Help to Buy in Surrey: new commuter flats in Guildford 35 minutes from London for sale

Guildford, county town of Surrey, some 30 miles from London just off the A3, has a cathedral, a castle, a university and is a business centre in its own right, with tech and financial services companies attracting “reverse” commuters from London.

Regular Waterloo fast trains take 35 minutes, making Guildford a popular choice for home buyers.

Young professionals go for town centre flats here, while executives buy big family houses that seem such good value against similar properties in other, less well-connected parts of the home counties.

Trinity Quarter, on the banks of the River Wey, is a scheme of 55 two-bedroom flats a short walk from the train station via a new footbridge. Prices from £397,000 with Help to Buy available. First-time buyers also get a furniture pack. Call Bellway on 0333 577 0004.

Cricketers View, with 25 flats, overlooks Guildford Cricket Club and is also handy for the town centre and train station. From £425,000 for a two-bedroom flat. Call 01483 577167.

In the last 10 years, a missing ingredient has been new mid-priced family houses. Halsey Meadows, nine family houses priced from £449,950 in Bramley, a Guildford satellite village, fills this gap.

Walking and cycling routes including the 37-mile Downs Link pass through the village. Call 01483 304344.