Getting On The Property Ladder In Washington

The town of Washington is situated in the county of Tyne and Wear in the north east

of England and was designed and developed through a scheme known as the New Towns concept in 1974. This idea aimed to create a sustainable growth in its economy and to bring together the population overspill from the surrounding cities. The new town was divided into 15 numbered districts, although these have now been scrapped and replaced with individual names for the 15 self-sufficient districts or villages. It is located centrally between the centres of three major cities, Newcastle, Durham and Sunderland.

Washington historically started off as a mining town during the Industrial Revolution, being predominantly involved in the coal industry at the time that the demand for coal began to soar. Washington had a number of pits and although none are still running today, the 'F' Pit was preserved and is now being used as a museum for educating all those interested in the history of mining. All of the pits are labelled alphabetically and so with a reasonable number of pits, many of the older communities and districts sprung up around them. For example, the Usworth Mine housed what is now the modern area of Usworth, was referred to as Usworth Colliery and still is by many of the older inhabitants of Washington.

As the mines were sunk and put into operation, a number of wagon ways and railway lines were put in place in order to transport the coal to Staithes, an area on the River Wear, so it could be transferred onto barges and taken across to Sunderland ready for loading onto larger container ships for transportation to its destination. The coal pits were not the only industry to thrive in this area, however, as during the 19th century the Washington Chemical Works became a major employer, also attracting more and more workers to the area. The site was eventually taken over by Newalls Works and was used to produce insulation. This site is now an industrial estate and residential housing estate.

Today Washington still has some major industries, although the coal pits and chemical works have long since disappeared. Its main industry now comprises of textiles, car assembly, electronics and electronic goods. The Nissan automotive plant is the biggest employer in the private sector throughout the City of Sunderland and the surrounding area.

Washington is the ideal place for young couples or families looking to start out on the property ladder. The house prices are generally around half the national average, making them attainable for those looking to buy their first house. The area has a relatively low crime rate, sitting well beneath the national average. As each of the districts in the new town of Washington were designed to be self-sufficient, there are many schools to choose from. Most of the schools in the area have good performance reviews, with sixth form students performing almost a full 10 per cent above the national average. Due to the central location of Washington to the surrounding towns and cities, it is a popular location to commute from, with excellent public transport routes for those not wishing to drive to work.

by: Matt Fay

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