Irlam, Salford

[Incense]

Hi. This seems the ideal location as balanced between being close enough to Manchester and Warrington city centres with good transport links (car/train) and half suburban because of the farm land/moss for hiking/dog walking. It also seems to have a great community feel with decent houses without the hefty Trafford price tags (definitely more value for money over here!)

I've asked around and recieved mainly good feedback but a couple of mixed reviews about Irlam (mainly just concerns about the new proposed housing development near Macro!?) Have to say though that for most of the houses I've viewed (absolutely loadsss ), both the people & area seemed decent but not from this area so just wanting more info pls?

I've heard there's not much in the centre other than Tesco and Lidl but its only 10-15mins or so drive to Trafford centre, Salford Quays/University and Urmston for some decent places to eat?

I have a young child too so unsure about schooling... heard the primary schools are good though hoping Irlam is within the radius of the Trafford high schools (e.g. Urmston Grammer)... Anyone know? Thank you in advance

Its 20+ years since I lived not too far from there but Irlam didnt really have a great reputation. I'm sure its changed now but it was just known for Makro!

I can help with schools though. Irlam doesnt come within Trafford, it comes under Salford, so thats the LEA that will deal with school applications. You can still apply to Urmston Grammar when the time comes but unless your child gets one of the top 20 scores, places are allocated on distance with priority given to M41 and M33 postcodes. Distances vary each year so you'd have to see how far you'd be & whether they've offered that far from school in the last few years.

@Africa2go that's been really helpful, especially about the schooling! Fortunately my child is very young so there's a good few years before I have to think of that... Just wondering why it has had a bad reputation?

Most of the negative reviews I hear/feedback I get is just that there's nothing to do, unlike other places in Manchester I've lived like Didsbury/Chorlton/Urmston there aren't any nice bars/bistros which tbh I'm not so bothered about as my friends live all over the UK so I travel a lot and both Urmston and Altricham are easy enough to get too

It was quite deprived back in the day, as most of Salford was, think it suffered from lack of jobs (loss of industry, upheaval in 70s/early 80s), bit of poverty. That was the perception anyway. Could you afford Urmston / Davyhulme?

There's a drive thru Greggs!

If you are used to living in Chorlton - Irlam will be a big shock!!

I know of a few families who live in Urmston and got into UGS. The local high school doesn't have the best reputation but if you are catholic, you have a good chance at getting into St Patricks in Eccles from there.

Yes, there isn't much there but there are worst places to live in Salford. The Trafford Centre and Chill Factore are nearby and as you say, not too far out from Manchester. Lots of family events are held at Barton Airport. Traffic can get a bit busy due to the AJ Bell stadium.

I can meet you for a coffee! That might be a downside for you though! haha

I meant, I know of several families who live in Irlam* who got into UGS!

Like a lot of places in Salford. It is on the up. The bistro at the train station is lovely

@Africa2go that makes sense, looked into the steelworks industry etc. And I could probably at a push afford the Urmston/Lymm areas however what you get for your money there is a fraction of what I'm looking at in Irlam.

@RustyParker Greggs is a start I guess lol... it's reassuring to hear that children in Irlam have managed to get into Trafford schools like UGS. I need to look into Barton airport and the traffic situation but thought it'd eased a lot since the new trafford rd...

@PurpleFrames it won't be that much of a shock... I've lived all over... it seems the only thing missing from Irlam is a row of fancy bistros and bars like you'd see in places like Chorlton, Didsbury, Altricham. All places have good and bad I guess and the amount of people I've spoken to that agree with @billybullshitterz1n makes me think that the landscape may change for the better in future years

If you carry on along the A57 past Cadishead, there's a lovely village called Hollins Green. Just over the border into Cheshire, surrounded by countryside. I lived there as a child. Gorgeous place!

Hollins Green. 'Manchester, fourteen miles', by Margaret Penn is a delightful account of growing up in that village in the years before the First World War.

The sewage works can smell when the wind blows over. Urmston has the same problem.

If there's ever a problem on the A57 it's a nightmare to get to and from. I really wouldn't choose to live in Irlam. What about Monton between Eccles and Swinton?

@RoLaren and @chalkiewhite yes I've looked into Hollins Green and Warburton (also not so far away) however not much within my price range comes up unfortunately.

@AiryFairyMum sounds a nightmare

@wowfudge I've looked at more Worsely near Monton (I think!) but unfortunately it's too far to travel for work :(

Where's work OP?

Between Manchester and Lymm