Beckenham set for major boom | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

Beckenham has made the top 10 suburbs in New Zealand for property value growth - and residents spokesman Peter Tuffley will tell you it's for more than just its immunity from the earthquakes.

Average property prices increased 5.6 per cent to $401,944 in the year to August. Redwood, also relatively unaffected by the quakes, was the only other South Island suburb to make the top 10.

Beckenham Neighbourhood Association chairman Peter Tuffley, who has lived in Beckenham more than 30 years, said it had been on an upward trend quite a long time.

"Real estate agents used to refer to it as Lower Cashmere," he said.

"They don't do that any more."

Beckenham's demographics had changed in the last 20-30 years and it had moved upwards socio-economically, while the age structure had gone downwards.

"There have been increasing numbers of younger families moving in.

Beckenham preparing for a major boom

"Three houses near us that used to be occupied by fairly elderly people now have young families there."

Mr Tuffley credits Nick Major, who retired earlier this year after 25 years as deputy principal and then principal at Beckenham School, for making a big contribution to the suburb's popularity. "Beckenham as a suburb was known to have a really good primary school, and the roll increased in the time he was there," he said.

Parents who had grown up there moved back into the area because they wanted their children to go to the school. "I've personally met young parents who've moved into Beckenham and one half of the couple grew up there and wanted to move back."

While Beckenham fared well in the earthquakes, Mr Tuffley believes other things have contributed to the striking rise in property values. "One of its defining features is the Beckenham loop of the Heathcote River - it's one of its beauties," he said. "And we have two particularly beautiful streets with a tree-lined avenue effect in Norwood St and Fisher Ave."

Beckenham also had a really pleasant background with the hills, and was close to a council service centre and library, he pointed out.

Spreydon-Heathcote Community Board chairman Phil Clearwater said areas where people had always sought housing remained popular. "I understand prices in Addington are also increasing, which may then make it less affordable for local residents to purchase or pay rent," he said.

A young would-be homeowner who looked at two Beckenham properties on their open days a week ago was surprised how many people were looking them over. Both were going for higher than the rateable value and above the asking prices, she said.