Time to Move
A new build bungalow of the sort we’re considering
For many of us, we live where we can afford, rather than where we would like. I have been fortunate in so far as I have lived in South East London most of my life. By London I mean Greater London, a collective administrative district, which comprises 32 boroughs and The City of London. Bexley borough is a typical “leafy suburb” in the commuter belt. If that conjures up all sorts of stereotypes then you’re broadly correct. This is a borough where the middle classes move to raise a family and seek their “forever home”. It is an affluent area with good schools, quality shops, parks, amenities and a sense of community. The average price for a 3 bedroom house in Bexley is £500,000 compared to a national average of £307,000 (according to MoveHub). However, despite the fact I like it here I feel the need for a change of scenery and think it may be time to move.
According to Reuters “London is the quintessential megacity: densely populated; intensely connected at regional, national and international levels; and exceptionally productive compared with other cities and regions in the United Kingdom. London has more in common economically with other megacities - such as New York, San Francisco and the Bay Area, Tokyo, Sydney, Auckland, Paris, Beijing and Shanghai - than with most other parts of Britain. Like other megacities, London’s population has boomed over the last three decades, hitting a record of 9 million in 2019, up from just 6.4 million in 1991, according to the UK Office for National Statistics. However, before that, the city’s population had slumped for five decades from a previous peak of 8.6 million in 1941, as inhabitants fled the city for more space and other improvements outside the metropolitan area”. I think this succinctly sums up why I wish to move.
London’s financial district
It is getting noticeably busier in Bexley. Half of the local park which is located behind the street where I live, was sold and has become a housing development. As a result the roads in the immediate area are congested at peak hours and there is much more noise throughout the day. There used to be a time when you went to bed and it was quiet. Now traffic and police sirens persist throughout the night. Changes in social attitudes mean that building work, gardening and other sources of disturbance start far earlier in the day. Due to the high turnover of houses in the street that I live in, there’s always one or two houses in a state of redevelopment. This means the road is always blocked by vans and equipment. The air quality is also deteriorating despite the Ultra Low Emission Zone being expanded. But for me the main issue is noise. It’s something I’ve become keenly aware of as I’ve gotten older and I dislike it intently.
So put it simply “I want to get the hell out of Dodge”. Hence, the plan is to now start provisionally looking to see what sort of home we can buy on our budget and where. The dream is to find a detached bungalow with two or three bedrooms and a little garden on the periphery of a village. Preferably with a view. However, we are not looking for complete seclusion and so for practical reasons we want to have access to essential amenities. Such as a pharmacist, doctor’s surgery, local shops and a few restaurants etc. I think the notion of moving to the other end of the country has finally been dismissed (sorry Blairgowrie) and I think we’ll more than likely stay within the Southern Counties. Internet access is also a factor. I have been fortunate to live in a part of the UK with good technological infrastructure. I currently enjoy FTTP and would like to maintain that.
Which county should we move to?
Sadly this process is not all “fun and larks”. Any sort of move means dealing with estate agents as we call them in the UK and they are not my favourite societal group. Already after doing some cursory searches online, I have found the process frustrating. Information is often withheld, such as floor plan measurements or specific details regarding heating etc. All of this is to ensure you register with the respective website and provide an email address. Plus an estate agent’s lexicon is often questionable, stretching the meaning of accepted terminology and phrases. However, setting aside these minor niggles, Mrs P and I now have to give this entire matter some serious consideration, this side of Christmas. If we do decide to move in 2023, I want it to be an organised affair and not some spur of the moment, descent into chaos.
