Howard Close Minster, Swale
19 addresses across 1 postcode (ME12), about 130 m long, classed as a local road. USRN 39000639.
- Sales: 6 recorded sales since 1995; in 2023 the median was £315,000 across 1 sale.
- Energy: 11 homes have an energy certificate (C: 4, D: 4, E: 1, G: 2).
- Flood: No address on its postcodes is in an area at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water.
- Council tax: Most homes around it are in council tax band D; Band D in Swale costs £2,406 a year in 2026-27.
- Broadband: Gigabit broadband is available to 17% of premises.
- Transport: The nearest railway station is Sheerness-On-Sea, about 3.8 km (2.4 miles) away in a straight line.
- Green space: The nearest park or garden, The Glen, is about 220 m away.
- Air: Background air pollution in 2024 was 8.0 µg/m³ of nitrogen dioxide and 6.9 of PM2.5, within UK legal limits.
- Height: Its addresses are 42 to 44 m above sea level.
- Noise: None of its addresses is modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic.
- Doctors: The nearest GP surgery is Sheerness Health Centre, about 3.1 km (1.9 miles) away.
- People: About 560 people lived in the census areas around it in 2021; 77% of households owned their home and 21% of adults held a degree or other higher qualification.
- Crime: 31 crimes were recorded within 250 m between September 2025 and August 2026, most often violence and sexual offences.
Sales on this street
| Year | Sales | Median price | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | £315,000 | £315,000 | £315,000 |
| 2022 | 1 | £300,000 | £300,000 | £300,000 |
| 2014 | 1 | £209,000 | £209,000 | £209,000 |
| 1996 | 2 | £42,900 | £42,800 | £43,000 |
| Date | Address | Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Jun 2025 | 15 ME12 2LY | Semi-detached | £300,000 | Not a standard sale (repossession, buy-to-let or transfer). |
| 18 Aug 2023 | 5 ME12 2LY | Semi-detached | £315,000 | |
| 5 Jul 2022 | 4 ME12 2LY | Terraced | £300,000 | |
| 20 Jun 2014 | 11 ME12 2LY | Detached | £209,000 | |
| 28 Aug 1996 | 15 ME12 2LY | Semi-detached | £42,800 | |
| 5 Jul 1996 | 2 ME12 2LY | Semi-detached | £43,000 |
Energy performance certificates
11 homes with a current certificate; median floor area 92 m². Most common: House, semi-detached (7); House, detached (3); Bungalow, detached (1). Built: 1950-1966 (4); 1967-1975 (4); 1976-1982 (2). Tenure at assessment: owner-occupied (11).
Council tax
What each band costs in Swale in 2026-27: Band D £2,406 a year on average, including the police, fire and any county and parish charges.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £1,604 | £1,871 | £2,138 | £2,406 | £2,940 | £3,475 | £4,009 | £4,811 |
Homes by band in the neighbourhood around this street: most are in band D (35% of about 680 homes).
Planning and heritage
- Conservation area: no postcode centre in this street's postcodes is in one.
- Listed buildings on or by this street: none.
- Article 4 direction (removing permitted development rights): none recorded, though not every council has published theirs.
- Tree preservation orders: none recorded, though not every council has published theirs.
- Green belt: no.
Roadworks
Finished in the last three months
- 23 September 2026 to 27 September 2026: UK POWER NETWORKS SOUTH EASTERN, Utility repair and maintenance works, some carriageway incursion, on the footway (immediate - urgent works)
Flood risk
Rivers, the sea or surface water: in this street's postcodes, 0 addresses are in areas at high risk, 0 at medium risk and 1 at low risk. Each address counts once, at the higher of its rivers-and-sea and surface-water risk.
Rivers and the sea alone: no home is in an area at risk.
High: 3.3% (1 in 30) or more chance of flooding a year. Medium: 1% to 3.3%. Low: 0.1% to 1%. Very low: under 0.1%. The rivers and sea figures allow for flood defences. Counts cover whole postcodes, which can include other streets.
Flood zone for planning: no postcode centre is in flood zone 2 or 3.
Height above sea level
The street's 19 addresses are between 42 m and 44 m above sea level (43 m on average).
Broadband
| Postcode | Superfast (30 Mbit/s+) | Ultrafast (300 Mbit/s+) | Gigabit | Below 10 Mbit/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ME12 2LY | 100% | 17% | 17% | 0% |
Getting around
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Railway stations | Sheerness-On-Sea 439,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 3.8 km (2.4 miles) |
| Queenborough 196,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 4.2 km (2.6 miles) | |
| Swale 7,300 journeys in 2024–25 | 5.9 km (3.7 miles) | |
| Bus stops | 4 stops within 400 m (0.2 miles), 25 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Highview Road Minster | 150 m |
| Car parks | Shinglebank Marine Parade Car Park | 1.3 km (0.8 miles) |
| EV charging points | MFG Charging Station | 3.9 km (2.4 miles) |
| Airport with scheduled flights | London Southend Airport SEN | 17.9 km (11 miles) |
| Nearest large airport | London Stansted Airport STN | 64.6 km (40 miles) |
Local services
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| GP surgeries | Sheerness Health Centre | 3.1 km (1.9 miles) |
| Pharmacies | 1 pharmacies within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Minster Pharmacy | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) |
| NHS dentists | 2 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Hillton Dentistry Minster | 930 m (0.6 miles) |
| Hospital | Sheppey Community Hospital | 1.6 km (1 mile) |
| Police station | Sheerness Police Station | 3.7 km (2.3 miles) |
| Cash machines | 1 machines within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest The Cooperative Food Minster, Minster on Sea Cashzone | 460 m (0.3 miles) |
Parks and green space
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Park or garden | 3 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest The Glen 9.0 ha | 220 m |
| Play area | 3 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 460 m² | 310 m |
| Playing field | 1 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 8,940 m² | 780 m (0.5 miles) |
| Allotments | Unnamed 1.6 ha | 2.6 km (1.6 miles) |
Within 800 m (0.5 miles): 3 parks and gardens, 9.4 hectares in all.
Landmarks
The nearest historic landmark is The Abbey Gatehouse, a listed building (Grade I), 530 m (0.3 miles) south-east. 3 listed buildings are within 1 km (0.6 miles), 2 of them Grade I.
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| The Abbey Gatehouse | Listed building, Grade I | 530 m (0.3 miles) south-east |
| Nunnery at Minster Abbey | Scheduled monument | 560 m (0.3 miles) south-east |
| The Abbey Church of St Mary and St Sexburga | Listed building, Grade I | 560 m (0.3 miles) south-east |
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Breakneck Hill | Hill | 380 m south-west |
| Minster Beach | Beach | 760 m (0.5 miles) north-east |
| Round Hill | Hill | 910 m (0.6 miles) east |
| Rape Hill | Hill | 1.7 km (1.1 miles) south-west |
| Paddy's Point | Wetland | 1.8 km (1.1 miles) east |
| The Moat | Lake or reservoir | 4 km (2.5 miles) north-west |
Air quality
| Pollutant | Here | UK limit | WHO guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 8.0 | 40 | 10 |
| Fine particles (PM2.5) | 6.9 | 20 | 5 |
| Particles (PM10) | 10.6 | 40 | 15 |
All three are within the UK legal limits; PM2.5 is above the WHO guideline, as in most towns and cities.
Road and rail noise
| Level | Road traffic | Railways |
|---|---|---|
| Under 55 | 19 | 19 |
None of the street's 19 addresses is modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic or railways.
Climate, daylight and earthquakes
Monthly temperatures and rainfall, sunrise and sunset through the year, and earthquakes recorded nearby since 1970 are much the same across the area, so they are worked out once for Swale: see them on the Swale page.
Nearest schools
| School | Phase | Ages | Distance | Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minster in Sheppey Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | 430 m (0.3 miles) | Report card (Apr 2026): Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard; Achievement: Strong standard; Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard; Personal development and wellbeing: Strong standard; Inclusion: Strong standard; Leadership and governance: Strong standard; Early years: Strong standard; Safeguarding standards: Met |
| St Georges CofE (Aided) Primary School Church of England | Primary | 4–11 | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) | Good (Feb 2024, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Thistle Hill Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | 1.4 km (0.9 miles) | No overall grade (Nov 2024, graded inspection without an overall judgement): Quality of education: Good; Behaviour and attitudes: Good; Personal development: Outstanding; Leadership and management: Outstanding |
| Leigh Academy Minster | Secondary | 11–18 | 1.8 km (1.1 miles) | No published inspection |
Food hygiene ratings nearby
| Business | Type | Distance | Rating | Rated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayyappa Minimart ME12 2LL | Retailers - other | 180 m | 5 Very good | 12 Jun 2025 |
| Co-op ME12 2HD | Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 460 m (0.3 miles) | 5 Very good | 28 Sep 2026 |
| Island Sands Residential Care Home ME12 2NJ | Hospitals/Childcare/Caring Premises | 470 m (0.3 miles) | 5 Very good | 10 Jul 2026 |
| The Little Oyster Cafe ME12 2NJ | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 470 m (0.3 miles) | 5 Very good | 16 Jul 2025 |
| The Beach Bar And Restaurant ME12 2NJ | Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 480 m (0.3 miles) | 4 Good | 30 Oct 2025 |
| Minster Playgroup At The Abbey ME12 2HE | Hospitals/Childcare/Caring Premises | 490 m (0.3 miles) | 5 Very good | 5 Dec 2025 |
| Minster Working Men's Club ME12 2HW | Pub/bar/nightclub | 500 m (0.3 miles) | 5 Very good | 28 Jan 2026 |
| The Blak Bear ME12 2HW | Mobile caterer | 500 m (0.3 miles) | 5 Very good | 31 Oct 2025 |
Crime within 250 m
| Category | Crimes |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 14 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 6 |
| Public order | 3 |
| Vehicle crime | 3 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 3 |
| Other theft | 1 |
| Possession of weapons | 1 |
Most of these are attached to: On or near Lady Winter Drive (15); On or near Howard Close (5); On or near Seathorpe Avenue (5); On or near Rodmer Close (2); On or near Alston Close (2).
People and work
Who lives here
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44 | 40 |
| Children under 15 | 18% | 17% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23% | 18% |
Homes
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Owned (outright or with a mortgage) | 77% | 61% |
| Owned outright | 42% | 33% |
| Shared ownership | 1% | 1% |
| Social rented | 7% | 17% |
| Private rented | 15% | 21% |
Work and commuting
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (16 and over) in work | 58% | 57% |
| Unemployment (of those working or looking for work) | 6% | 6% |
| Retired (of adults) | 26% | 22% |
| Long-term sick or disabled (of adults) | 2% | 4% |
| Work mainly from home (of those in work) | 24% | 32% |
| Travel to work by car or van | 68% | 48% |
| By train, Underground, metro or tram | 1% | 4% |
| By any public transport, including bus | 1% | 8% |
| On foot or by bicycle | 4% | 10% |
| Work within 10 km (6 miles) of home (of those who travel to work) | 54% | 65% |
| Work 30 km (19 miles) or more away | 8% | 8% |
Education and languages
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree or other higher qualification, Level 4+ (of adults) | 21% | 34% |
| No qualifications | 20% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship as highest qualification | 8% | 5% |
| Main language English (aged 3 and over) | 98% | 91% |
| Cannot speak English well or at all | under 1% | 2% |
Deprivation
The neighbourhood around this street is in decile 5 of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, where 1 is the most deprived tenth of England's 33,755 neighbourhoods and 10 the least.
What has changed
Nothing new since the change feed started on 30 October 2026. New sales and energy certificates, and hygiene ratings, school inspections and flood figures nearby, will be listed here as the sources update.
Postcodes on this street
- ME12 2LY: 19 addresses
Nearby streets
Seathorpe Avenue · Alston Close · Augustine Road · Rodmer Close · Lynmouth Drive · The Glen · Augustine Road · Lady Winter Drive · Whybornes Chase · Seathorpe Avenue · Seaside Avenue · Cliffhouse Avenue
What this page cannot tell you
- Whether a particular house is at risk of flooding, subsiding or anything else: the flood map is a model of areas and there is no property-level data here.
- What a home is worth now: sales are historic prices for the homes that happened to sell.
- How safe the street is: crime points are moved to anonymised locations and many crimes are never reported.
- Whether you would get a place at a school: distances are straight lines, not catchments.
- Who lives on the street now: census figures describe the small areas around it in March 2021, during a lockdown.
- How long a journey takes or how often anything runs: transport distances are straight lines to the nearest stops.
- Whether a GP practice is taking new patients, or a dentist new NHS patients.
- How loud a home is inside, or noise from industry, neighbours or smaller airfields: noise figures are models of road, rail and air traffic outside.
How each figure on this page is matched to the street and worked out: methodology.