Iver in Buckinghamshire
(Picture: Alamy Stock Photo)It is nicknamed the Home Counties’ answer to Hollywood thanks to its world famous film studio, but don’t expect to find much in the way of Tinseltown-style glamour in Iver, Buckinghamshire.
This hugely popular commuter hotspot offers peaceful village living amidst the Colne Valley Regional Park - the first swathe of property countryside you get to moving west out of London.
With farmland, woodland, 200km of rivers and canals, and more than 60 lakes, there is plenty of space to lose yourself in.
And the village itself adds everyday basics including a junior school, village shop, a couple of takeaways, and a pub, The Swan at Iver.
First time buyer Trish Kaur, 34, moved to Iver in 2019, buying a two bedroom post war house which she shares with her husband and their 15-month-old daughter.
The couple chose the area for a series of practical reasons. It is close to their families, and their jobs in west London, and more affordable than areas like Ealing or Uxbridge.
“We knew that Crossrail was coming and we also thought it might have a positive effect on property prices when it opened,” said Trish, who works in marketing and also has her own side gig, two fashion companies specialising in Asian occasion wear and bridal wear (shernilondon.com).
While Trish agrees that there’s not much going on in the village in terms of bars, cafes, and restaurants, she feels it has its own compensations.
“It has a really villagey feel to it, it is like living in the country,” she said. “It’s the kind of place where you know your neighbours and everyone is very engaged and collaborative. There is an Iver newsletter which goes round every month telling you about all the activities people have planned. We had a jubilee picnic in the park which was packed, there are fairs, and Christmas lights. It is a lovely place to live.”
Trish is clearly not the only person who thinks so because house prices in Iver have grown by nine per cent in the past two years. Ed Godfrey, director of Oakwood estate agents, said that around half of his buyers are moving out of outer west London.
Their choice of homes is huge.
Crossrail journey times
Average journey times from Iver to:
- Liverpool Street: 63 minutes (including interchange at Paddington)
- Paddington: 31 minutes
- Canary Wharf: 67 minutes (including interchange at Paddington)
The area’s millionaire’s row is Wood Lane. Its trophy homes - from Georgian manors to modern mansions, all hidden discreetly behind hedges and electric gates – would set you back around £3m.
The most popular spot for buyers exiting the capital is Richings Park because it is close to the station. A three bedroom house in this smart suburb would cost from around £750,000 said Godfrey, while a two bedroom flat would cost around £350,000.
Prices drop if you house hunt in Iver itself: a three bedroom house would cost circa £650,000 and a two bedroom flat around £300,000.
Renters, meanwhile, should prepare to spend around £1,500pcm on a three bedroom house and £1,200pcm for a two bedroom flat.
Average house prices since work on Crossrail started
- 2012: £355,700
- 2022: £589,400
- Growth: 66 per cent
Source: Hamptons
“I think people come here partly because it is good value compared to Gerrards Cross and Chalfont St Peter, just down the road,” said Godfrey. “I think word of mouth about how quick the [Elizabeth line] journey times are will spread, and we should see some good growth.”
The future for Iver
Almost a century ago the millionaire flour magnate J Arthur Rank teamed up with building tycoon Charles Boot to build a Hollywood style film studio just north of Iver. Pinewood Studios was where British franchises from James Bond to Harry Potter were filmed.
Studio chiefs have been planning a massive expansion of the site since 2007 and now have planning permission for a £500m redevelopment of its 77 acre site with new studio buildings and sound stages, and a training hub to be run by the National Film and Television School.
A film inspired visitor attraction is also on the cards, as well as an open air filming space is part of the plan, extending onto adjacent land, and part of the site would be transformed into a public nature reserve.
Meanwhile, Buckinghamshire Council is considering redeveloping the local, and slightly grotty, Evreham Sports Centre. And plans to build several hundred new homes, plus shops, on the Thorney Lane Business Park, which is right by Iver’s station, have also been mooted although – as yet – planning permission has not been requested.
