HOUSE prices may be rising in Basildon but the area is still proving popular with people keen to move to the “up and coming town”.

A recent study by the Office of National Statistics revealed that there had been a dramatic jump in the price of homes in Basildon, with the average home costing £304,188 in December last year, compared to £259,285 in December 2015 - a huge increase of 17.3 per cent.

But although prices have gone up, the town remains attractive to buyers as the prices are often still cheaper than homes closer to London, which is particularly useful for commuters.

Denise Broad, 51, of Ballards Walk, said the decision to leave her Dagenham house and move to Basildon last year was one of the best she has made.

Mrs Broad said: “We paid £300,000 for our Dagenham house and bought this one for £240,000.

“It is a bigger house too and has a downstairs toilet. The house prices in Basildon have gone up recently so the house is probably worth more now.”

“The increasing house prices wasn’t really a factor in us deciding to move here, but it is good news.”

She added: “My husband works in Embankment so him being able to get the train to Fenchurch Street in 20 minutes was a great draw for us. He can bike to Basildon station which is good too. I love it here in Basildon. I absolutely love it.”

She added she was really pleased with her neighbours, who sometimes popped round for tea and said everyone was always friendly.

Branch manager Joe Elliot, of Temme English Estate Agents in Basildon, agrees the proximity and lower prices is a draw for commuters. He said: “Basildon really does have everything you could want and is on the doorstep to London, so we do see a lot of people moving from the city.

“Prices have gone up but we are still seeing a mixture of buyers, from first time buyers to those on second or third homes.”

He added: “The market is good for people who are selling at the moment too, we get people we sold to three years ago and looking at what they paid to what it is now is staggering.”

Dad-of-two Mark Pytka is also hopeful rising prices mean he will be in good stead should his family decide to move in the future. He moved his family to Basildon from Benfleet, where he said prices were much more expensive, in 2006.

The value of his three bedroom semi-detached home has since increased by at least £60,000.

Lorry driver Mr Pytka said: “I used to live in Benfleet but couldn’t afford that area when we moved so Basildon is the next best thing with affordable good sized houses.

“We are not thinking of moving soon, not for at least ten years but it is a comfort to know its gone up and it’s money in the bank for the future.”

Phil Turner, leader of Basildon Council, believes Basildon is becoming more popular, despite the rise in prices. He said: “We are seeing the demographic changing and we can’t hold the tide back. There is a migration of people try to come out of London into the suburbs. It looks like it’s having a dramatic increase on house prices.

“But over the next few years we hope to provide many of the housing needs from regular homes to the starter homes right through to the executive homes.

“It should enable people who already here to step up a bit too, which will leave other homes available to people like first time buyers.

“I really think the regeneration going on has made people think Basildon is an up and coming place.”