Streets still paved with
gold despite downturn
JASBIR AUTHI
These are the streets where the property crash has been more of a whimper than a thud.
Solihull, Sutton Coldfield and affluent parts of Stourbridge dominate a list of the 20 most expensive streets in the West Midlands.
Wellington Road, in Edgbaston, has been named the richest road in the region, where the average house costs £945,500, based on transactions between 2004 and 2008.
Drayton Grove, in Stourbridge, where the average house costs a snip over £900,000, was the second most-pricey street in the region, according to a Halifax survey.
The houseproud of Quarry Park Road in Stourbridge was third with properties costing on average £889,750.
In fourth position was Hartopp Road in Four Oaks where the average house would cost the househunter with a bulging wallet £886,428 and Fiery Hill Road, in Barnt Green, came in fifth position with the average house costing £875,941.
Solihull claimed the next four positions where those looking to relocate to Streetsbrook Road, Alderbrook Road, Temple Road or Poolhead Lane, in nearby Tamworth-in-Arden, can expect to pay anything from £865,000 to £845,000 on average.
James Bowkett, a partner from Knight Frank Residential Sales, said: “Wellington Road is a wide road with some fine period houses, set well back from the road, in half an acre of land. There are some good commuting links and great amenities at hand including Edgbaston Priory Leisure Club, the golf club and schools. Sutton is similar to Edgbaston with some great parks, schools and properties.
“The property slump has not really hit these postcodes to the same degree as it has lower down in the market because there are few properties on the market on these roads and they are in demand.”
Marjorie and Patrick Welch have been living in their four-bedroomed plus house on Wellington Road for 40 years.
Mr Welch, who used to make steel shelvings, said: “This road is neighbourly and has some fine houses. You cannot make any changes easily. We are well looked after by the Calthorpe Estate.”
A resident who has been living on the road for 44 years but did not want to be named said: “I like the space, air and light. The houses are Victorian Regency. The road is busy twice a day but then quiet. When I bought my house in 1962 they couldn’t give them away.
“They were actually going to auction because they had short leases on them. The houses are big in an acre of land.”
Jane Smith, from Savills Residential, said a combination of high-end family houses, good schools, commuter links and shopping facilities, made Solihill a sought after living location.
