A HUGE surge in demand for Basildon property has seen the number of potential buyers triple over the last year, a fresh study has revealed.

Balgores Estate Agents, based in Southernhay, had 376 potential buyers last month, compared to just 126 for the same period last year.

The firm has also revealed house prices in the town are 21 per cent higher than a year ago, with the average home now worth £262,395.

Phil Turner, Tory leader of Basildon Council, believes the figures are an indication of the progress the town is making.

But he issued a sobering warning about how increasing demand to move into Basildon could decrease the quality of life for existing residents.

He explained: “It’s a good thing for the borough that it is so sought after, with all of the beauty Basildon has to offer.

“But there is a human element to this.

“There will be Basildon people out there who will now find it even harder to get on the property ladder and my worry is they will be outpriced by those who come here from outside the borough, solely to commute into the capital.”

Mr Turner's deputy, Kevin Blake, branded the statistics "incredible", but echoed fears about first time buyers in the town.

He explained: “Basildon is a large borough and if there are more people coming from London it is a good thing.

“It will help create jobs, bring more businesses to the district and a better economy to the shops.

“We all know that these huge rises won’t go on forever, but meanwhile I really hope first time buyers aren’t priced out of the borough.”

Soaring London house prices, a close proximity of major airports and easy commuting to the capital are the major reasons for the increased demand in Basildon, according to Balgores.

Group director Martin Gibbon added: "There has been a massive regeneration of Basildon and it offers a great choice of affordable property.

"It includes older, character properties, as well as new housing developments including Acacia Park in Gloucester Park and Morello Quarter in Cherrydown East.

“They are attracting young families and professional couples to the town.”

Mr Turner argued that proposals for the new Thames crossing, likely to be a tunnel linking East Tilbury and Gravesend, could drive up house prices even further, pushing some local people out of the borough altogether.

He said: “As councillors we do this job for the people we represent.

“I don’t want any of our residents to suffer the consequences of this huge new demand in housing.”