Staffordshire/derbyshire/peaks/chershire… anyone find me a location…

[Steestu]

and maybe even a house?! I’m a single parent to two dc, 3 and 6. Now divorced and finally taking the step to move up north nearer family. These are the areas I’ve shortlisted. My budget for a home is 490. I would prefer a detached but not sure that’s possible. I only have my elderly parents, a couple of friends who are helping a little but basically I am on my own with looking and feel so lonely and so fed up. Any advice or suggestions would be wonderful!!

I suspose it might depend what you and your kids are in to. If you are outdoor types. Perhaps somewhere near Cannock Chase.

Agree with this. You'd have the pick of places in Hilton, Hatton, Willington, Findern etc.

Another vote for Burton area. I'm in Swadlincote. There are loads of newbuild estates around here and Burton where you'd have loads of change from £490. Uttoxeter is also nice. Also Congleton is more towards Cheshire way and very lovely.

There are lots of lovely villages within a short drive of Lichfield, plenty of open spaces and countryside plus you have a big out of town shopping centre at Tamworth, the designer village at Cannock and a direct train to Birmingham for all your shopping and socialising needs.

That said....avoid Repton.

V expensive for what it is and not worth the money. Traffic is horrendous due to Repton school, St Wystans pre prep with no parking and it being a cut through to the A38.

Similar traffic problems in Willington too.

Newton Solney is nice but very cliquey if you dont know people there already.

@steestu

This is walking distance to Lichfield Trent Valley Station, new estate, nice community: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151888778?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Walking distance to Lichfield city station & choice of good schools: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/155442527?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Between both stations: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/155442527?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

All of these are minutes from the A38 and the A513 for the Peak district.

Tamworth? Okay schools are a bit hit and miss but there are a good couple - very green, castle, fab park - 15mins from Birmingham by train, 1hr 15 from London - I moved here 25 years ago and I like it - especially when my kids were small.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144103463#/?channel=RES_BUY

Agree with this. You'd have the pick of places in Hilton, Hatton, Willington, Findern etc.

All these places are nice, plus Tutbury, Etwall. Near enough to Derby city without having to actually live in Derby, great train links and only half an hour to Birmingham or Nottingham. All have good primary and secondary schools.
Agree with pp about Repton though, and traffic through Willington is a nightmare at peak times although fine otherwise, I drive through regularly.

House prices are just 1 factor. What about childcare in the areas you are looking at for affordability and availablity? And the hours you will need? School wraparound care and school holiday care? And routes to secondary school buses etc? That time comes sooner than you think!

I would really recommend getting on a decent Trainline, a lot mentioned on this thread don't have that. It makes life so much easier and your DC will have more independence when older. Buses are terrible in the areas you're looking. It makes Manchester a short train ride away which is great for days out and activities, a lot of places are on the mainline to London too.

If not too far north then Buxton might be a solid option. Very pretty and supposedly up and coming. Lots of nice houses in the SW of the town.

Thanks for letting me know. I was looking at Streethay area? Are there good schools nearby? Would be a year 8 move rather than Y7 entry.

Though they are lovely places, personally I would avoid Willington or Repton due to the frequent flooding. Willington flooded with sewage around this time last year.

Is it important you to be near to your parents in case they need help?

The catchment school for Streethay is Nether Stowe High School, or "Nethie". So NO. And I can say that because I went there. I've not done terribly in life and made a few nice friends there, but there is no way I would let my kids attend Nether Stowe. Just checked and the latest Ofsted is still "requires improvement". When I was there years ago it was in special measures.

Personally I would look a bit further up the a38 for places which are within the catchment area of John Taylor. Barton under Needwood for example.

Or the parts of Lichfield that are within the catchment areas for Friary or King Edwards.

They have built a ridiculous amount of houses in Streethay recently, and though there is a new Primary school, I'm not sure where all the Secondary places will come from.

Agree - both lovely places to live. I think Ashbourne possibly has the edge for me.