Sheffield Knowledge Required

[Sportbilly]

Hello All, We're are a family of four living in leafy Staffordshire who are planning a move to Sheffield later this year.

Just wondered if any people from Sheffield can advise accordingly.

We've not enjoyed living rurally, and are hoping to find somewhere in Sheffield a bit more lively with more family stuff to do.

Our ideal requirements would be.

1. Somewhere on or close to the supertram network.
2. The area shouldn't be too quiet, and should have decent family amenities (shops, restaurants, gyms, cinema etc) within close proximity.
3. We'd be looking at a budget for a 3 (4 if affordable) bedroomed house of between 300k and 350k, and could push to nearly 400k of we had to.

Based on those criteria I'd thought about the area around Crystal Peaks on the south side of the city, or perhaps the Walkley or Hillsborough area in the NW.

Norfolk Park also looks transformed but I suspect this still has a bad/dodgy underbelly?

Any comments on the areas above, or any suggested area, would be welcomed.

you get free tickets if you live close enough! And other residents nearby go into a draw for free tickets

Out of the three areas you’ve suggested I’d look around Hillsborough, good quality housing, lots to do - shops restaurants, pubs. SWFC close by if you like footie, Sainsbury’s, Hillsborough Park, leisure centre, and close to open countryside and it has a buzz about it. I wouldn’t consider Norfolk Park - still a lot of ASB and Crystal Peaks/Mosborough just doesn’t have the same buzz and too far out from the city centre

I'm a Blade, so that's one big negative about Hillsborough 😉😅

Sounds good. Are there any "better" or "worse" parts of Hillsborough to live in or is it all much of a muchness?

Heeley and Meersbrook might suit you. Doesn't take long to get into the city centre via bus but you could also walk it if you really wanted or needed to. The area is diverse and you're not far from London road where there are international shops and places to eat. Schools surrounding the area are decent.

I personally would avoid close to the stadium, parking can be a general nightmare but I think it might also be prone to flooding. Winn gardens also has a rough reputation but it’s very cheap (so your budget means you’ll be able to afford elsewhere) and they people who live there are lovely (from what I hear). I think parking can be an issue generally in Hillsborough so you might want to factor that in. Wadsley Park village is where my neighbours moved to for bigger house, driveway etc but all the houses are relatively new. If we could afford to move and find the right house around Marcliffe Primary School are where the semi detached/driveway houses are. The houses in that area are within your budget.

www.facebook.com/RivelinCo This is an example of local stuff happening. Lots of things in Hillsborough Park or nearby.

What type of house are you after as in s11/S10 which is graystones, crookes walkley, ecclesall area it will mostly be terraced houses with no parking. But this is where the good and outstanding schools are located.

In crystal peaks area S20 you can easily get a 4 bed detaches with driveway for 400K. Here there are good primary's but the secondary's are yet to be ofsteded.

Ok being brutally honest if I had your budget I would eschew the tram idea totally. Go for a nice house in millhouses/ beauchief. They have good bus routes and good little communities and the house prices will always go up, the areas you are looking at are ok ish (apart from Norfolk park)😆but with the budget you have aim higher ,crystal peaks, Hillsborough are a bit meh well very meh actually 😆 , Walkley is ok but very very studenty

I lived on ecclesall road (S11) for a few years with my ex partner and we loved the area, easy access to the center, loved going for walks in the area and daily runs, especially through the huge cemetery right behind the road. Great shopping options and places to eat, a big park further down the road, good health centers and the schools seemed to be doing fairly well from what our friends had said.

Rother Valley, Drakehouse Retail Park, Westfield Sports Centre… All within walking distance of Sothall…

@WhoHidTheCoffee there is also excel martial arts and dance and a gymnastic club on Holbrook and Performing arts at Beighton Lifestyle Centre so within a 5 minute walk of Sothall you have swimming, dancing, martial arts, badminton, trampolining, performing arts, tennis, football, rugby, diving and athletics clubs for your children.

I have lived at both barlborough / crystal peaks and mill houses through circumstances, trust me go for the millhouses side 😆

I would be another vote for Hillsborough. It's really changed recently, you still have the bargain shops but loads of very trendy bars, restaurants, tram on your door stop. 2 minutes on the tram takes you to kelham island which is reclaimed industrial and so very very hip 😉. Only thing I would consider is the main secondary school is not very good, actually I think they get good ofsted but I've had terrible experience. The primaries are amazing though. Also you could buy a mansion for your budget.

hunters Bar, greystones, broomhill, nether edge, crookes, millhouses. All nice communities close to the city centre and with frequent buses. The areas around the tram are generally not very nice. Meersbrook is ok and you’d get more for your money.

Agreed,stick to these you'll be ok

It sounds like the vibe you want isnt around crystal peaks which is my side but you need to drive really. It all in different bits. Lots to do and lovely countryside but it's less vibrant and cultural and more traditional family and friends. I would say Ecclesall Road area if you can afford it back to maybe Greenhill. Why dont you come up for a little mini break and check out the areas.

Very interesting thread as quite a lot of differing, and perhaps even conflicting, comments on some areas, but all the feedback so far has been really helpful thanks.

We probably do need to come up for a few days and check the areas a little bit better.

Despite having the budget and income to stretch to perhaps some of the "nicer" parts, i don't want to make the same mistake where we left Birmingham, not central but fairly close, and moved to a leafy place which is too quiet and you feel isolated (you need to drive to go anywhere, ok for me but my wife doesn't drive and that's made it difficult for her).

TBH driving around Sheffield is a PITA, and I try to avoid having to drive into Sheffield when I can. I live to the north of Sheffield and either get the train in or drive to Middlewood and use the Park and Ride car park for the tram.

Will there be an option for your wife to learn to drive in the future @Sportbilly?

Broomhill and Crookes used to be student ville as they’re so close to the uni, is that still the case ?

Eccalsall for me too. I definitely wouldn't pick Hillsbrough simply because it is mayhem on matchdays.

@MrWhippersnapper

yes i used to like in crookes, we moved because it was so studenty and not where we wantwd to raise a family.

If you definitely want the tram then Hillsborough or lower walkley would work for you.
If not I'd go for meersbrook, netheredge, abbeydale, millhouses, crookes.
I live in Sheffield and love it here.

Still lots of students in broomhill and crookes but less than before and lots of families with kids too. Much more mixed. Lots of sultudents are in the city centre now in the huge blocks of flats.

Might be worth looking at broomhall. It is culturally diverse and has a excellent nursery for kids with additional needs (broomhill nursery). It is walking distance to the city centre and the tram and is a bit dodgy in parts but seems to be an up and coming area. The bit nearer the university is the better bit although that is a generalisation. There is an infant school with a good reputation for additional needs(broomhill infants) although the head has recently changed so it might be a bit different now. The catchment covers broomhall. Then the feeder juniors has an integrated resource. The infant's has had non verbal autistic children before.