Hackbridge is a suburb within the London Borough of Sutton located in south-west London and approximately two miles northeast of Sutton itself. It sits just over eight miles south of Charing Cross.(Estate agents in Hackbridge)
The area takes its name from Hack Bridge, a bridge over a local river, the River Wandle. The surrounding area was notable for the production of lavender oil until the First World War. Lavender fields were prominent in Carshalton, Beddington and Wallington and the lavender industry was an important part of local agriculture in this area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The lavender industry is remembered in several different ways notably a sculpture by Guy Portelli representing a lavender plant located at the junction of Woodcote Road and Stafford Road, placed there in 1999 when the new Sainsbury’s was built. The local scout group also use lavender as the logo for the Sutton area on their shoulder badge.
The London Borough of Sutton is hard at work to make Hackbridge the UK’s first sustainable suburb which is partially a reflection of several regeneration schemes in this corner of Sutton. This includes eco-friendly homes, shops, leisure and community facilities with sustainable transport networks aimed at pedestrians and cyclists.(Estate agents in Hackbridge)
Notable green successes include the BedZED which stands for Beddington Zero Energy Development, an eco-friendly housing development around 500 yards from Hackbridge railway station. Designed to create zero emissions, BedZED uses many innovative technologies and has attracted a lot of interest since it was first built in 2002. It was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize in 2003.
Hackbridge claims the accolade of being the location of the first dogs home opened by the Duke and Duchess of Portland in 1898. In more recent times, its famous past residents include Tracey Ullman and other notable television celebrities including Sir Harry Secombe, the Welsh singer and comedian. He lived in Sutton for 30 years.
Property Types in Hackbridge
Hackbridge is a leafy suburb popular for its ease of access to Central London and other key employment areas like Croydon and Wimbledon. It offers a relatively wide variety of architectural styles, but most of the housing is Edwardian and early 20th century in the central area with surrounding roads in the Tudorbethan style. There are listed Victorian cottages on Hackbridge Green.
Currently quite an unassuming location, Hackbridge property prices are affordable, but this area is on the up, so prices are likely to rise in line with its popularity, and as buyers seek more reasonable prices than in nearby Sutton.
Over the last year, the average price in Hackbridge was £334,190* The majority of Hackbridge sales during the previous year were flats selling for an average price of £224,995. Terraced homes sold for an average of £355,278 with detached properties fetching £470,875. Overall, sold prices in Hackbridge were 24% down on the previous year and 16% down on the 2018 peak of £400,056. The average monthly rental price in Hackbridge is £1,223**.
Demographics in Hackbridge
In the most recent 2011 census, the total resident population of Hackbridge was 5,335*** which is around 3% of the overall number of people in the Borough of Sutton. Hackbridge has a population younger than the national average with nearly 40% of residents aged between 40 and 59.(Estate agents in Hackbridge)
Schools and Colleges in Hackbridge
Hackbridge has a primary school with a ‘Good’ rating from OFSTED. There are several Outstanding’ primary schools in nearby Sutton including Avenue Primary Academy, Westbourne and St Elphege’s RC Junior School.
Sutton is known for its excellent secondary education. Glenthorne High School in Sutton Common Road is rated ‘Outstanding’, and several grammar schools have the same rating making them a big draw to the area for families.
Three independent schools in Sutton provide private education. Two of these, are girls only including Greenacre which educates from nursery through to sixth form and Sutton High, which is also girls only.
Local Attractions in Hackbridge
Hackbridge is located in one of London’s greenest boroughs with 89 parks and green spaces within the borough of Sutton. Beddington Park is a quarter of a mile south of Hackbridge station and is nearly 100 acres in size and has the added attraction of the River Wandle flowing through it.
Beddington Park was originally part of the Deer Park to Carew Manor, a Tudor mansion that remains today. The park is a large area of open grassland with small clumps of trees and a lake and a pond. There are more formal gardens situated near the Grange Restaurant. Pretty ornamental bridges criss-cross the stream which feeds the lake. It is a tranquil place with plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting.
For those keen on the great outdoors, the Wandle Trail is a designated route that follows the River Wandle from Croydon all the way to the Thames at Wandsworth. As well as the opportunity to get in amongst the history and heritage of the area, walkers can enjoy flora and fauna associated with this chalk stream, a revelation in this industrialised south London landscape. There are both walking and cycling routes.(Estate agents in Hackbridge)
Shopping Facilities and Leisure in Hackbridge
Most Hackbridge residents rely on nearby Sutton for their shopping needs. However, there are projects planned to improve Hackbridge’s retail offering as part of the regeneration project.
Sutton still has many independent businesses in the high street, including a jewellers, cycle shop and home furnishings store.
There are two shopping centres in Sutton, the smaller Times Square and the larger St Nicholas Shopping Centre and there is a new Sainsbury’s in the high street.
Kingston, Croydon and Wimbledon are not far away with a range of brand stores and independent boutiques to cover all shopping requirements.
Sutton has a cinema which forms part of the St Nicholas Shopping Centre, and there is a leisure centre, Sutton Sports Village with a variety of facilities to cater for the serious sportsman, to families who just want to have some fun!
Pubs and Restaurants in Hackbridge
Hackbridge and Sutton have a tremendous offering for foodies. There are all the usual big chains plus lots of artisan and boutique eateries and plenty of decent pubs.
Try the Greyhound with a family-friendly menu and lovely views of Carshalton Ponds with their cascading waterfalls and abundant wildlife. This Grade II listed hotel is steeped in local history and offers the perfect gateway to the Surrey countryside.
Close to Hackbridge is the Red Lion, which has something for everyone. Here you’ll enjoy real ale, a lovely pub garden and a wide-ranging menu serving all the usual pub favourites.
Combine a scenic and natural setting with international cuisine at The Grange, a modern restaurant with a global fusion menu in a country house beside the lake in Beddington Park. Chic and stylish, there is a bar area where you can enjoy views across the formal gardens and beautiful parkland.
Upcoming Developments in Hackbridge
Regeneration is the name of the game in Hackbridge with some notable achievements already in place such as the BedZED development and the recently completed Centrale apartment building in London Road opposite the railway station.
The Durand Close Council estate forms part of this regeneration as a mixed tenure development by the Lavender Housing Partnership constructed over a period spanning 2003-2018.
A key element of the regeneration is the transformation of the former Felnex Industrial Estate designed to be one of the greenest places to live in the UK. Barratt Homes have built over 700 properties with nearly 450 of them in the New Mill Quarter. This location offers a mixture of housing and commercial and retail space, including one and two-bedroom apartments and three and four-bedroom houses.(Estate agents in Hackbridge)
Travel Connections from Hackbridge
Hackbridge Railway Station which lies in Zone 4 provides regular train services into London Victoria which takes only 25 minutes. Reach Clapham Junction using Thameslink, and it’s 32 minutes to Blackfriars and Farringdon. There are links north of the city via St Pancras to St Albans and Luton.
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The nearest Tramlink stop to Hackbridge is at Mitcham Junction with trams going to Wimbledon and Croydon.
There are several London bus routes which serve Hackbridge linking to Tooting, Morden and Carshalton.
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