Moving to this area? Thoughts? Birmingham

[Duck77]

So I've looked at a 3bed terraced house in this area. Young professional couple-might thinking of having a baby in the next 1-2years. Thoughts? Is it a nice area? Good transport links?

It is not a nice area. I wouldn't choose to live there - particularly with dc.

What about the health effects on a baby being so close to the motorway and A road?

How much do you have to spend and what are your other "musts" for location?

You can probably almost certainly do better than somewhere so close to a major road. Birmingham has lots of affordable decent areas.

No, and certainly not with small children. What’s your budget? Are you looking to rent or to buy?

I wouldn't Iive there tbh. I'm not precious I live up the road (follow the M6 towards brum) in an 'ok' area but deprived. There are better parts of where I am and worse like anywhere. Where I am has excellent transport links but the high street is a bit dire. What are you after? Duck77

Agreed there are lots of areas of Birmingham that are affordable and a bit nicer...why not look in the Black Country, whilst you're not actually in Birmingham parts are quicker to get into the city centre than where you're looking! Flenda.. lots of people live and raise children near to motorways...really!

Thanks for everyone. I'm looking for a place where it's easy to get to Solihull and Bham centre and also to Cambridge. Kids are not necessarily on the cards right now, it's more into the future and quite possibly might want to sell and move back to Cambridge when having kids.

Any nice and affordable areas near Birmingham you could suggest? Looking for a 2bed house minimum or a nice spacious flat in the centre.

Water Orton? Warmley? (Not sure on costs of either)
Cofton Hackett, Kings Norton, Olton, Monkspath?

Maybe somewhere on the line out between Solihull and Birmingham?
We lived on the Birmingham/Solihull border in Acocks green when we were in out twenties. It did us just fine

I personally wouldn't want to live there.

If you're looking to get into Solihull and the city centre then you'd want to look at places on the cross city line, preferably south of the city (Bournville/Stirchley, Kings Norton/Cotteridge, Longbridge, Northfield, Alvechurch etc.). That would make it easy to get a train into the city centre and drive to Solihull. Alternatively, you could look at areas on the train line between Coventry and Birmingham (Tile Hill, Hampton In Arden, Marston Green, Berkswell, Balsall Common) many of which border Solihull and have regular trains into Birmingham city centre.

If you want 'naice' areas and aren't fussed about travel times or budget then look at Moseley, Kings Heath, Bournville, Sutton Coldfield, Wylde Green, Four Oaks or Solihull. Moseley and Kings Heath are more 'hip and trendy' while Bournville, Sutton Coldfield, Wylde Green, Four Oaks & Solihull are more suburban/family oriented.

Thanks for the help @ChocolateChoux. I'll check out the areas you mentioned

No problem! If it's possible, I would recommend coming down for a weekend and having a mooch around the different areas - they all feel very different to each other and you might like certain areas better depending on your preferences. Best of luck with your search! :)

So I have found a house near Bournville/Stirchley which is quite exciting and I checked it's only 10/20 minutes to Solihull and Bham centre.
I'll keep on looking and book a few viewing. Thanks for the help everyone 😊

Driving? That’s a very optimistic assessment of those commutes if so!

Well I checked the routes last night on google map. Obviously it's going take longer in rush hours but I have a done 2 hour commutes before and I'm chuffed even if it takes an hour!

It's a well connected area but a huge variety of areas in the vicinity of your flag.

Also I suggest you check the proposed HS 2 route that goes right past that part of the M42/M6.

I wouldn't go the "wrong side" of Birmingham. I used to drive from our office in Solihull to Birmingham university in Edgbaston - 1.5 hours was not unknown in the evening peak hour.

For Solihull, you could look along the A41/A34 corridor, or outlying villages. For example you can get to Solihull/Birmingham from places like Coleshill and Hampton in Arden across the motorway without going on it. Also check the railway lines as Birmingham has a small centre well served by stations.

By wrong side I meant try to avoid commuting across the city, not that there is a "right" and "wrong" side! (far more nuanced than that!)