HOME prices across the region are set to rocket by as much as £250,000 as Crossrail motors in, new figures have revealed.

The price of properties across Slough and South Bucks have been predicted to rise by as much as 49% in new research assessing the impacts of Crossrail.

The £16bn project will link stations from Reading and Heathrow to London Paddington, through the capital and on to Essex and Kent.

House prices in Iver are predicted to rise the most, with a 49% increase suggested. According to British property website Zoopla, the average property price in Iver is currently £517,647. It would mean an increase of £253,647 to £771,294 by the end of 2020. Josh Godfrey, director at letting and estate agents Oakwood Estates which covers Iver, said: “The areas within 10 minutes walking distance of the stations will see the core price rises.

“Upwards of 30% would be a fair comment. People want quick access to London and they will be 20 minutes away, but will be able to have more land. Crossrail will revolutionise certain areas, particularly Richings Park, Langley and Iver.” Crossrail trains are due to start running by the end of 2019. Journey times from Iver to London Paddington will be cut from more than 30 minutes to just 22.

Property values in Slough, Taplow, Langley and Burnham will also rocket by 43-47%, according to the figures from residential property company JLL. The average home in Slough, currently worth £315,731 according to Zoopla, would rise by £148,393 (47%) to £464,124.

Slough was also rated as the biggest benefactor for regeneration because of Crossrail. Bond Street will be 30 minutes from the town with four new and bigger capacity trains per hour.

The figures come as homeless charity Shelter revealed a young couple with a child would have to save for more than 16 years to afford a 20% deposit on a Slough home.

Campbell Robb, Shelter’s chief executive, said the shortage of affordable homes has pushed up prices – meaning for millions of youngsters owning a home is 'a fantasy’.

The council is also housing young families on benefits in cheaper areas as far as 100 miles away because they can not afford spiralling rent costs. The research suggests rent prices in Slough will rise by up to 34%.

But Cllr James Swindlehurst, deputy council leader, said the authority is working to tackle supply, with 200 new council homes set to be built this year and 12,000 as part of the Heart of Slough regeneration.

He added: “We are trying to rebalance the housing market so Slough is perceived as a more desirable place to live.”