Would you buy in Muswell Hill now?

[emanuela]

Hi,

we are looking to buy a house in North London. We would like something with plenty of green, a villagey feel and not too far from the tube (but this is not essential as we go to work by moped).

Muswell Hill seems to tick most of the boxes, but the real issue is the new incinerator that they might build not too far from there (Pinkham Wood). Many people don't know about it, but it would be one of the largest in Europe, it would probably be smelly, traffic in Muswell HIll would increase substantially, etc.

Are there any Muswell Hill mothers here who can tell me what they think? Are you worried about the incinerator? Are you considering moving because of that?

As we don't have to buy there, I don't know whether to forget about the area and look in Tufnell Park (much more urban, no nice parks, but then the Heath is not too far) or ignore the problem.

I would be extremely grateful if you could help with this.

Muswell Hill carries a huge premium because of the schools (Fortismere in particular, but primaries as well). So if you don't need to be in the catchment area of a particular school, you'd probably get more for your money elsewhere.

Thanks, we are not interested in being in the catchment area for any particular school as both the children are sorted in terms of schools.

Where do you suggest to move (somewhere nice, green, vibrant?). We currently live in Dartmouth Park (renting) but houses in the street and surroundings go for 2.5-3m which is well above our budget.

I used to live in the Whitehall Conservation area,which is urbany,but has Waterlow Park and Highgate up the road which is villagey.

Hi crazynanna, there are a couple of houses for sale in Whitehall Park (the street). I went to have a look at them and the location seems a bit remote (ie no village around at all).

The alternative would be a house in Hampstead (border, the various Estelle, Roderick, Mackeson roads for those who know what I am talking about). Not especially villagey, but not too far from South End Green. The gardens there are so tiny though (and they are also quite expensive).

I thought about Golders Green, but it is not exactly villagey, although gardens are larger and you can often find off-street parking.

It is very tough.

What about East Finchley? Villagey feel, Cherry Tree woods, fantastic cinema. Also close to tube, short bus ride to Highgate woods, Waterlow Park, Hampstead Heath. Walking distance to Muswell Hill too.

Hi Beanbeany. We did think about East Finchley. Also there, I am quite concerned about the rubbish incinerator. Do you live in the area? What do you think about it? I walked around in Muswell Hill/East Finchley and I asked people and nobody seems to know anything about it.

Lived there a long time ago but have friends there and I don't think they know anything about the incinerator. Also have friends closer still to Pinkham Way and I'm pretty sure they don't know either. Can you stay where you are for a bit longer and keep an eye on developments? It might come to nothing. Personally I'd probably take the risk. The noise/air pollution around Tufnell Park, for example, are, in my opinion, far worse than in East Finchley or Muswell Hill anyway. But I loved living in EF and was there for many years so I'm biased! Also lived in Golders Green and thought it was OK. It's bigger so felt less villagey. But close to Hampstead again and there's a nice park - can't remember the name of it but it has an aviary and nice cafe!

Thanks, you are referring to Golders Hill Park, I guess. I will wait and see. Tufnell Park seems much less safe than MH or EF. I like the various Brim Hill/Bancroft Avenue/Deansway/Abbots Gardens. Big gardens, quiet roads, family friendly.

Will go and have a look at the area again, it does meet many of my criteria.

Thanks for all your help, mumsnet is great!

Golders Hill Park, that's it!

I don't know those roads so well. I was more "in the thick of it" around the High Road area which I liked because there's a real community feel. Or you could try equidistant between MH and EF - roads off Creighton Avenue like Church Vale, Beech Drive, Twyford Avenue - you'd be closer to the buzz of both areas there but those roads have bigger houses and are relatively quiet. Would be £££s though.

Good luck, anyway.

If you don't mind heading east how about Victoria Park Village - the name says it all! And it's not to far from Mile End and Bethnal Green tube stations either.

Hi 3become4,

unfortunately the children go to school in Highgate and Hampstead, so Victoria Park might be too far. Pity, it sounds nice...

What about Crouch End? Near MH also with nice green space and very child friendly?

If their schools are near the overland line that would be easy as Victoria Park is also near Homerton station.

I'm very concerned to hear what you said about the incinerator - we are about to move to Muswell Hill and plan to stay there for good. Is the plan definite and do you think it will really affect the quality of life in Muswell Hill?

Hi MarianneM,

I think it is really terrible. It will be the third largest in Europe, with hundreds of rubbish trucks going up Colney Hatch Lane. We had seen a lovely house in Muswell Avenue, but there is a risk that the trucks will go from there as well. Have you bought or are you renting? If renting, you can just move. If you bought, I hope it is as far as possible. Have a look at this link. www.pinkhamwayincinerator.blogspot.com/

I come from a town (in another country) where there was something similar (it closed in 1990). The incidence of leukemia in my town was (and is) 6 times higher than normal thanks to that incinerator. My husband's sister died of non hodgkin's lymphoma (in another country, nothing to do with the incinerator)

So, call me a nimby, but I will not live close to that thing. Full stop.

As I said, have a look at the link, the planning permission has been put in, it will be approved in October-November.

Good luck, I am paranoid, many people are totally fine with it.

i'd say Hampstead Garden Suburb or Crouch End.

The incinerator is going to be miles away from Muswell Hill proper though, it's out on the North Circular, near the hell that is Clown Town.

Hi AgonyBeetle. The incinerator will be around 1 mile from the Broadway, which is not far enough for me. I know somebody who pulled out of buying a house in Wellfield Avenue (off Dukes Avenue) because of that.

But then, as I said, I am paranoid about this issue in particular. Do you live in the area? Are you worried?

Yy, I know where it is, roughly. But it really isn't that close to the nice bits of Muswell Hill.

I'm a bit further away, so less affected. And as I said, I wouldn't pay the Mussie Hill premium unless I wanted the schools, tbh. But I find MH a bit suburban, whereas it sounds as if you want to be further out than Tufnell Park. Try the nice bits of East Finchley, though that would be about the same distance from the north circular, ie the proposed incinerator site.

There is a lot of concern in MH about the proposals for the waste plant. It is not going to be an incinerator and the planning permission will not be able to be approved without public consultation, so more people will become aware of the plans.

There is already a large action group against the proposals.
It is actually going to be on a piece of land that lies behind MH golf course, going up to the north circular, by the roundabout on the exit from the retail park where McDonalds is (not by Tesco/Clown Town) so it will have an effect on quite a lot of MH and all the residential areas right up to Bounds Green tube station.
Sorry AgonyBeetle but most people don't think MH is just the roads around the Broadway, so it will effect lots of people.
Most are really concerned about the traffic, as well as smells/polution/health issuse.
I don't think it would stop me buying at the moment, but as AB said you will be paying a current price premium caused by the schools in MH. I would probably look on the south side of MH going down the hill, ( most of which is out of catchment for Fortismere) towards Crouch End, its still really green near Queens and Highgate wood and Ali Pally grounds and you can then choose to shop in MH or Crouch End.

Have a look at www.pinkhamwayalliance.org
I own a house in Muswell Hill and am extremely worried about the proposed plans. Also Google the bgra (Bounds Green Residents' Association). Anyone who lives in the area should be active in writing to their MPs etc or we are likely to find ourselves in a very nasty situation. 7 boroughs' worth of rubbish (with the capacity for more) will be brought to the site at the bottom of the golf course. Fumes, smells and hundreds of rubbish trucks in an already very trafficy area. No incinerator at the moment, but the option to build one there eventually is written in to the plans.

Hi, thanks a lot for all your answers. I have looked at the various websites, etc and the situation is grim if it happens (and it seems that it will..).

While mh is nice, we don't have to live there and we don't want to risk it as there will always be the possibility that, if rejected now, it will go ahead in the future.

So, we will look elsewhere.

Good luck to all the mh people, the fact that it is at this stage is incredible. No power to people I guess...

For anyone looking up this now old thread it's worth pointing out that the plans for the Pinkham Way Incinerator were shelved after a fantastic campaign by the people of Muswell Hill and surrounding areas.

I think this shows more than anything what a great community there is in Muswell Hill and I couldn't recommend it highly enough as a place to live and bring up children.