READING is one of the best places to live in the South East according to new research by The Sunday Times – criteria included the relative affordability of its house prices, as well as schools and broadband speeds.
A new survey, which will be launched in this weekend’s edition of the Sunday newspaper, says that the town is one of 10 chosen for the list. Aside from the category winner, Sevenoaks, the remaining nine are not listed in any order.
This is the 10th year of the guide, but the first time Reading has been listed in it.
The Sunday Times Best Places to Live index features 70 locations across the country.
A judging panel assessed criteria including schools, transport and broadband to culture, green spaces and the health of the high street.
Also under consideration were improvements being made, attractive and well-designed homes and locations bursting with community spirit – which the pandemic has shown to be the most vital quality of all.
An average house price for each location has been supplied by Halifax, the sponsor of the guide, and up-to-date information on broadband speeds has been provided by Thinkbroadband.com, an independent guide to broadband.
The 10 places in the South East are Sevenoaks, Fiveways and Preston Park in Brighton, Cookham, Deal, Englefield Green in Surrey, Farnham, Olney, Reading, St Albans, and Test Valley.
The judges said of The Ding: “It’s not fashionable, but nowhere else in the Southeast can match Reading’s booming business, impeccable connections and relatively affordable house prices.
“Its schools are good and the parks and riverside walks add a breath of fresh air away from the traffic-clogged centre.”
Halifax says the average house price is £445,000, while growth since 2020 is at 8%.
Of nearby Cookham, it says: “Want to live like riverside royalty? Look no further than Cookham, described by the artist Sir Stanley Spencer as a ‘village in heaven’.
“It’s as charming today as when Kenneth Grahame first imagined Ratty and Mole messing about on its riverbanks. There are schools, shops and pubs to satisfy everyone and motorways and fast trains are just a few minutes away.”
Its average house price is £936,000, a 24% growth since 2020.
Helen Davies, The Times and Sunday Times Property Editor said: “The Sunday Times Best Places to Live list is necessarily subjective. Leave it just to statistics and you will never capture the spirit of a place.
“For that, you need to visit to take into account that ‘you have to be here’ feeling. Is the pub dog-friendly, for example? Can you live car-free? What are the schools and houses like? Is it multicultural and multigenerational, and can it offer a good way of life to lots of different sorts of people?
“Ten years ago, when we launched the inaugural list, London’s gravitational pull was strong, the WFH revolution had not yet reached our doorstep and high streets were stacked with chains. How times have changed — and how welcome that change is.”
The Sunday Times listing has been welcomed locally.
We will have more reaction in Wednesday’s print edition of Reading Today.
Cllr Jason Brock, Leader of Reading Borough Council, said: “The survey confirms what our residents, businesses and visitors already know: that Reading is an amazing place to live, work and visit, with something for everyone.
“Our schools, our transport links, our cultural scene, our green spaces and our high streets are all listed in the Sunday Times’ criteria, but there is so much more you could add to that list – such as our wide and varied economy, our diverse mix of communities, and our incredible voluntary sector organisations whose work really came to the fore during the pandemic.
“It’s also why the Council opted to bid for City Status in this Jubilee year, which has offered us the platform to shine a light on everything Reading has to offer.”
He did have one quibble with the research.
“I would, however, take issue with the description of Reading as having ‘relatively affordable’ house prices,” he said. “For many, the listed £445,000 average price falls well outside their affordability range and house prices remain a huge issue across the south-east.
“As a Council, we are doing what we can, such as building 300 new Council homes over the next four years to help reduce the housing waiting list and provide genuinely affordable homes to Reading’s residents – including provision for adult social care, sheltered housing, key workers and those on the housing register.”
Nigel Horton-Baker, executive director of Reading UK, said: “At a time where people’s working choices are changing in search of a better work-life balance, it is increasingly the quality of life that Reading offers that will keep people living here and attract new blood to the area.
“Our fantastic lifestyle offer is now rivalling our reputation as one of the UK’s best places to work and do business so you can achieve great things at work in Reading and live well locally.”
He added: “Reading’s green spaces and waterways, multi-cultural community, thriving arts scene, surprising heritage, excellent schools and diverse and relatively affordable housing market are all factors which are making Reading one of the most sought-after places to live in the South East.
“The opening of the Elizabeth Line later this year, linking Reading directly to central London, will only accentuate this trend.”
And Bob Beveridge, the chair of Thames Valley Berkshire LEP, was equally pleased.
“The Sunday Times article is consistent with PwC Good Growth for Cities report 2022 which placed Reading fourth in the whole country for economic success,” he said.
“Berkshire has bounced back well due to mix of business – technology, life sciences, and our fast growth scale-up businesses, stronger than neighbours.”
He added: “We also have the university with great ambitions and an emerging really important creative sector.”
And Mr Beveridge was also optimistic about Reading’s ambitions in this Jubilee year.
“In its recent white paper, the government promises that every region will have a city, which bodes well for Reading’s bid.”
The Sunday Times report can be read at https://www.thetimes.co.uk/best-places-to-live
