IT WAS Southend that grabbed the headlines over Christmas when it was revealed that, according to a Halifax Building Society survey, the Essex town had seen the biggest increase in house prices this year.
But at the other end of the table it was not such good news for Thurrock as Grays was the only place in the south of England to appear in the bottom ten in the league.
House prices in Grays dropped by 7.3% making the average house price, £178,864.
Grays covers the postal districts RM16/17 and 18 which includes Grays, Chadwell St. Mary, Chafford Hundred, North Stifford, Orsett, Badgers Dene and Tilbury (inc both west and east).
This contrasted with Southend where the average house price has risen by 14.8%. Many have put down the success in Southend to good schools and a rebranding of the town centre area.
And this contrasts sharply with Grays where the state of the town centre is often a reference point to individuals and businesses as to not moving there.
At the Thurrock business conference in November, 150 businesses were quizzed as to what were the top ten barriers to doing business in Thurrock.
Top of the list by far was: “Image and reputation.”
As one businessman said: “When people think of Thurrock, they don’t mean Horndon-on-the-Hill or a lovely walk in West Tilbury, they mean Grays Town Centre.”
Estate agents were able to give a different perspective.
Russell Quirk of emoov.co.uk said: “This could be down to supply and demand. There may be an over supply of flats in the Grays area.”
Halifax housing economist Martin Ellis said: ‘Nationally, conditions in the housing market have been largely unchanged over the past 12 months with little overall movement in either house prices or sales for the second consecutive year. This picture, however, conceals considerable local differences.’
He said he expected continuing broad stability in house prices nationally in 2013, with the north/south divide likely to persist next year.
‘House prices are expected to be strongest in London and the South East as this part of the country performs best in economic terms,’ he added.
The Bottom Ten
Craigavon down 18.4% (to £91,530)
Wishaw 12.5% (£87,410)
Chorley 9.4% (£125,156)
Carlisle 9.3% (£123,100)
Wirral 9.3% (£160,375)
Hamilton 8.9% (£96,478)
Ayr 8.2% (£116,352)
Inverness 7.9% (£157,679)
Bury 7.4% (£121,433)
Grays 7.3% (£178,864)
“Reputation” ?, is this a coded message referring to something that could be far more pointed where some have desperately tried sweeping their dirt under the carpet ?
“Top of the list by far was: “Image and reputation.”
As one businessman said: “When people think of Thurrock, they don’t mean Horndon-on-the-Hill or a lovely walk in West Tilbury, they mean Grays Town Centre.”
This is our main flaw in Thurrock. We don’t do enough to promote the good things we have here and after a visit to Grays town centre it’s enough to put anyone off moving here. The sad thing is that within minutes of the town centre there are some really lovely streets in both north and south Grays. We have a greatv deal to offer here with some lovely villages but Thurrock’s name has been tarnished with an unplesant stigma which we must try to shake off.
Schools play a big part in strong house prices and Thurrock would benefit massively from having a grammar school here like Southend, Chelmsford, Colchester and Dartford although I’m glad that our schools are improving.
Thurrock Council also has to be tougher with what they allow to go up and where. It is no point cramming more flats into areas where there is little demand for that type of property. Anything built in Thurrock should be built with families in mind, houses with good sized gardens and an open feel to any new development.
Is anyone really surprised
There are far worse places in the South than Grays. Slough and Luton spring to mind, not to mention the drabness of Harlow Town.
Property prices did move to levels which were unaffordable. Combined with pressiure from high loan / credit card debts the local property market has been in retreat since 2008. This Borough is scheduled to build 21000 homes in the next decade which could increase the population by 40%. There are not many plans for Community Hubs and Infrastructure. Due concern that Thurrock will simply become another Thamesmead!
Bernard is right there are within a mile of Grays town centre some pleasant avenues with good quality housing ,open spaces unfortunately this is undermined by the squalid tired town centre.
There are no quality restaraunts,public houses, no one in their right mind would visit Grays after dark it’s bad enough during the day.The decision to relocate the Tech College will only increase the amount of litter and no doubt spawn even more fast food outlets as if there are not enough already.
Our beloved councillors are guilty of poor planning over the years which has resulted in a once pleasant town centre becoming something many of us are now ashamed of.Building more and more flats is not the answer. .
not surprised in the slightess,i grew up in grays in the sixties and earlier seventies in a place i loved ,a place i could identfire with ,and now it all alien to me as perman said grays at night is a no go area the place is flithy and the site in the summer of the war memorial with people drinking .spitting and crashing out is a site that would have had my grand parent turming in their graves . take a step back all you councillers take a trip to thamesmead is that what you really want for grays ?
Lets also remember that Thamesmead is one of the areas where many homeowners are in negative equity.
Perman – FYI The White Hart in Grays (2 minute walk from the station) is a good pub. Pool table is a bit average but there’s plenty of space, toilets are clean, sport is shown, and most importantly award winning ales! Well worth a visit
http://www.whitehartgrays.co.uk/
Ben in there would not go back.
Theobald’s / White Hart / Wharf nice pubs but would you walk back into Grays to get a Taxi using Church Path at 11pm? No.
Secure parking – CCTV – Police patrols – Clean environment – quality venues. Sorry Grays fails on all at Present! Sadly the College in Southend Town Centre made little difference. Had connections with Thai restaurants in both Grays and Southend – in the end both failed because people were too scared to come out after dark. Do up the State / demolish the Gym-Perrings and instigate fines/removal for drinking in Grays Town Centre. The boys and girls on the benches are no longer wanted (provide help for drink and other personal issues) – but clear now! During Christmas week Grays looked like a crap hole.
Instead of complaining about Grays being such a dump (I do agree with you!)
Why not join your local community forum, and try to change things?
I’ve recentely joined Chadwell Forum and have helped to organise a local Clean Up Day for the end of this month.
Perhaps we might make a difference.
Good to see that you are using a Forum jmw118 – I belong to Little Thurrock. However I do moan about Grays because I want it to be better but in reality there is little I can do to change the town. Council and Business are the lead makers and the plans for change just appear to be on a perpetual hold. I do not believe University College will make much difference just increase parking issues in our crowded road system. We need more night time activities but residents and users have to feel safe and currently insecurity rules!