Moving to Wheatley Hill County Durham

Diane0011 · 2021-03-18T16:31:59+00:00

Hi everyone, I live in Derby but have wanted to move to County Durham for a while now, I found a nice semi-detached in a village called Wheatley Hill. I put an offer in January so we are getting close to completing. I am now worried as a few people have mentioned Wheatley Hill has some trouble, none of these people live in the area so it's just what they have heard. Does anyone live in Wheatley Hill or have any experience of the area? Is it safe? Thank you for any help in advance.

PickAChew · 18/03/2021 16:36

Used to live (very) nearby. Sorry, but you couldn't pay me to live there. My first experience of WH was some little shit chucking a stink bomb onto the bus I was on. It's gone down hill since then.

Original poster

Diane0011 · 18/03/2021 17:17

Hi PICKACHEW, I'm hearing there is a lot of antisocial behaviour like you described. would you say the area is dangerous? I'm really scared or burglaries or break-ins. Should I just cancel the sale and try to find somewhere else? It took me forever to find this place :(

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SmallYappyTypeDog · 18/03/2021 17:22

I lived there for a while. Coming from a dodgy part of central Manchester I didn't find it too bad but there was still a decent amount of anti social behaviour. Not so much dangerous as a bit of a shithole. I also found that area quite desolate. Frankly I stayed because it was cheap but for a long term plan no I would choose to live somewhere else. I would also be concerned about being able to sell your house if you did want to move. It could take a very long time.

Like most places the vast majority of people are nice, friendly decent people. But it only takes a few bad apples to drag somewhere down.

PickAChew · 18/03/2021 19:24

As snappy said, the main issue is the antisocial behaviour - same across a lot of East Durham, at the moment. Burglaries aren't that common considering the deprivation in the area but there's a fair bit of criminal damage, arson, theft from vehicles and so on.

I don't know if you've visited the village centre but most of it is boarded up and possibly earmarked for demolition. If you're buying on the development right by the A181, you may be OK as it's out on a limb a bit but if it's closer to the coop, I'd be more wary. That's the thing with these villages - if you're in a neighbourhood with enough community minded residents then it can be great but there is also a mistrust from some people whose families have lived in them for generations of "the private houses".

PickAChew · 18/03/2021 19:26

And we stayed because it was cheap, too! (Now in a "nice" part of Durham City and have ended up installing cctv!)

Original poster

Diane0011 · 19/03/2021 02:42

@PickAChew

As snappy said, the main issue is the antisocial behaviour - same across a lot of East Durham, at the moment. Burglaries aren't that common considering the deprivation in the area but there's a fair bit of criminal damage, arson, theft from vehicles and so on.

I don't know if you've visited the village centre but most of it is boarded up and possibly earmarked for demolition. If you're buying on the development right by the A181, you may be OK as it's out on a limb a bit but if it's closer to the coop, I'd be more wary. That's the thing with these villages - if you're in a neighbourhood with enough community minded residents then it can be great but there is also a mistrust from some people whose families have lived in them for generations of "the private houses".

The house is pretty close to the coop, I think I will end up withdrawing my offer as everyone has said the same as you. I feel bad for the seller and estate agent, I don't want them thinking I'm messing them around :(

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WomenAreBornNotWorn · 19/03/2021 03:06

A few years ago we looked at some properties in Wordsworth Avenue in Wheatley Hill. There was a scheme to sell off housing very cheap (8k to 15k) The one rule was you had to stay in the property for the 5 years. After which you could sell/rent etc.
Now at the time I was living on an illegal traveller site as a single mum (great people,they fed and clothed us when we were struggling) It was a real opportunity to have my own home for me and DS.

A local estate agent talked me out of it. She said unless I was a local I would find it difficult to settle.

Original poster

Diane0011 · 19/03/2021 03:08

@PickAChew

And we stayed because it was cheap, too! (Now in a "nice" part of Durham City and have ended up installing cctv!)

Durham city is beautiful, I'm glad you found a nice area. Tbh CCTV is a must nowadays!

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Original poster

Diane0011 · 19/03/2021 03:12

@SmallYappyTypeDog

I lived there for a while. Coming from a dodgy part of central Manchester I didn't find it too bad but there was still a decent amount of anti social behaviour. Not so much dangerous as a bit of a shithole. I also found that area quite desolate. Frankly I stayed because it was cheap but for a long term plan no I would choose to live somewhere else. I would also be concerned about being able to sell your house if you did want to move. It could take a very long time.

Like most places the vast majority of people are nice, friendly decent people. But it only takes a few bad apples to drag somewhere down.

Thanks for your advice, I was up there a month ago and everyone was so nice and friendly, I think you're right. I'm guessing it's a very small number of people ruining it for the majority. Arson and burglary are my two biggest concerns, guess if I had to ask the question means it's likely there is a problem.

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sweetnessnfight · 19/03/2021 04:45

Avoid Wheatley hill, honestly, people buy houses just to get on the ladder, then when they're stuck somewhere they hate, can't sell, have bad neighbours, kids don't settle at school, they wonder why they sold themselves short. Don't do it.

Do they still have that horse that's always in someone's front garden?

WomenAreBornNotWorn · 19/03/2021 04:59

sweetnessfight there was a horse in the back garden of the property I viewed. Could've been the same one!

Original poster

Diane0011 · 19/03/2021 06:20

@WomenAreBornNotWorn

A few years ago we looked at some properties in Wordsworth Avenue in Wheatley Hill. There was a scheme to sell off housing very cheap (8k to 15k) The one rule was you had to stay in the property for the 5 years. After which you could sell/rent etc. Now at the time I was living on an illegal traveller site as a single mum (great people,they fed and clothed us when we were struggling) It was a real opportunity to have my own home for me and DS.

A local estate agent talked me out of it. She said unless I was a local I would find it difficult to settle.

8-15k!! omg that's crazy. I have decided I will withdraw my offer today, all your advice has been really helpful. Besides I think I offered way too much for the area, I agreed to buy it for £105k. But tbh I can find somewhere in west Durham for roughly that amount.

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Mammyofasuperbaby · 19/03/2021 06:29

I lived there as a child and now live in one of the neighbouring villages and frankly what used to be a lovely place has gone majorly down hill.
The people on a whole are friendly and kind but a small number (mainly older teens) are terrorising the area.
They are destroying trees and grassed areas, targeting people and their houses, burning cars, wheely bins and wooded areas. There's also car theft and joy riding. The police are doing very little to fix it so people are starting to leave

swashbucklin · 19/03/2021 12:36

@WomenAreBornNotWorn

sweetnessfight there was a horse in the back garden of the property I viewed. Could've been the same one!

😂😂😂

SmallYappyTypeDog · 19/03/2021 14:37

I will never forget driving to work one morning when two loose horses came barrelling up the road toward me. I remember just stopping the car, closing my eyes and praying!

You are making the right decision @Diane0011. I know it is hard and you don't want to let the sellers down but you can't make their mistake yours. You will find somewhere nicer, its a beautiful part of the world and if my family where not so far away I would move back to the area in a heartbeat - just not Wheatley Hill or Ludworth!

MrsEWeatherwax · 19/03/2021 15:28

You couldn’t pay me to live at Wheatley Hill.

PickAChew · 19/03/2021 15:54

One of our neighbours kept a Shetland pony in their back garden. The ponies are a huge part of the local culture though the stables and track in Thornley is a housing development, now.

A lot of our neighbours have sold on, since we left. DH grew up in East Durham but feels no real attachment since his parents died.

Original poster

Diane0011 · 19/03/2021 18:47

Thank you everyone for the advice, I withdrew my offer today. You lovely people saved me from making a costly mistake :)

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PickAChew · 19/03/2021 19:04

Good luck with your search 🤞The mumsnet Co Durham collective can probably keep you right if you need us.

Original poster

Diane0011 · 20/03/2021 10:14

@PickAChew thank you, West County Durham better? I'm thinking Leadgate, Consett, Catchgate or even Crook.

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PickAChew · 20/03/2021 13:20

Probably not Crook. Elsewhere you need to be careful with the precise location, again.

Bills2pay · 20/03/2021 14:49

Used to live near Durham. Best areas are those closest to or west of Durham City. Try Chester Le Street, Pity Me, possibly Coxhoe (lots of new builds and some local shops) or Bishop Auckland (lots of regeneration going on there & lovely countryside nearby).

PickAChew · 20/03/2021 16:20

Yes, Bishop Auckland has lots going for it - just avoid most of the villages directly between there and Shildon (Coronation, Eldon Lane etc) as they make Wheatley Hill look like the prettiest village in Surrey!

Craftykitchen · 16/08/2021 11:32

Hi, I’m looking to move back to Co Durham, to west cornforth, can anybody tell me what’s it like there now.

nomdeguerrrr · 16/08/2021 15:34

Are you originally from West Cornforth (aka Doggie)? I'm not aware that it is any worse than it ever was.