The rest of London is getting jealous of Southall
At a time when London is (unfairly) gaining a reputation as a crime capital, people are becoming more concerned about their personal and property safety than ever before. Families want to bring their kids up in a safe area, without the fear of violent crime hanging over them. Young professionals want to enjoy their free time in a relaxed atmosphere.
Southall is a winner in the safety stakes. Crime rates are lower here than most of London’s averages, and in many categories are lower than national averages. And, despite the widespread reports of a shortage of police officers, Southall crime rates are bucking London’s rising trend and falling across many crime categories.
If you want to cycle in London, live in Southall
Cycling is one of London’s favourite activities, but bicycle crime is a problem in most London boroughs. Not in Southall. You are less than half as likely to be a victim of bicycle crime here than you are on average in London. In fact, the occurrence of bicycle crime is only 60% of the national average.
With regeneration projects like Berkeley Group’s ambitious Southall Waterside including cycle paths as a transport option, this statistic is going to please a lot of people who cycle to work. In fact, every property in Southall Waterside is within five minutes of a station – ideal for those who benefit from a Cycle to Work scheme.
Shoplifting and burglary? Less likely in Southall than in the rest of London.
Southall is famous for its markets, gold jewellery stores, sweet shops and fantastic street food. It has the largest Punjabi population outside of India, and the Indian influence shines through around every corner. When Crossrail services start running here, it’s likely that more people will visit to take advantage of the very special atmosphere and some incredible restaurants in the heart of Southall.
The occurrence of shoplifting and theft from the person (for example, pickpocketing) is way below the London average. The shoplifting rate of 4.5 occurrences per 1,000 of population per year is just 70% of the national average and below London’s rate of 5.2 per 1,000 population.
Theft from the person rates is less than a third of the London average, at just 1.8 per 1,000 population per year.
Enjoy a relaxed night out in Southall
When you come home from a hard day at work, it’s good to be able to go out, meet friends, and enjoy a relaxed evening together. There are some great pubs and bars near to Southall station – in North Road, The Broadway, and King Street – and it’s here that you can let your hair down and enjoy life to its fullest in the company of friends.
Antisocial behaviour fell by almost 3% in the year to March 2019. Possession of weapons – at 0.7 per 1,000 population per year – is lower than London’s average and, perhaps surprisingly, lower than the national average. This will also please parents who are concerned about the increase in knife crime in London.
What do people desire from their lifestyle?
Increasingly, people want to benefit from a good work/life balance. They want to be able to get to and from work easily, spend more time with their family and friends, enjoy good food and drink, and exercise regularly in the open air. Southall offers all of this, in a safe and welcoming environment.
When Crossrail services start running, commuters into London will benefit from journey times of between 17 and 31 minutes to the main employment hubs of the West End, the City, and Canary Wharf. Heathrow Airport – where many local residents work – will be less than 10 minutes away.
For those who enjoy the outdoors, Minet Park is on the doorstep. This park includes picnic areas, a visitor centre, and miles of footpaths to help explore the waterways, grasslands and hedgerows. There is a children’s play area, and the park offers a full programme of events throughout the year. Cyclists can book Hillingdon cycle track at no charge.
Southall Waterside will connect to Minet Park and will offer its own green access to explore and enjoy, including a new 40-acre park, walking trails and cycle paths. A one-kilometre stretch of the Grand Union Canal is being upgraded as part of the development here.
Whether shopping, relaxing, exercising or sleeping, people deserve to feel safe and welcome where they live. You would be hard pushed to find a safer, more welcoming location than Southall.
For more information about Southall Waterside property, contact the team at Gladfish today.
Live with passion
Brett Alegre-Wood
