Moving to Derbyshire, considering Alfreton

[GeorgiePie92]

Hello everyone, I'm wondering if anyone can offer any advice. Me and my husband are looking to move to Derbyshire and buy a house, we are considering Alfreton. I guess in some ways we have extremely specific needs as we are both visually impaired, so transport is of huge important to us. We have obviously googled the area, and we are coming up to visit it next weekend but we have no idea of its merits or downfalls as it were. We don't have a huge deposit to play with and we are looking at newbuilds which narrows the search down considerably. We are very excited about these houses as they look gorgeous, but my mother-in-law isn't entirely sure about the area and would rather us move to Dronfield I very much liked the look of dronfield when we visited the only problem is that they have no newbuilds available, and we need that as we are looking to get a house using the help to buy scheme. My parents live in South East London and Alfreton look like a great place as it was only a few hours at the very most in the car , so we are looking for any advice on the area if people know it. Thanks in advance x .

Ignore me Georgie! Once you've done a visit come back and tell us what you thought, it will be interesting to hear

I can't see a map at all, so that was an absolutely fantastic description. 😊 I will have a look in those areas and see if any new houses are due to be built, and what the transport for us is like. Thank you x

I think it's Woodlinkin on the a610 outside Ripley.

It is! Woodlinkin, not Woodhouse. Idiot. I wish I could tell you I'm pissed but I'm not.

😆

I’m not sure what your budget it but there are some new build/renovated 2 bedroom cottages that have just come on the market in Dronfield which are about 5 minutes walk from the train station and on a main bus route.

Dronfield is ideally located to travel to Sheffield and Chesterfield on both bus and train and has some fab schools and nurseries.

Dronfield is a really lovely place to live. Coal Aston and Eckington are all great too and five minutes away. But Dronfield is best for transport because of the train station. Alfreton isn’t that bad it’s a good 30 minutes drive from Dronfield , this end feels more towards Sheffield whereas Alfreton is more towards Derby.

Yes 😍 The last time I visited we saw the cottages being built, they are absolutely lush. Unfortunately our maximum is about 180,000. And it has to be a new build as that is the only way we will get the help to buy scheme. Even if worst case scenario we nove to Alfreton, and end up not liking it as much as we thought we would there is always the opportunity for us to move, I think it will be easier when we are then based in Derbyshire as it is easier to get to the different places we are interested in, and we also have a foot up on the property ladder. I had a conversation with my parents this evening about moving, they aren't 100% happy about it as we will be moving obviously about an hour Further away from where we are now, so it will take about a maximum of three hours for them to drive to us. My mum is also allergic to our guide dogs doesn't make life easy as she won't go to the doctors and get a prescription for antihistamines, but I guess that is a different situation entirely... just means that they won't ever stay for longer than a night . So I think my mum is very worried that she won't get to see any future grandchildren... which kind of renders my whole argument of that when we move they can stay, and they will get to spend quality time with any of our children completely pointless. Bloody families! Obviously I know we need to do what is best for us, but it is always nice to have people on board and supporting your decisions. I really do appreciate everybody's comments and local knowledge X

Hi again you've had some really good advice here on this board. Happy house hunting this weekend. From what you have said I think that Chesterfield would be a good option for you. Chesterfield is on the main line for trains so relatively easy to get to Sheffield and London from there.
I'm going to put a bid in for Tupton in Chesterfield. Cheaper houses, very very friendly people, buses very regularly going to town and clay cross (which has a small high street with tesco, aldi, a nice marstons pub) .
Anyhow, good luck house hunting this weekend and again feel free to message for further tips. I am happy to speak on phone also if you prefer.

I was also going to suggest Belper. Good transport links and train station. I used to live nearby and towards Belper was always seen as the posher side, while towards Ripley/Alfreton was always seen as the rougher areas.

I love Belper, miss it lots.

I asked DH as he grew up near there. He said maybe look at South Normanton as it's pretty well as near Alfreton station, and a bit better connected.
We drive to SE London a lot, he thinks it would be the best part of four hours from that area. There are a lot of roadworks on the M1, and more to come!

We used to live in south Normanton. It's a pretty big 'village' with next to no shops...certainly not high street! It has a small co-op, take aways and a Nisa I think. The Hub has a library, pre school, a cafe and adult education centre. It's not too far from alfreton train station and even handier for the m1. Desirability wise, it's probably on a par with alfreton but without all the amenities.

Alfreton has a large, new leisure centre, a primary care centre, a small bus station, a huge Tesco plus the shops in town.

Is there a particular reason you're set on Alfreton?

Is it worth considering areas between Derby and Nottingham, or are you set on being more Sheffield way?

Hi there,
I think the comments you have had to be wary of alfreton are something to take on board. I love fairly local and o am also an estate agent (a nice one!) but means I have s fairly good idea of the areas. I've had friends had to buy out of dronfield due to house prices. They are considerably higher than chesterfield let alone alfreton. The poster saying Tupton would be good has the right idea... and surrounding villages are good for local amenities and transport. If I can be of any help... please let me know. I've lived and worked in the area all my life. Good luck with your search I know how difficult it can be! 💐

Hello everyone, thank you so much for all of your comments on this topic, we went to visit Alfreton last weekend, and had a look round the new development and the show homes. I would say everyones comments about the town of Alfreton is probably a fair and accurate description. It has everything you need, the buses are very good, and best of all they talk! Which is fabulous for us obviously not being able to see which stop we are at. It is very quiet on a sunday, and I guess it isn't the most affluent of places, however the houses are absolutely gorgeous, the street is off of the main road and slightly out of the town which gives it a residential feel, and it is a stones throw away from the train station and the bus stop :) We have seen a couple of outstanding schools in the area, and it is definitely a fantastic step up on the ladder for us, I'm not sure that it will necessarily be our forever home, but we are in the area and then have better prospects for moving up the property ladder when we're actually on it. So they say it comes in threes, I'm in the last year of my course, and TTC so you never know might even fall pregnant as well lol. I really do appreciate everyones comments, it has helped us to make an informed decision about our future home. It is the first time I have posted on here so I am so pleased that I did as you have all been really friendly and helpful. It is going to be a very scary but exciting time, especially because I don't know hardly anyone in the area, but I guess when we have a baby I will be able to go to groups and hopefully make a few friends that way. xx

Ah that's great to hear. It's a lovely part of the world in Derbyshire and I'm sure you will be really happy up here. All the best for the move

Are those the new houses just off the mini roundabout at the bottom end of Alfreton?

Near the park?

Hi everyone, the house at Alfreton fell through but we have found another in Newbold Chesterfield, we have just paid the reserve and we are getting the mortgage sorted. :) I'm so happy as the house is lush and our first choice was definitely Chesterfield. If all goes well then we should be moving in to the house in about March/April time. I need to do a bit of research and find some good running and yoga groups in the area as those are the things I like to do. Is there a section of this site for conception and pregnancy advice? We're TTC now but trying to find out as much as I can about it all lol. Have a couple of questions. xx