A new French school in Wembley has led to a flood of expats snapping up properties costing up to £1 million in the area, it has been claimed.
According to a property expert in Brent, dozens of French families have bought or are renting high-end properties in time for the opening of Lycee Internationale de Londres Winston Churchill in Forty Lane.
The Lycee, which is based in the former Brent Town Hall, opened its doors to more than 500 students this September and has capacity for 1,100 pupils from years one through to 13.
It is a sister school to two others based in Kentish Town and South Kensington and classes are taught bilingually and will prepare students for the traditional French Baccalaureat qualification in years 12 and 13.
Francis Henry, director of Daniels Estate Agents, lives in an apartment block in Wembley Park where properties typically range from about £300,000 to £1m.
He told the Times the trend is evident even on his own doorstep.
“The opening of the French school has had an impact on property sales, he said.
“The French residents started to arrive in my building about five months ago and three flats have filled up over the last two weeks, with the last one literally moving in today, and that’s just my floor.
“In my building which is mostly high-end flats, everyone on my floor either goes to the Lycee or has some link to it.”
The growth of a thriving French community in the Wembley area follows the arrival of Air France opening a bureau in a floor of former council headquarters Brent House in High Road, Wembley, before moving to Brent Civic Centre in Engineer’s Way.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here