Moving to Cheshire

[Warmandtoasty]

Hi

I posted a few weeks ago and got some great advice about areas of Cheshire to look at as we are relocating in January.

We went over this weekend and checked out some areas, the key thing to us is good high schools nearby for our son who is currently in year 6, somewhere preferably that is not too difficult to get to as he is painfully shy and quite young for his age so would find multiple bus journeys etc quite overwhelming.

We have a budget of 250 - 300k. We recently got some info on mortgages and could go to 350k but would leave us really stretched. We need to be within 30 mins of Ellesmere Port.

These are what we have seen when we were there.

Stockton Heath - liked but not loved. It seemed quite busy and not very green compared to where we live currently, we did like the cafés and restaurants here though. My husband is working in Cheshire already and is renting a place in Stockton Heath so we will be spending a lot of time here until we find where to move to.

Appleton - we really really liked, but it is very expensive and we can't see anything nice within our budget.

Tarporley - again we loved but might not be able to afford here

Chrisleton - DH's favourite, loved the village feel, the high school is so close by. We would need to settle for a 3 bed semi for our budget though (currently in 4 bed detached so downsize)

Holmes chapel - really liked, nice cul de sacs for our son to play with friends in, high school nearby. But feels a bit further away from work.

Sandiway & Cuddington - we liked but have only had a quick drive through so need to spend some more time here.

Is there anywhere we are missing that we might like baring in mind these ones we have liked so far?

We've ruled out...Frodsham, Great Sankey & Middlewich

Thanks, I really do appreciate everyone's help (sorry this is so long trying to give as much info as possible)

[oddsocksmostly]

I don't know any of the areas, but the cul de sac playing out thing will be less important to your son as he moves into teens. I'd give some consideration to proximity of clubs/ leisure interests that you may need to taxi him to as he gets older IYSWIM

[Myhusbandishardwork]

Most of those areas are warrington. I used to live near Walton.

Why does it need to be within 30 mins of ellesmere port. Its a dump there tbh.

What about Chester ?

[Warmandtoasty]

Yeah I suppose your right with the cul de sac thing. I guess then near somewhere safe for him to go into town with his mates would be a better way of thinking.

We need to be near Ellesmere Port as that's where my husband works, we don't want to live there.

I like Chester but couldn't live in the centre of it as we are in a small town/large village now and we like the countryside and peaceful location here. The outskirts would be fine though

[MiscellaneousAssortment]

We lived near knutsford growing up when my dad commuted to ellesmere port every day - wonder if it's the same line of work :)

It was a bit further but a nice journey (according to him anyway!), and we went to school in Holmes chapel but were equi-distant between Holmes chapel & knutsford so could have gone to either.

If you don't want to be a taxi then somewhere with a bit of centre for children is advised. We ended up very isolated as parents weren't up for taxi duty and maintaining friendships and extra curricular activities was hard for us.

Holmes chapel is better for children if they're going to go to school there (vs bused in from outlying farm land), but I have slightly mixed feelings about the place.

It's a slightly odd place, with a tiny village-y and impractical centre for shopping / provisions, but actually quite a big population compared to most small towns in that area which have better shops. However most stuff for children reachable on foot mostly, and also good pubs :)

[MissMilbanke]

Have you thought about the Wirral ? Parts of Heswall and surrounding areas are within your budget.

I would imagine the commute from Holmes chapel would be a hefty one. How does your DH find the current commute and the M56 ?

[Spanielcrackers]

Little Leigh?

[Doodledot]

Capenhurst is lovely and loads nice places up the Wirral

[RCheshire]

Understand your view on the places you've seen and am not surprised you found Stockton Heath too suburban/built up.

Am not a fan or Sandiway/Cuddington - just on a main road with little there.

I don't know Appleton well but do know that lots of people like it. Would give you some greenery whilst being very accessible to many other places.

Holmes Chapel has a fair bit going for it - good schools, small centre for finding your way about, good for m6, 40 min train to manchester, great bakery in Mandeville's(!), but it always feels slightly isolated to me - not large enough to stand on it's own but a fair way from anywhere bigger. Have friends who love it though.

I suspect Tarporley or Christleton are right for you - subject to budget. Tarvin isn't quite as nice. Kelsall may feel a little smaller.

Good luck!

[Warmandtoasty]

Missmilbanke, he is finding the commute fine so far he's only done it for a week though. It takes 30 mins which he used to do here anyway so is fine with that. We will see if it stays that though or if traffic might become a problem sometimes.

Does anyone know anything about villages surrounding Chester, seen some nice houses online in Mickle Trafford and Great Boughton but know nothing of these areas.

I've not really looked into the Wirral, it comes up in recommendations a lot but as we have friends and family in Manchester we have just looked cheshire area. Maybe I should look into it and see what is there.

[Doodledot]

Little Sutton is very close but loads nice places further up too

[blueygreentortoise]

Great Boughton is not a village, just a suburb of Chester right on the out-skirts, but is in catchment for Christleton. Mickle Trafford is a proper village but not in catchment. Both areas have good primaries. If you did want Christleton you would have to be careful with not moving too far out from the school as it has the best results of the Chester state high schools and is very popular and over-subscribed. The CWAC (cheshire west & chester) web-site is very useful for info on catchments, distance allocated etc.

[Warmandtoasty]

Is the high school at great boughton any good? What is the local high school to Mickle Trafford? If DH had his way he would move to christleton in a heartbeat, he loved it. We will miss the high school application date though so might not get a place if it's oversubscribed.

[blueygreentortoise]

Mickle Trafford is in the Upton High School catchment. Upton is the largest high school in Chester but is still generally well-regarded, with decent results. Being in catchment is not the be all and end all in Chester e.g. we live in catchment for Upton but son goes to Bishops' Blue Coat in Boughton and we all (son included) rate it very highly indeed. It is smaller than Upton and Christleton and sounds like it might suit your son well. However as you say I don't know how your position as a late applicant would affect chances of a place. I think it would be impossible to get a place at Christleton if you apply past the deadline.

[Aradia]

Northwich itself is nice not that I'm biased and for your budget you could get something lovely. Hartford is good and there are some really good schools (Ofsted outstanding). It's also having millions spent on the town centre so will have a new cinema etc in a couple of years. Only takes 10-15 mins to get to the M56 and an easy run to Ellesmere Port. Stockton Heath is an absolute fekkin nightmare for traffic.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Hartford has the station too.
What about areas around Chester are they too far out.
There are lovely little villages if you prefer country life.
I used to love Kelsall? myself.
Or if you prefer further south there's Sandbach with good schools.

[InTheNorth123]

Agree about HC being an odd place. They have no events (like markets, fairs etc.), no real supermarket (just three overpriced convenience stores) but quite a large population!

Comprehensive is v good (if a little OTT on pointless rules) as is the main primary school. I went to both and didn't do too badly

There's a train station for your DCs when they're older. The sun kong is lovely for a take away as well.

Sandbach is nice. Have you had a look at Great Budworth? Might be a bit on the expensive side iirc, but v v nice.
Davenham is nice too. Several nice villages surrounding Northwich.

However, I'd advise you to look at the proposed HS2 route and avoid the surrounding areas! John Bishop lives in Whatcroft and I know it's due to go through there.

[bettybyebye]

Have a look at mickle Trafford and guilden sutton op. Both small villages just outside Chester but not too far from the centre either. Would be an easy commute to the port as well from either. Would also second you looking in the Wirral as there are some lovely spots there too, and not that much further to Manchester from there

[puffylovett]

Look at Sandbach and congleton, although possibly too much of a commute. You would get a lot for your money

[1moreRep]

little leigh, barnton, helsby and frodsham are all very nice- Northwich is a great area

[speechiesusie]

Have a look at Grappenhall.

I don't mean the bits south of the A50 (between the A50 and the Ship Canal) - I mean around Grappenhall Village. St Wilfred's Drive, that sort of area. It's a lovely place to live (we lived there for a while).

What's your spec for a house?

Also, have you considered Appleton Thorn? Amberleigh Close is quite nice and in your price range if there are still a couple for sale there.. it has a real community feel to it. Catchment for Bridgewater High - though a short bus ride.

I will check right move for you!

[speechiesusie]

Ok, having checked up to £300k area-wise, the best ones in South Warrington are:

The one for £279k on Euclid Avenue, Grappenhall
£299k Tynwald Drive Appleton (I know, it's ugly - but it's a nice area)
£289k Highfield Ave Appleton (near the high school, edge of countryside too)
£275k Limeways, Appleton (same comment as above)
£264,950 London Road (Appleton) - I used to live on that stretch, it's fine and the houses are solid

I see your problem though, price-wise. These are the best addresses for your budget.

[speechiesusie]

The Wirral is lovely. Look at Oxton, West Kirby, Meols, Heswall and Hoylake.

Your money will stretch loads further just over the border into Wales on the other side of Chester, too. Somewhere like Gresford - very rural - but get your son into a Chester school first otherwise he may have to be taught in Welsh!

Tarvin? Kelsall?

[Zhx3]

The Wirral is nice, and there are several good schools - 4 grammars (West Kirby, Calday, Wirral Boys and Girls), one independent (Birkenhead) and Birkenhead High, which was a girls' independent turned academy. There are also good state schools. here's a list of the schools on the Wirral.

If you like the rural/countryside, I would look along the A540 route, places like Willaston, Neston, Heswall, Thursaston, Barnston, Saughall Massie, West Kirby etc.. There are also some nice places around Prenton/ Oxton/ Bebington (but some nasty areas too), all of which will get you to Ellesmere Port within around 20-30 mins.

Christleton is lovely, with an excellent secondary school. We nearly ended up buying there a few years ago! With regard to other places on the outskirts of Chester, I like Pulford (and Gresford/Marford) to the south, also Mollington is nice, with a lot of green space.

[hellsbells99]

Waverton is within walking distance of Christleton. Slightly further away are Huntington and Vicars Cross - but neither of these are particularly villagy.
Christleton High is a good school and Chester area is lovely.

[Tinkerbellesmummy]

If you're still looking there's a 4 bed semi detached for sale in Knightsbridge avenue, Grappenhall. It looks pristine, quite stylishly extended and very neutrally decorated, ready to just move into. It's on for £285,000. Knightsbridge ave is a very family orientated avenue where children can play safely. It is definitely worth a look as it offers lots of space and is competitively priced. Hth