HOUSE prices in Southend have rocketed by nearly 40 per cent in five years as Londoners ditch the big city in favour of living by the seaside.

Data shows the average house price in Southend climbed from £209,260 in January 2015 to £287,173 by July 2020 - a 37 per cent increase.

Property consultants Knight Frank say the Covid-19 pandemic has changed how people work, with many people not expecting to return to the office full time.

In a survey, 79 per cent of people said they would prefer a blend of home and office working post-pandemic.

Richard Perrott, managing director of Approach Estates which covers Eastwood, revealed people are buying home with the expectation to work from home more often.

He said: “I still feel 80 per cent of the property market is local people buying local property.

“Maybe there is a few more people moving because of a change of life, because with railway stations like Leigh and Rayleigh, people are not so restricted to live near them because they do not have to go up to them every day.

“I think a lot of the big companies have invested so much money to work from home and they have been forced to do it for a six-to-12-month trial run. I don’t think people will fully go back to working from offices.

“Looking at property prices in Hornchurch, which is not too far from London, and the price of a three-bed semi [detached house] can be £500,000, whereas the price here is £300,000.

“I have seen people that thought ‘well actually, I can go by a house down here’, but people will also do the same and move from here to Suffolk.”

Southend prices remain 41 per cent lower than London, where the average property costs £484,864.

Areas that are commutable to London while still offering ample access to outdoor space and reasonable property prices are proving popular, according to the consultancy firm.

Edward Robinson, partner in the new homes team at Knight Frank, said: “Covid-19 has shaken up what people want from their homes – buyers this year will be looking for those golden locations that offer an abundance of space and a quick commute.

“With Southend’s fast rail connections into central London and excellent property prices, it’s becoming incredibly popular.”

New homes set to arrive in the centre of Southend include the 217-unit development Victoria Central, a £53million project by Weston Homes, with prices starting at £185,000 for a one-bed apartment.

When comparing like-for-like sales within a two kilometre radius of each train station on the c2c and Greater Anglia lines, Knight Frank found prices in Thorpe Bay, Chalkwell and Westcliff were also 53 per cent, 39 per cent and 16 per cent more expensive than central Southend.