Local Update

How the Elizabeth line changed Abbey Wood

It is easy to forget how different Abbey Wood felt before May 2022. When the Elizabeth line opened here, a quiet corner of south-east London suddenly had a fast, direct route into town. Canary Wharf is now about 11 minutes away, and Bond Street about 25.

The knock-on effects have been striking. Some pockets of the area have seen prices more than double over ten years, among the fastest growth anywhere on the line. Regeneration has followed, including Peabody's long-running plans for neighbouring Thamesmead, and the streets around the station have picked up new cafés and shops.

It has not been welcomed by everyone. There is real concern locally that climbing rents and prices are squeezing out families who have lived here for years, and that regeneration has not yet solved every problem.

Still, if you bought in Abbey Wood before the line arrived, it is worth doing the sums. You may be sitting on far more equity than you would guess.