Droylsden, Manchester

[AgileMadness]

Hello,
Does anyone know Droylsden relatively well please? A relative is looking to move there and is after some information on best parts to focus on and which ones to avoid.

It appears Droylsden hasn't always had a good reputation but with the introduction of the tram stops, I've heard it described as "up and coming".
Any information will be appreciated.

In all honesty the Metrolink has been running for years now and it hasn’t made a difference in terms of making Droylsden “up and coming”. Without sounding too critical it’s not the best of areas. If they’re looking in that area, depending on budget I’d consider Audenshaw as a better option.

It's not very nice. Like most of Tameside sadly. Handy for access to city centre though.

If you have any choice, I'd avoid.

It’s had the metro link for ages and hasn’t changed.
I’d say Denton would be their best bet if that want to be jn that area?

Thanks so much for the responses.
They've got a budget of 150k for a 3 bed house, could probably stretch to 175k max and want access to the city centre, which is why they were considering Droylsden.
Audenshaw seems more expensive.

Any particular areas of Denton to focus on / avoid please?

If access to the city centre is important have they considered Reddish? It's closer to the CC than Denton and most importantly you cut out all the traffic you get around Denton Island which can be a nightmare at rush hour (pre-Covid). Also Denton hasn't got a train station (well it has but there's only 1/2 services a week) whereas Reddish North has a half hourly service to the CC.

A lot of first time buyers have moved to Reddish as it's still remotely affordable and I personally think it's nicer/safer than Droylsden. We actually had this same problem about 8 years ago when buying our first house. We initially considered Droylsden and then dismissed it and then ended up buying in Reddish. It's still rough around the edges but it's well connected to the CC and we always felt safe during the time we lived in the area.

If they were willing to stretch to £175k you could get the following:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/99800483#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/102365975#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/74812386#/

@FManc Thanks for the links. Those properties look really nice. I'll forward it on.
I notice there's North Reddish, South Reddish and Reddish Green. Are they distinctly different in terms of niceness and safety please?

North Reddish is considered the worst, reddish green is central and fine and south reddish is the nicest. It is as PP said a bit rough round the edges but it's a solid working class area with a strong community spirit. It's got great facilities for kids (when lockdown permits) in terms of sports clubs etc and great transport links. It's on the edge of a large conservation are too (Reddish Vale)

I guess it depends on their priorities.
North Reddish is closest to the city centre and has the convenient train links into the city centre. North Reddish also borders Gorton which isn't the nicest of areas tbh. It's also the furthest away from the 'main' high street but it does have a small row of shops (a bit scruffy looking). It's got a handy Asda though.

Reddish itself has the main high street but is further from the train station. It borders Heaton Chapel which is desirable but you're looking at £300k+ for a 3 bed semi. However it's nice to have the option of walking into the Heatons as there's plenty of bars, cafes etc..

Reddish South is closest to Stockport and the one I'm least familiar with tbh. It's the furthest from Reddish North station and probably the most awkward out of the three drive to the city centre in terms of distance.

All the areas that make up Reddish are perfectly fine, as the PP says it's a solid working class area. It's definitely nicer than Droylsden. We had no issues in the 7 years we lived there and your relative should be able to find something for £150-£175k. The main agents in the area are Julian Wadden, Edward Mellor and Philip James Kennedy so it might be worth them registering with agents if they end up looking there as it is quite competitive.

What about offerton? Or Woodley or Bredbury? They are nicer with better schools but not too expensive

Danebank in Denton is ok, access to North Reddish Train Station.

Areas of Haughton Green backing on to the Nature Reserve are ok too.

Denton is handy for the Motorway, or for public transport into Manchester - frequent buses down Hyde Road. The motorway junction and round about are shockingly busy (Denton Island)

There is a retail park (Crown Point North) and apparently Aldi are opening a shop on there soon. There is a Sainsburys, a Lidl and a small town centre with local shops etc. Plus the usual takeaways.

There is a new Wellness centre with a pool, gym and bowling alley.

Ashton Moss is close by with cinema and usual chain restaurants (when open)

And the Snipe Retail park has B&Q , Dunelm etc on it.

I know all the areas mentioned here. To be honest, I think its the budget that will restrict you to the not-so-nice parts of all the areas mentioned, if you can I would try to afford a little more. For example, Droylsden is nice around the Moravian settlement/ Broadway area, with recent examples of sold houses around the £365k mark, the cheaper houses are in the not as nice areas. I know this is out of budget but I'm trying to show what I mean. It does have several outstanding schools, seconadary, primary and early years providers, and the town centre is rubbish, but as you say seems to be up and coming. Again, Audenshaw mentioned has the same outsatnding school catchment areas, with houses anything from £550k to in budget, same thoughts about the desirability of the actual road linking to size and price. It doesn't have a town centre of its own, but easy access to the things mentioned above, as does Denton. I'm not that keen on Denton though. Parts of Gee Cross are nice, same rules apply. Mottram is nice, all within Tameside. To be honest, its pretty much the same as the suburbs as any other city, so I suppose it depends on where you will be moving from to compare, and a list od essential criteria - eg- schools, hospitals, transport links. The Heatons are mentioned a lot here as the go-to place, but they are not a lot different really at the budget range. Good luck, hope that helps!

Sorry to derail your thread OP, but since you have the attention of some Manchester folk...
Where would you buy if you wanted a 2 bed terrace within easy reach of the city centre?

Swinton is preferable but budget is £155k and all the ones DD likes seem to be going on at 150 and actually selling for 160+. Needs to be less than a mile from a tram or train station. Any “up and coming” areas she should be looking at?

Ashton-Under-Lyne, Audenshaw, Droylsden would all be on the tram route in East Manchester, plus buses and train stations. I personally would not want to be closer to the city centre than that, for example into Clayton or Beswick as they are really not nice. There is a tram towards Timperley/ Altrincham and stops en route, but I don’t know those areas well as to affordability. I’m sure others will be along to offer different options too.

It’s pretty grim in my opinion. Tameside in general is ok but depressing

Thanks so much for the responses.
As a PP said, they're definitely limited by their budget. There'll have to be a trade off somewhere, either access to the tram / train, nearness to the CC versus decent area. It's their first property and they can't afford the Heatons so it'll have to be the next best thing.
The market also seems to have dried up. There's barely any houses coming up for sale. A lot of people seem to be in limbo with the stamp duty holiday / possible extension.

@WillowSummerSloth

What about offerton? Or Woodley or Bredbury? They are nicer with better schools but not too expensive

Woodley, Bredbury seem much further out to the CC. I'm not sure they want to be that far away.

@yearinyearout

Sorry to derail your thread OP, but since you have the attention of some Manchester folk... Where would you buy if you wanted a 2 bed terrace within easy reach of the city centre?

Swinton is preferable but budget is £155k and all the ones DD likes seem to be going on at 150 and actually selling for 160+. Needs to be less than a mile from a tram or train station. Any “up and coming” areas she should be looking at?

You're right, we've also noticed massive increase in prices in the past year which is why my relative have had to increase their budget

To be honest OP it wouldn't be so bad if they were listed at the higher price, because they wouldn't even get a look...it's becoming annoying that the agents are pricing them at the low end to get the attention, then inviting bids. We don't live in Scotland!

Trafford. Parts of Stretford are still affordable. Nice parks. Tram. Near the city. Up and coming. New development of the town happening soon.

@Frenchdressing haven't seen a single house for sale in those areas in her price range since she started looking!

Just did a search of "Trafford" rather than Manchester and it's thrown up a few but they are partington, which is too far out unfortunately.

Really? God. Would avoid Partington tbh, it’s too far away anyway as you say.

Levenshulme. Cool place but a bit rough round the edges. On the up. No tram but bus right through to city centre and has a train station.

Eccles! Some nice parts and on the tram.