Moving to West Yorkshire

[isthatpoisontoo]

After months of scrimping and stress, DP and I managed to get a mortgage for our house, previously owned by him and his ex-wife. Much rejoicing followed, and we started planning our wedding (in February), decided to try for a baby, and I secretly started choosing nursery decor.

DP has just been offered his dream job. I'm really happy for him, but... It's in Wakefield.

Part of me wants to say that if he wants it, he can just commute, but when I'm at home with the baby I'll probably care more about having him home before 8pm. If I'm going to sell my house and move, I'd rather do it now than when I'm pregnant.

We're looking for places to live around Wakefield that would allow us to port the mortgage, so up to about PS125,000. We live in Greater Manchester atm, and we love that it's diverse, cosmopolitan, etc, but we're also close to the countryside.

Are there nice areas in Leeds we could buy for this budget? There are some lovely houses in the villages between Leeds and Wakefield, does anyone have any input on what it's like to live there? I grew up in an East Yorkshire market town, and struggled with the small town mentality. DP has only ever lived in Manchester and London, he's always shocked to discover that in some places the restaurants stop serving at 10pm and the shops close late afternoon! Am I mad to think we could settle outside the city?

I'd really appreciate any advice.

Look at the villages a small towns in the triangle between Barnsley, Wakefield and Huddersfield. Places like Penistone, Holmfirth, Shepley, Denby Dale, Honley, Emley - basically the postcodes HD8, HD9 and S36 and parts of WF4. We moved here for convenience 15 years ago with no DC. We now have 2 DC and couldn't imagine living anywhere else. It is a very good balance of reasonable house prices/ good schools/transport links and villagey countryside, but with access to several towns and cities.

And the m1 Wakefield to Leeds roadworks are due to finish next month!!!! (have been bane of my life for last 3 years!).

DH works in Wakey - takes him 15 mins on a good day. I work in Leeds City Centre - 45 mins on s good day.

Wakefield is a city, albeit a fairly pathetic one, but certainly comparable to Stockport. I wouldn't rule out living in Wakefield itself if you like cityish living. I don't know it desperately well, but first area I would look at is round Thornes Park - greenish, big nice park, walkable to city centre, lots of Edwardian/Victorian property with 2/3 bed terraces probably on budget. I know there is at least a Methodist primary school with a good reputation and it's built up enough that you have some aspect of being able to express a preference for a school. Once you get further out there is basically one school per village, like it or lump it. The other place I quite like in Wakefield itself is St Johns. Again there is attractive housing stock and walkable to city centre.

Wakefield is a bit of a rough place at nights towards the weekend for some reason. Tons more drunks milling the streets than, for instance, Huddersfield. But there are shops open late and lots of places to eat. Leeds on the train is only a few minutes and there are buses back until quite late. The Hepworth is a nice venue, primarily a gallery but has some good bits and pieces going on. There's a decentish little theatre too.

Though also think HD8 if you could motorbike into Wakefield as all the pretty much all the schools enjoy a good reputation. Just did a quick search to see what your budget might get.
HD8

If anything looks interesting can probably tell you which villages have shops etc and which have nothing!

Woodlesford is lovely (but I am biased!). Especially near the canal. There is a train station near the canal that gets into Leeds city centre in 10 mins. The houses are fairly reasonably priced and it feels village like. It's also very close to the M1 and M62 (15 mins drive into Wakefield centre)

Sounds like you live near me mysteryfairy.

Also happy to advise OP.

Grew up in Huddersfield and love going back. Some grotty bits but soon out into lovely countryside. Some very diverse properties and great pubs/restaurants. Great for commuting to Leeds and Manchester .

BikeRunSki - I think I might as I remember buying a poster of the mast on your recommendation! It's fab btw so thanks for that!

Ah yes!! That lady has done one of Denby Dale viaduct too now.

Ooh so she has! And one of castle hill too! Thanks for the heads up...

You could look in the S75 postcode area as well.
bikerunski those roadworks have lasted forever. Sadly they now run from jct36 southbound forever and give me grief on my commute to Sheffield.

Oh yes, I forgot S75.

Oh poo Bunbaker the Barnsley- Sheffield road works must be over soon!!!! I go that way fairly often too.

I already suggested s75, just a bit subtly!!! We don't want everyone knowing how lovely it is here [sgrin]

Sorry, as namechanges says, the M62 is not regularly closed due to snow, but it is very congested and I've been on it many times when I wished it was!
I have relatives in S75 and it seems a very cheap but lovely place to live, with great links, tho' one is struggling with the Barnsley-Sheffield commute in rush hour. (Apologies to PPs who are try to keep it a secret!)

Wow, thank you everyone, the postal areas are very useful! They've thrown up useful search results already, and we'll go have a look around. I might try to grill you on specific areas afterwards! I hadn't realised that some of these areas were in commuting distance, but looking it up, you're absolutely right.

Mysteryfairy I live in Stockport, but my only interactions with it are my local train station, the swimming pool, and the doctor's surgery. It's as easy to get into Manchester as to get to Stockport centre. It seems like I could recreate that for Leeds with some of the places you're talking about. I think I'll risk the sense of humour, Teeny.

Definitely going to look into Huddersfield, but am feeling particularly enthusiastic about Woodlesford. Glen, I shall organise looking at a new build, too, DP will be pleased. I like the idea of somewhere that doesn't need any work!

Thanks for the idea about an intensive course, Unwilling. He's got to pass his test within 12 months for work, but I'm not sure about becoming a 2 car household. Most of the places suggested could be biked from, I think? Good idea about testing out the commute. Given what it's like getting around Manchester, I think we can both live with a bit of congestion.

Thank you all for being so helpful, you've given me lots of places to explore.

If yiu ate going to look at Huddersfield as well as the other places suggested check out HD3, which is not far from both in 24 and 23 of the M62.
There are quite a few new builds going up around here.

Sorry glen

I live between Wakefield and Leeds. I grew up in Wakefield.

We live in a new build on a estate that still has house being built on it.

Really near junction 41 so great for commuting. About a 15 min drive in to Leeds and same for Wakefield. There are some really good schools here too.

Robin Hood, woodlesford, lofthouse, outwood are all great areas.

Was just messing bike! My smiley went a bit wrong. Sorry, please don't think I was being stroppy

I live in Wakefield. There are some great areas around Wakefield.
I live in a village called Altofts and you would easily get a house in budget. Good local amenities, nice walks from the door and great transport links. You can get a train to Leeds in 20 mins and drive to the centre of Wakefield in 10 mins.
My dh currently works in Manchester and stays there during the week as the commute is awful. The m62 becomes a carpark.

I'm in Wakefield and prefer it to Leeds, it's much cheaper and less bearded hipsters! Would recommend Lofthouse, outwood for easy commute, Huddersfield is lovely and surrounding areas are very pretty. Transport links are very good between Wakefield, Huddersfield and Leeds but the early morning commute between Leeds and Manchester is awful (both trains and motorway).

Would you consider moving very close to Wakefield, so the commute is easy and then if you wanted to settle you would be able to look around and make an informed choice? You like the amenities of a city, but it's much easier to get into the city in the evening and at weekends for pleasure and not have to face a daily battle with the traffic.
The countryside around Wakefield is very nice and the weather is better than nearer the Pennines. My life in the winter seemed to be dominated by the fear that I wouldn't either get to work, or get home, or get my kids home because of snow. The nearer you are to a main road, the better in terms of gritting and road clearing.

I didn't think you were being stroppy glen . There are no stroppy people in BarnHuddWakey.

Thing thing is, discogeek, I rather like bearded hipsters! I also like craft beer, vintage clothes shops, veggie cafes, and that place in Manchester where you can help yourself to lots of different sorts of breakfast cereal. So maybe I should be looking for areas of high hipster density?

I have added Altofts to the list, thank you uggmum.

I know what you mean about the weather, teeny. Manchester is rainy, but it's rare we have really problematic weather. I think I might prioritise being close to a train station, and not get too far into the countryside, so keep transport easy. The Woodlesford/Lofthouse/Robin Hood kind of areas, I think. I'm kind of tempted to just find somewhere (anywhere!) in Wakefield to rent, just so that we're not trying to sell a house, plan a wedding and start a new job all at once.

Wish me luck tomorrow! I don't know what I'll do if we finish our tour of possible areas the DP says he doesn't like any of them.

You would love Leeds!!

Outwood is good. There is a bus that goes along the main road that goes between Leeds and Wakefield, every 10 minutes.

Outwood is really accessible.

Quite a few good primaries.

I live about 2 mile out of outwood. Would move back in a heart beat if I didn't love my house so much

We've got a brewery that does craft beer and has part of it opens as an industrial chic pub staffed by bearded hipsters!!!!!