King's Hill: new Kent commuter homes on former RAF base in West Malling, one of UK's most affluent areas, start from £320k

Lying midway between London and the ferry ports of Folkestone and Dover, West Malling in Kent is popular house-hunting territory for commuters who want to be well placed for city, coast and country. King’s Hill, a former Royal Air Force base on the fringe of the historic market town, has proved there’s an appetite for new homes.

The 800-acre estate designed in the style of an old Wealden village has a golf course, cricket pitch, country park, schools, convenience stores, Waitrose, pub, vet and restaurants, and has been named as one of the UK’s most affluent postcodes.

Houses here start at £320,000 but you can pay up to £1 million for a six-bedroom “colonial” house with veranda, according to local estate agent KHP, which also sells properties off-plan. Call 01372 677031.

Opinion seems split on whether King’s Hill is a soulless Stepford Wives-style estate or a new model village, but prices are driving sales and other developers are following suit.

Nearby Ryarsh Park is reached via a tree-lined avenue and has 64 new “heritage” homes built by Redrow in the Arts & Crafts style.

Prices from £449,995. Call 01732 605211 for details.