What you need to know about Redbridge
There is no other place in London with which residents are more satisfied than Redbridge. That was what the last life satisfaction survey conducted by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed, and it is quite easy to understand why its residents feel this way. The borough, which includes Ilford, Woodford and Wanstead Flats, has excellent schools, rail links, beautiful open spaces and parks and every facility that you may need.
With the Crossrail Elizabeth line set to open in the first half of 2022 with four stations across the south of the borough at Chadwell Heath, Seven Kings, Ilford and Goodmayes, it is expected that we will see a population growth in the area. Redbridge council is taking action to regenerate the area near the new stations and intends to deliver 1,000 affordable homes built by 2022. The five year strategy also aims to work with landlords to improve the private rented sector, extend private sector property licensing, increase the supply of housing and build 600 new affordable council homes for rent on existing council-owned sites.
Unlike other bridges in the area that were created with white stone, the borough was named after the only bridge made of red brick that crossed the River Roding and which was demolished in 1921. But if you are wondering what this part of the city can bring you, be ready to enjoy the great outdoors in open parklands and green areas, such as Hainault Forest Country Park, and mountain bike courses, such as Redbridge Cycling Centre at Hog Hill.
The region is one of the greenest boroughs of London, with one quarter of Redbridge designated as green-belt, giving the borough a charming rural atmosphere. So it is little surprise that the borough has excellent air quality, registering low air pollution. So, if you drive, bear in mind that the area is inside of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Redbridge is also a safe place to live in, with a lower crime rate compared with the average in the city.
There are approximately 112 primary schools and 40 secondary schools in the region, of which 36 of them are rated as outstanding by Ofsted. King George Hospital, Goodmayes Hospital and Queen’s Hospital are some of the main hospitals in the area.
Wanstead, Hainault and Gants Hill are some of the most popular places in which people look for flats to rent in Redbridge, while new home buyers are eager to find their perfect residence in Woodford, Cranbrook and Ilford.
The average private rent is £1,250, according to the 2018/19 Private Rental Market summary statistics, and the average house price is £407,600, according to the 2019 House Price Index. Houses in Redbridge are 33.22% owned outright, 32.73% owned with a mortgage or loan, 25.16% private rent and 8.89% are social housing, according to the Office of National Statistics. With a population of 303,858 and 2.92 people per dwelling, the region has seen a growth in housing stock of 4.6% from 2008 to 2018, with 9,360 affordable homes. If you would like to rent a house in Redbridge, it is estimated that you will need a total annual income of £37,500, according to the rent affordability formula.