A major independent is marking its 50th year in business by opening a 16th branch.

Beresfords, in Essex, has launched its latest branch next to the railway station in Harold Wood, which offers a short direct service to London’s Liverpool Street.

It is also on the new Elizabeth Line Crossrail service.

With Gidea Park, Brentwood and Shenfield, it gives Beresfords its fourth Elizabeth Line office.

The new opening follows the recent doubling in size of Beresfords’ Maldon office having recently acquired the freehold of the whole building.

Earlier in the year Beresfords relocated two of its most successful offices into higher profile positions in Shenfield and Brentwood with significant increases in enquiries and footfall as a result.

The Brentwood move also freed up a unit which gave them the opportunity to expand its mortgage business, Flagstone, by giving it a town centre outlet.

CEO Paul Beresford said: “The primary drivers behind the property market remain supply and demand, and build volumes are still way behind population growth.

“Whatever happens people will always want, and in many cases need, to move.

“Property demand tends to be a bit like a revolving door – as some people go out, others come in.

“Increased taxation has led to some landlords leaving the rental sector, reducing supply and leading to higher demand for those that remain, but many of those properties are in the first-time buyer sector.

“That wider choice along with incentives such as the Government’s Help to Buy scheme has certainly fuelled confidence.

“So far this year over one in five buyers registering with us have been first purchasers, up from 14% just three years ago.”