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Original poster

Bath outskirts on a budget, any help please?

91 replies

GuyMartinsSideburns · 07/01/2015 13:27

Do and I are finally able to start looking to buy our first ever house, having lived in council properties for over a decade. We can't afford Bath, the ex council house 5 doors down recently went for £220,000 and our budget is more like £180,000 at the most so we're looking to move a few miles out.

Dh needs to commute to Saltford to work, and we need 3 beds at least. Now from my hours spent on Rightmove I guess I'm going to be looking at Radstock, Trowbridge etc however I don't know much about these areas (I'm not from here) except from the small bits I've read on here when others looking for property. There weren't exactly glowing reviews, however I've read the offsted reports for what are the local schools and theyre good. I'd like to be in a small town/village location I think but I also don't want the kids to have nothing to do when a bit older. I don't mind moving somewhere a bit further for a nicer house, I've seen one I really like the look of in Trowbridge but again I don't know the area. Ideally I'd like to be able to walk the children to primary school, and be on a bus route for when they go to secondary.

I like Frome, but don't think we can afford it except for the new town house style houses however an acquaintance lives in one and says it very small, they had problems getting their furniture in etc. ideally we'd like to not live on an estate anymore.

I like the little miners cottages, the only thing I don't like about them is that a lot of them have downstairs bathrooms but I guess there might be scope to build a double story extension at some point and put a bathroom upstairs? I don't know what I should be looking at/thinking about etc I've read that having a downstairs bathroom may make the house difficult to sell in the future?

Any opinions on Paulton? I've only driven through it once lol

Sorry this is so long, none of my friends actually own property so I don't really have anyone to bounce ideas off and ask for information.

Thanks very much for any help/advice, or ideas of other places to look.

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Original poster
GuyMartinsSideburns · 08/01/2015 20:12

Yes I did think Bradford on Avon would be out of our price range really.

Primrose - I agree with you about the towns on the Somerset side, they are the ones we'd most like to move to. Hopefully we can find somewhere we'll like!

I'm pleased to read that Trowbridge isn't as bad as it may have used to have been (God does that even make sense?) the area I live in now has quite a reputation, but this was from when it was a real dive about 20 years ago. The buses wouldn't come through the estate apparently, and nor would taxi drivers etc. I guess mud sticks!

Dh would be driving to work so we don't need to worry too much about rail links.

So on my list to consider is Radstock, Trowbridge, Wells, Frome (not quite so likely, looking at the prices) Paulton.

Anyone know of any areas to definitely avoid in these places?

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littlerach · 08/01/2015 20:21

Trowbridge has got a lot better in the last few years. The cinema complax has meant that there's stuff to do at night and fees a lot more community mided. TheTown Hall has arts and culture most months and there's loads of stuff to do with small children.
Bradford isn't far to go for more rural things.
Frome had a really dodgy reputation when I moved here (12 years ago) and I htink there are areas there to avoid.
I moved here from Bath and whilst it is nowhere near Bah level of living, it has enough for da to day life.
I wouldn't live in Radstock, Peasdown, Midsummer kind of places - only as I've had friends live there who found it very isolated.
Wells is lovely (from what I remember) but I don't know what it is like ot love there.

Original poster
GuyMartinsSideburns · 08/01/2015 20:31

The area in wells I mentioned is Haybridge, any thoughts?

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Original poster
GuyMartinsSideburns · 08/01/2015 20:34

Littlerach thanks that's helpful. I did wonder how isolated radstock might be, I've only driven through it rather than see what's really about. I don't need the Bath thing, I'd be quite content with a lot less. Day to day sounds ideal Smile

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Kitsmummy · 08/01/2015 21:22

I've just moved from that side of Wells. Haybridge is fine, I looked at a house there, but it really is just a road, that's all, nothing else. Wells and surrounding areas are all naice though and the Blue school is a great school

Kitsmummy · 08/01/2015 21:23

Ps I do find Radstock a real dump, have you actually seen the town centre? Midsomer Norton is better

RiojaHaze · 08/01/2015 21:37

Paxcroft and Hilperton are nice new areas in Trowbridge and the primary schools there are good too.

Original poster
GuyMartinsSideburns · 08/01/2015 21:41

Kitsmummy thanks, Haybridge reminds me of areas where I grew up, I think that's why I like it Grin plus the centre isn't too far to walk/drive. I like that separation between the two.

No I haven't seen Radstock town centre, I take it there isn't much going on then lol

I'm glad to be getting more of an idea now though, thanks for all the comments.

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Original poster
GuyMartinsSideburns · 08/01/2015 21:42

Thanks Rioja I'll take that into account.

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KingJoffreyObviouslyWatchesHol · 08/01/2015 21:43

I live on Broadmead in Trowbridge.

Has it's own primary school, fields (some of my neighbours are cows), pond, a little Tesco and a nice chip shop (bloody handy sometimes). DS walks to secondary school nearby.

We have a 3 bedroom, 3 reception roomed house with a garage and garden which cost £176K just over a year ago.

Original poster
GuyMartinsSideburns · 08/01/2015 21:51

What's it like around pitman court area? I need to visit Trowbridge again for a good look around. Last time I went it was for the new look maternity section Grin

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KingJoffreyObviouslyWatchesHol · 08/01/2015 21:57

Pittman Court is a nice area. Nice and close to the college.

I'd personally avoid the Manor Road area/Studley Green estate and the Longfield Estate. Neither are areas I'd walk around after dark. They might be fine now, though.

RiojaHaze · 08/01/2015 22:00

Agree with KingJoffrey, also avoid the Seymour road area by the hospital.

Original poster
GuyMartinsSideburns · 08/01/2015 22:00

That's helpful, thanks.

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littlesupersparks · 08/01/2015 22:02

Hilperton, Staverton, Paxcroft Mead all desirable areas of Trowbridge. The new development at Castle
Mead has a brand new primary school. It's not perfect but I wouldn't immediately discount it that's all - you get a lot of house and garden for your money!

MrsEricBana · 08/01/2015 22:09

What about somewhere more villagey like Marksbury - easy drive to Saltford, nice village school etc?

larry5 · 08/01/2015 22:10

I live in Midsomer Norton and love living here. We moved down from the SE eight years ago particularly because of the secondary schools - dd went to Norton Hill. Everybody is very friendly and it is lovely having the river flowing through the centre of town.

There is a lot of building going on around the area so if all the new houses get built it could be that the ex-miners cottages get cheaper - well that is what dd hopes as she is hoping to buy in the next year!

Paulton has a very large estate being built at the moment and I think there are various deals available.

hubbabubba81 · 08/01/2015 22:20

I feel I have to defend Trowbridge, as a girl who originates from Bath but moved to Trowbridge a few years ago. I also have family in Saltford and Bristol.

I was a tad snobbish about moving to Trowbridge having grown up in Bath, but I can honestly say I love it here now! Bath has changed so much (for the worst, in my opinion), and it is too expensive for many young families to buy property there. Trowbridge has a lot going for it, and it is developing all the time. Yes, there are unpleasant areas, but don't all towns/cities have these?

Saltford tends to be quite pricey but it is a lovely little village, with a great community feel. Have you considered the journey time for your husband, if you did move to Trowbridge/Frome?

hubbabubba81 · 08/01/2015 22:23

Apologies, I have just read all the positive comments about good old Trowbridge! Holbrook Park is also a lovely area (10 mins walk to Home Bargains/B and M!)

RiojaHaze · 08/01/2015 22:29

Trowvegas Wink

Original poster
GuyMartinsSideburns · 08/01/2015 22:30

Hubbabubba I completely agree. I fear I'm letting the snobbish side of me take over when it comes to all this even though I have no actual real basis for that except others opinions! And I'm a fine one to talk, considering I live in one of the crappier areas of Bath Grin

It's hard to know what I should be basing my decisions on, having never done this before. Do I go for more peace and quiet, which I love though might suck for the kids as they get older, or somewhere not as secluded and busier? One minute I think I'm settled on an area and will aim to concentrate on that, the next I think I'm after something else. How do you know?!

Really don't think we could do saltford, have been looking there for ages. Dh isn't too worried about the journey time from the areas we're looking at, he can start and finish work to miss the worst of the traffic etc.

Thanks again for everyone's help x

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hubbabubba81 · 08/01/2015 23:12

Trowvegas Wink

Guymartins, have you thought about visiting the areas you are considering? You might get that 'feeling' that an area is right for you. At least you are not restricted by your husband's commute (it takes my husband 30 mins, on a good day, to commute to Bath).

You ask about whether it is best to move to a busier or quieter area, and I can't really give you an answer on that one, but I will say that there is a good transport links here, and it is only 20mins to Bath on the train. You could have the best of both worlds! All the best in your search x FlowersFlowers

KingJoffreyObviouslyWatchesHol · 08/01/2015 23:15

DP used to drive to Bath for work too.

Was about 30 minutes, even in rush hour. So not too bad.

GuybrushThreepwoodMightyPirate · 08/01/2015 23:19

As a PP said, Haybridge is pretty much just a road, not even a corner shop afaik. That may not bother you though?

Original poster
GuyMartinsSideburns · 09/01/2015 08:11

We're going to have a drive around this weekend and check these places out properly,we're going to view the place in Wells. I really can't decide if the fact theres nothing nearby is good or not. Ideal for me (if money was no object I'd live in a cottage on Bodmin in the middle of nowhere) but maybe not so much for the family. I'm going to have a good look tomorrow re walking to shops etc. The house here only has 3 bedrooms, but the schools are good. Looking at the floor plan and the land I'm not sure we could extend in the future. I need to find out about attic space. It does have parking though, and a garage. It's on a terrace.

There's a house in Trowbridge I really like the look of. It's close to the pitman court area I mentioned, and has 4 bedrooms so I'd never have to move again. It doesn't have parking, but as mentioned is close to the college and hopefully good enough schools nearby, and obv a bit more going on nearby. Terraced.

I've also found a house in Midsomer norton that looks nice, has parking but only 3 bedrooms but I think there's a better chance of extending this one at some point. Can't recall but it's either detached or semi.

If only I had a million billion pounds! How easy this would be. Oh I have another question for the trowbridgers - good doctors surgery, dentist?

Also one in Paulton I like the look of, we're hoping to see that next week. 3 bed though.

Have been looking at the more villagey areas but don't think we could get much on our budget. Maybe something to look towards in the future. Where do you think would benefit the children the most? I guess that's what I need to consider.

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