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Original poster

Moving with Beeb relocation to Salford quays... Anyone else?

245 replies

topsmart · 05/12/2010 08:41

Okay, here goes, I am initiating my first proper thread.

DP's job is moving from london to salford quays next year. We finally have a move date of march 2011 (after signing up in sept 2010...) So it's all suddenly real and I have to shift our lives and get a nursery then school for DD who turns 5 next academic yr.

MN has proved invaluable for my manc research on areas to look at, so I wanted to thank anyone who's given anyone else advice on here as I have poached it all!

Now I'm wondering who else might be moving up as I'm sure some of you must be - or already have done. And I need heartwarming tales of how easy it has been to settle in. Or how much you need a new friend to go for a large glass of wine with!

OP posts:
Mummyisamonster · 29/01/2011 15:59

Hurray, glad the girls are positive about it. My DD keeps on looking ove rmy shoulder at the various houses I'm googling and cooing over potential girly bedrooms! If you find any stories about girls who move house and love it, can you let me know??

tralalala · 29/01/2011 18:06

mummyisamonster - derbyshire lane has some lovely houses on it, some back on to Victoria park - with balconies overlooking the park,

the other end is near the huge chester road so not so good, also some seem to have a bit of subsidance so need to be careful!

It is quite a busy road as has 2 schools on/just off it and the doctors.

Mummyisamonster · 29/01/2011 18:59

Ah thanks, that is useful. The house I'm looking at is halfway down Derbyshire, near a school & the park. Looks a busy road?

BeehiveBaby · 29/01/2011 19:18

FWIW, Derbyshire Lane has lovely houses on it but you have that 'got to get in the car to get anywhere nice feel' IMHO. No nice cafes, corner shop etc. I don't drive though so maybe I feel that more than others. Victoria Park is lovely and often has community events on.

"DD has just turned 4. We have our beady eyes on Seymour Park (and Kings Rd) but I can see from the manchester evening news' FOI request that both are hideously oversubscribed. Ho hum. Waiting list for us!"

Happy to waffle on about schools in this specific area (old trafford/ firswood) if that's any help to anyone.

I love Manchester and could never leave (moved up from London in 2003)!

BeehiveBaby · 29/01/2011 19:19

PS. Google street view for that particular street gives a really good idea of the feel of it (had to check I knew where the doctor's was the other day).

Mummyisamonster · 29/01/2011 20:04

beehivebaby, that is very handy to know, many thanks for taking the trouble to give me your valuable advice on this! The road does look very long and busy, and the house I've seen looks fab but it'd be nice not to have to get in the car for everything (which is what we have to do where we are at the moment).

tralalala · 29/01/2011 20:28

well I disagree about the car bit as the Tram is so good for town.

Depends on what you do in your days.

There are a few great local shops on Moss Park Road (great little veg shop, dead cheap and good quality, the ugly but useful Arnedale is 5 min walk(with a small Tescos and Quality Save, and many other discount shops), the park is just there, playgroups and good primary schools are all walkable.

It is necessary to drive/tram to go to a good restaurant/cafe and a large supermarket.

The evil mecca that is the Trafford centre is 5 mins in the car, as is Chorlton with all of it's little shops.

But what you get for that inconvience is a much more house for your money.

We spent £50,000 less than friends who bought at the same time and got a much bigger house and imho a much better local school.

Also in Chorlton there are also areas to avoid; Nell Lane and Chorlton Park (the council estate) can be a bit grim in parts.

Mummyisamonster · 29/01/2011 20:59

Right, that's decided it, I'm going to have a good look at Stretford! We're up at half term so I think I need to see it all for meself.

I'm never going to live in Chorlton, not that I could afford it and I don't really think it's 'me', aside from the fact that we decided fairly early on we liked Trafford for the schools...BUT I do like a nice cafe and 5 mins drive away is no bother.

...and I've fallen in lurve with a nice house....Grin

fenner · 29/01/2011 21:16

Mummuisamonster, one thing to bear in mind about Brooklands is that one side of the road is in Manchester and the other is in Trafford, which obviously has implications for school admissions.

Brooklands Primary is very highly thought of, but is oversubscribed. There were rumours last year at the toddler groups that children within the catchment area weren't getting places because demand is so high.

I guess it depends where in Brooklands you're looking it. There are some great primaries in or near Sale Moor village as well, if Brooklands Primary is out of the question.

I live very close to Derbyshire Road. It's a good area (but then I would say that, wouldn't I?)

Feel free to email me if you have any questions about specific roads, etc.

fenner · 29/01/2011 21:18

Oh wait, you meant Derbyshire Lane in Stretford - sorry.

Ohforfoxsake · 29/01/2011 22:18

You are very near me Fenner!

fenner · 29/01/2011 22:52

Really? I'm in SM village. My DS is in Templemoor.

Ohforfoxsake · 29/01/2011 23:12

Mine too!

fenner · 29/01/2011 23:29

Small world. Are you involved in FoT?

Ohforfoxsake · 29/01/2011 23:34

No, not yet. Are you? Won't say too much on here if you don't mind (I have a tendency to forget MN is the WWW so am always cagey!) by all means PM me. Smile

Ohforfoxsake · 29/01/2011 23:39

Don't get me wrong - it's not like I have anything to hide - I'm not that interesting! Grin

iskra · 30/01/2011 21:51

We're coming up this weekend to have a look at Stretford! A lot of houses in our budget are popping up southish of Humphrey Park & Trafford Park Rail - are those areas to be avoided & not worth viewing? I would love to be bored to death with information on the areas of Stretford to target...

Thanks for all the info given so far, posting from phone so excuse brevity.

BeehiveBaby · 31/01/2011 07:46

"A lot of houses in our budget are popping up southish of Humphrey Park & Trafford Park Rail - are those areas to be avoided & not worth viewing? I would love to be bored to death with information on the areas of Stretford to target..."

There are some beautiful houses there but the area changes character very quickly as you progress west and street by street within that. West of Park Rd is very 'grown up' and suburban, east is a bit grittier with more Victorian houses. East of the canal and north of Chester Road is Gorse Hill, the houses are smaller and you're very close to the football ground. Moss Pk, St Anns and Victoria Pk primary schools are well regarded but I sometimes feel that people move here with an eye on the grammar schools but no plan b IYSWIM. I'm hapy with the Catholic Secondary Modern on offer.

fenner · 31/01/2011 11:51

thentherewerethree, you asked a while ago about Knutsford. Are you looking for somewhere semi-rural?

If so, Poynton may be another place to consider that is closer and more convenient than Knutsford. It has a decent village (not as much going as some of the others, but it's OK), good rail and decent road links, and a comprehensive that is supposedly amazing. (Big, though.)

But I wouldn't advise checking it out unless you are loooking for something a bit more rural than Trafford, Manchester or Stockport.

Original poster
topsmart · 31/01/2011 19:37

Oh my word, this thread has exploded since I last visited! Hello to everyone.

Mummyisamonster, link to the house you like please!
Beehivebaby, tell me all that you know. Do your DC attend school(s) around seymour park? I v much doubt we'll end up getting a place for DD at either of the ones I liked (kings rd & seymour park), as sooooo oversubscribed and we don't think Trafford will shift us up the waiting list when we move. Probably manley park more likely: tell me now if this is a hideous option!

We're up again at the end of the week to pick a rental. No chance of us selling/buying in time for the March move. Will be looking in chorlton green (chinny reckon we'll afford it) but probably head north towards seymour park. 5 weeks to go people!! And smallerclanger I haven't even touched the clutter which needs to be decluttered! Partly because my flu turned into chest infection which led to badly bruised rib muscles from all the coughing... DH's car got towed when he went to get my pennicilin... Our luck is not good at the moment.

Off to visit our new FB page now, well done fox, jolly good idea.

OP posts:
tralalala · 31/01/2011 20:50

I know a few people with kids a Manley Park who really like it.

I wouldnt go to Our Ladys (next door catholic school) as heard it is a bit rubbish (may have changed)

Original poster
topsmart · 31/01/2011 21:43

Cheers tralala, that's good to know. Generally avoiding RC schools anyway as we're non-believing heathens. Your tip about nell lane is a good one, having been to see some houses down there! Though there was one lovely one with a treehouse... Was v tempted.

OP posts:
TheSecondComing · 31/01/2011 21:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thentherewerethree · 31/01/2011 23:54

fenner - thank you for that information, I've had Poynton recommended from a variety of sources now. I'm being quite indecisive about whether to go semi-rural or not. I love the idea of living in a quiet peaceful village with a real sense of community. But I don't want to have to drive everywhere (so if Poynton has decent rail links, that's a plus). I also want cafes to pass the time in during miserable winter weather, and want a variety of activities to entertain myself and DD - and I suspect these 'wants' are more compatible with city living than rural. Also we are in no hurry to buy, we prefer to rent for the next year or two and are concerned that if we go to a small village, there will not be enough rental stock for us to have choice. Seriously need to plan a trip up to look around, but that would require facing reality and I'd rather not!

fenner · 01/02/2011 09:48

TTWT, what's the situation with DD's schooling? Has she started yet?

I won't be saying anything here that isn't covered in Fox's fabulous thread from 09-10 (which, like a saddo I read last night despite the fact I'm not even moving Blush!) I guess it all depends on the relative weight you're giving to your different priorities. Throw schools into the mix and your options narrow somewhat. Or on the bright side, the search becomes more focussed.