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

[topsmart]

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!

The meet up at Sure Start is for mums with kids of any ages. Facilities there are great and everyone who has been to previous meets has been really friendly. The meet-ups at the Trafford Centre are more for mums with little babies but others are still welcome for a coffee and a natter. There is a face-book group 'Trafford netmums' which you can join to get updates on everything going on in the area.

Thanks Mrsmackie - that is really helpful .

Fenner - I have just remembered I am not around .

Thought not. (Let me know if you want an oveview of maths night. You missed the free wine and breadsticks, d'oh!)

bugger! I was going to go - but as soon as I left the grounds it went clean out of my mind.

Still, I'd have had too much wine, so probably for the best!

Thanks - will take you up on your offer (maybe over a bacon and egg barm)

meet-up on 22nd March

chat here

Dear All

My first post..I?m so pleased to see this thread..

I'll be moving up this year too as part of BBC move and with DD aged 8 and DS 6 Have just come back from a blustery weekend recce there with the kids. Took kids both to the Museum of Science and Industry and a Play centre in a Chorlton industrial estate ? you?ll all know which they enjoyed more. Low point was 20mins in Stockport bus station ? someone had told me that ?the Heatons? in Stockport were a must see/prime residential places to aim for so we did a little bus tour on Sunday morning ? ouch!

Have very mixed feelings after this weekend ? everyone I was speaking to re best places to live seems to be obsessed with Chorlton. The formula of space & money just doesn?t work there and I usually like living on the edges of places like that so I can experience it without paying for living in it. I was thinking about Whalley Range ? I think there are some nice bits with big houses (the way that I?m selling move to the kids) but people seem a bit unsure of that area. We also had a trip to Sale which feels greener but not sure if too suburban?! Any views/experiences?

Looking on here I see that Stretford seems to
be a destination. It looks like lots of you were heading up at half term ? anyone find a great place to live..?

Hi Annie, we've just returned from another recce as well, and are centering in on Stretford. You get more house for your money than Chorlton, but are close enough to its facilities, also within cycle commuting distance of the Quays. We found 2 good parks, Longford Park nearer Chorlton
friendsoflongfordpark.org.uk/
and Victoria Park in Stretford fovps.org.uk/

one of the vendors we spoke with near Victoria Park said there were good events there and usually an unofficial street party as well, all sounded good to us!

We are moving up in the summer with DDs 8 & 6, so would love to be your neighbours over in Stretford! We have native Mancunian friends whose friends live in Whalley Range, and we had it on our list too.

PS there is a facebook group for movers as well, Ohforfoxsake is running it, I'm sure she'll be over soon to let you know all about it (unless you have joined already!)

Hiya

Yet another partner of someone who works for the Beeb looking to move up north by the end of the year (no firm moving date given yet which isn't very helpful).

We have a seventeen month old boy who will be two by the time that we go, and we have been interested in the trafford area to move to. Went on the recce visit with my partner which I didn't find too helpful to be honest. The hotel was quite nice but I feel that they were trying to tell us where it would be nice for BBC folk to live rather than realistic info about an area.

So by the end of the year, we are looking for a new nursery for our lo, a new job for me, and of course a new place to live.

I feel a bit sick when I think about it all so would welcome any tips on nursery's, the trafford area in general (we have looked mainly at Sale and Altrincham)and the job market, which doesn't look too healthy for the field I work in (university researcher in social science. It would also be helpful just to hear from people who are also moving up / have moved up.

Has the facebook group been started, as I would also find that very useful. If someone could post the details I would be really grateful.

I'm from Liverpool originally and know that the move is probably the best for us as a family, but leaving London is certainly going to be a bit of a wrench

Thanks

Whalley Range has a poor reputation for schools. TBH, Manchester in general has a poor schools rep with the exception of one or two. Trafford and Stockport far better in terms of schools.

The Heatons are nice but if you thought Sale was too suburban then you'll def think the Heatons are.

Stretford is ok, a bit edgey, I guess but similar to Cholton in lots of ways just not so expensive.

I use to live in Altrincham. Nice town centre with good transport links.

Come to Monton or Worsley which are in Salford but you wouldn't know. Very green and some lovely houses.The commute to work is so much easier here than for people in South Manchester.

We drive to Chorlton to buy veg at the vegan supermarket and point at the Chorltonites. Wouldn't want to live there tho' scruffy and expensive. Sale makes me want to die, obviously pleasant but mostly suburban houses off a long main road.

If money was no object, I might still choose to live here. Otherwise somewhere lovely in the Peaks. I also like Altrincham as it's an actual place.

Do be aware that there is a cross-over from MN Anonymity to RL with FB (and RL within partner's work) so by all means PM me if you are concerned about this and to join. If your don't normally post on MN it's probably not an issue, but if you do you might want to keep the two separate.

rupaul, what are the secondary schools like around swinton/worsley/monton?

10 reasons to live in Monton:
5 mins from the Trafford Centre
High street with villagey feel
If you work in Manchester centre, you zip in on the M602 while everyone in South Manchester is crawling in.
Active community association - google monton for website
So close to motorway links to Chester/Liverpool and to the Lakes
Tram from Eccles just a few stops to Salford Quays
If you live in Salford you get discounts at the Lowry arts complex
Good primary schools, 2 good prep schools. If you're into private ed. there are school busses to the Manchester ones and also to Bury Grammar and Bolton School. Altho' not in Trafford, can sit Trafford exams
Loads of canalside/golf course/old train line walks
several good restaurants, deli etc

We used to live in Swinton. I liked Monton (and South Swinton, parts of which are in walking distance from Monton), and thought about moving there, but wasn't sure what we would do when DS finished primary.

re: High schools near Monton. The 3 Catholic secondary schools nearby are all good. The high schools are like any others, our local one is quite mixed in its intake. As I said there is the option to enter the trafford grammar exams and plenty of private schools nearby.

I've lived in Chorlton for 6 years and love it. Before that I was in Didsbury. Chorlton's a fantastic place to raise children and there's a real community vibe. The schools are excellent. Chorlton Park Primary is rated 'Outstanding' by OFSTED. Property isn;t cheap, but the M21 market is very stable and has so far withstood the falling property prices that other areas have experienced. I've worked in TV and the Arts in Manchester for the past 10 years and am from Buckinghamshire. Manchester's a great city with real quality of life. The weather;s a bit rubbish though!

Hello, another Mancunian here who works in TV. I live in a flat in the city centre at the moment but as I've recently had a baby, we're hoping to move out to a house in Urmston at some point in the future.

I lived in Urmston when I was younger and can recommend it to any families moving up from London. It's easy to get to Salford Quays for work as you can go through Trafford Park which is normally pretty fast moving even in rush hour. It was a great place to grow up as there are great schools (still has the 11plus system) and lots of meadowland surrounding it which was great to explore on our bikes! Its even better for kids now as there is The Trafford Centre which has cinema, bowling alley, arcade etc and there is also the JJB soccerdome, and the indoor ski centre. The town centre has just been redeveloped with a new sainsburys, library and new precinct. There are some lovely parks there with tennis courts, basketball courts, bowling greens, kids play areas etc. and a sports centre with a nice swimming pool. Chassen park even has a miniature steam railway which takes children and parents for a ride round the park! (Ahh the memories ) There are regular buses and the train takes you to the city centre in about 15 minutes.

It's a bit less bohemian than chorlton but also cheaper. There are still plenty of little cafe's, pubs and restaurants but it's not as trendy as chorlton and definitely more family orientated. Chorlton has a lot of postgraduates living in house shares whereas Urmston is mainly families.

Feel free to message me if anyone has any questions about any areas. I've lived in Manchester all my life so I know it pretty well.

We've had an offer accepted on a house in Stretford

Ooh congrats Iskra!

We are currently staying in a hotel in the city centre. Moved out of London flat last Monday, now awaiting keys for new place - planning to rent it while we buy it. If you see what I mean! All a bit complicated but easier than renting then moving again when we buy. Just hope the survey doesn't throw up anything horrible!

Hi there
Can I offer my welcomes to Salford/Manchester to you all!
I'm an "adopted Northerner" - Born in Surrey, grew up in Gloucestershire and went to University in London BUT, I've lived in Salford for 23 years now and I'm really happy here!

I know Chorlton, Sale etc are really popular, but I want to put in a plea for Salford too. Please don't discount it before you've looked around! People have mentioned Worsley and Monton but there is also Ellesmere Park (area of very large Victorian houses near Monton) and Roe Green which is pretty and has a very pleasant village feel. I live on Eccles New Road at the Eccles end. I love it. I have a really large 3 double bedroom flat that only cost £100 grand and a tram stop on my doorstep. I can walk into Eccles in less than 10 minutes.

Areas of Salford have their problems, true, and not all of it is beautiful, but I'm really happy here.

Anyway - I hope you all find the right places for you.

That sounds a bit hectic topsmart! How have DC adjusted to hotel living? Which area did you finally settle on?

sarahfreck, I've heard nice things about bits of Salford too! DP's going to be working at Salford Royal so we thought it might be a little too close to work for us if you know what I mean.

It has been, yep! Muchos paperwork to complete. We printed everything in triplicate so that DD (age 4) could 'fill out her forms too'. In bright pink pen, naturally. Hotel was fine actually - we stayed in a great apart-hotel in city centre which we've been to before. I made sure to pack a box of her toys, DVDs and books (old and new). And we made it into a little Manchester holiday! Ate out, swam at the Aquatics centre, went to museums. It's been lovely. Now's the horrible unpacking bit - am surrounded by piles of stuff!

Iskra. I live round the corner from Salford Royal! (Not that I work there!) Lots of hospital employees park in our road (grrrrr) because the staff car park is expensive!