prospects than those in other areas of London.

The borough excelled in a variety of categories including health, housing conditions and the work-life balance.

Not only did it outshine its nearest London rivals, Redbridge, Bexley, Harrow and Kingston, but it also shot ahead of Kensington & Chelsea and Camden.

The high quality housing, leisure facilities, academic status and community feel have undoubtedly helped to contribute to that trend.

According to Wandsworth Council, once people begin living here, many choose to remain, even when they move house. It is also noted for having one of the highest levels of internal movement in London, meaning that people move within Southfields, rather than outside of it.

Published 10th January, 2014

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