According to Savills Estate Agents

In The Times recently, an article about property listed East Acton as one of the areas with the potential to become "part of prime London".

The article continued: "Nearby Acton, having caught the attention of buyers, attracts them from all over the capital, rather than just more expensive neighbouring locations. Those on a budget will find the best value in East Acton. The area is close to the A40, is commutably close to good schools in Hammersmith and Chiswick and there is a variety of buses, Tubes and trains. Should Crossrail go ahead, Acton mainline will offer even richer transport opportunities. A major draw is the sheer variety of stock — from Victorian to Edwardian and even 1930s homes, to modest cottages and double-fronted detached family homes (It’s possible to buy a small three-bed home for just under £400,000, or a two-bed flat for under £250,000). Overall, says Andrew Gilbert of Winkworth: “It’s a bit shabby-chic.”

Almost 20 years after Savills first published a list of London suburbs (offending residents of Chelsea by leaving it off because of a typographical error), researchers at Britain’s biggest estate agent have again hit the headlines. A new list ranks the finest London suburbs – and reveals those locations where residents may claim, without blushing, to "own a prime piece of real estate".

Yolande Barnes, Savills’ director of research, says: “London has got wealthier, and the prime market has expanded to meet demand.” Acton is listed alongside Camberwell, Cricklewood and Tooting - "the new Notting Hill" amongst other prime suburbs.

Joseph Murphy, Senior Negotiator at Rolfe-East's Acton branch told me: "Acton has certainly gone up a lot in the past year. There is loads of redevelopment going on here. The Farmer's Market is attracting lots of new people to the area - there's a whole new community coming to Acton. Soon there will be more with a massive influx of people attracted by and working in the new shopping centre in Shepherd's Bush. People who just can't afford to buy in Chiswick and Shepherd's Bush are coming here as always, but demand for property seems to be on the increase at the moment."

November 23, 2007