Relocating to Durham

[Nadsfromlaos]

Hello, hope everyone is doing well

I'm looking for some much needed information and hopfully this is the place to find it.

I'm from Poole Dorset, lived here my whole life and have a wife and 1 year old who are from Laos.

We recently got the citizenship and visas etc sorted for them both to stay here with me in the UK.

My daughter has really bad epilepsy which can be tricky for us and has taken us down the route we are looking to go and the questions I have.
The house prices here in Poole are crazy high!! It's impossible for me to get a mortgage here.

So i have a budget of £70,000 and would be looking to buy a house outright, have seen a few about which look nice on my phone but don't know in real what the area is actually like.
I know its maybe not going to be the best place to live in the UK but are the areas of Spennymoor, west Cornforth nice for a average small family.?
I am coming up to the area in the middle of February to have a look for myself but I'm just looking for a heads up.
For me as long as the people are nice then I'm happy, We are simple people, we don't need a mansion and things like that, just want to enjoy your own little home, make some friends and have a happy as possible life.

My daughter currently has a epilepsy nurse and we have outpatient appointments every 3 months or so, visits to a neurologist etc and have been in contact to see if all that will be transferred to a different hospital etc which all seems to be OK and easy BUT she has been extremely sick last year (being in ICU on a ventilator 2 times) and it's so important that the paramedics get to her ASAP, shes on a top priority list when 999 is called.

I'm wondering what the 999 wait time is in these areas?
I know everything depends on timing, staff etc but I can't find anything online about it so hoping for people's experiences to help me out.

Also what Durham hospital is like as this would most likely be the hospital we would be dealing with.

Again I'm aware people will have different opinions on it but would just be nice to get a feel for it before visiting.

The health of my daughter is 100% the most important thing and this is a big decision for us to take, so any responses regarding any of the above would be much appreciated.

Thank you and hope you all have a good day

I cannot comment on West Cornforth but Spennymoor isn't where I would choose to live but at the same time if I only had 70k to spend I could think of worse places.
There is a lot of unemployment and the high Street is very run down. It has a leisure centre and a great gymnastics centre but beyond that (and an asda) I don't think it has anything.
Some of the estates are OK, some you are likely to have trouble on. I don't think this is Spennymoor specific and maybe a wider issue but you may notice some racism / lack of acceptance. There isn't much in the way of diversity.
Ambulance times - unknown
Hospital- my experience of durham has been positive although it is linked with Darlington which isn't so great

I think you might find Spennymoor a bit of a culture shock! According to the NHS website Durham hospital the A&E is for over 16's only which means an ambulance would probably take your daughter to Newcastle or Darlington. Newcastle has a specialist children's hospital so you might want to be closer to that? www.newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk/services/great-north-childrens-hospital/childrens-emergency-department/

I have to say I’d echo the comments above re Spennymoor - the town centre is pretty appalling, but there is some redevelopment ongoing. House prices vary and 70k would probably buy you a terrace house fairly close to the town centre with a yard or small garden. These areas are often mainly rentals so lack a community feel - but most of the estates would be out of budget I’m afraid.

I grew up around Spennymoor, and my family still live there - for me the positives are proximity to Durham/Newcastle and good transport links, as well as some good schools (especially primary) but there is a real issue around employment, and it’s not very culturally diverse at all. There are definitely worse places to live mind you! Family have used hospitals in both Durham or Darlington and have had positive experiences but can’t comment on on 999 response times.

I’d prefer it to West Cornforth every time mind you. That area has suffered for many years with employment and hasn’t been very progressive culturally. I’d not be very keen to make a move there.

Hi all

Wow I wasnt expecting so much helpul information so quickly, thank you all so much.

It's sad to hear about the lack of cultural diversity, obviously my wife is Asian and daughter half Asian so this would be a major concern.

The areas of Spennymoor/West Cornforth are just where the houses stand out based on the property not the location.
We would be open to most areas in the North east mainly due to the fact its more financially viable than where we are.

I've done so much research and Consett seems the nicest place for us potentially but again I'm not sure.

The cash I have is £70,000 so ideally would like to purchase with no mortgage mainly because I have missed a fair amount of work over the last year because of little one being in hospital and I'm the only driver in the house and wouldn't want the stress as of a mortgage aswel as everything else going on.
But we could reluctantly take a small mortgage out and look at properties up to about £100,000.
Would that be enough to get us a property in a little bit nicer area or will we still face the same issues.

I'm a engineer so I'm fairly confident about getting a job in the surrounding area, I have spoke to a couple of agencies and have had positive feedback.

Again thank you all so much, really appreciate it

I have friends and family in the North East.

If you want to relocate to this part of the world I would recommend Newcastle 100% (world class hospitals, excellent transport links, much more culturally diverse).

You can probably (just) get a house (terrace with garden) within your budget in the Kenton or Fenham areas. Both have good bus links to the city centre.

Spennymoor and West Cornforth are not bad places - just a bit run down and not culturally diverse.

From my very limited experience of Consett, I think you would find the same lack of diversity there also. The North East as a whole, and in particular the area of Durham, is lacking in diversity - most people are white and were born and lived in the very nearby area. Obviously there are some exceptions to this but those places (normally more diverse as a result of the doctors from the hospital) are in places where you need 5x your budget (atleast).
Unfortunately whilst property in the North East is cheaper than the South, your budget still won't go far.

I did a search on rightmove for Newcastle up to £100k and i think it would definitely open up a lot more options. I also wouldn't rule out Gateshead, i think you'd find them both more diverse than the villages around Durham and transport connections will be better for your wife if she doesn't drive.

Echo the others with pushing yourself a bit and looking in newcastle itself. My ex’s family were from co. Durham and it really was bleak. Newcastle is a lovely city and would give you better access to hospitals if needed.

I certainly wouldn't say County Durham is bleak. It has such beautiful places and is great for access - I joke I can get everywhere in an hour and to some extent that's true. In 90mins I can be at the coast, Scotland, and the lake district, all whilst still having countryside literally on my doorstep. If you are someone who wants to spend their time in pubs or shopping it maybe isn't so great but for an active person I don't think you can get anywhere better.
The issue is unfortunately the posters budget. There are some lovely places that would be welcoming to the poster but unfortunately the budget is just no where near. The places with houses for sale in that budget are council estate/ex mining houses where a lot of the locals may be less diverse or accepting.
Personally I would not consider Newcastle or gateshead but I appreciate they are more culturally diverse (although I don't know if that carries on to areas in the price range)

Thank you all so much for the replys and information.

Such a shame it seems we would possibly be treated as outsiders and will have a long hard think about our next move.

Still plan on visiting the North east next month and seeing for myself but the information from you all has been very useful.

Thank you

Why don't you look around Bradford/West Yorkshire? There a some very cheap areas (although some with good reason...) and it's very culturally diverse.

Seaham in County Durham might be an option.
There has been a lot of regeneration there in recent years. It’s much more diverse with a lovely beach, good schools and transport links into Sunderland and Newcastle.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/117737081#/?channel=RES_BUY

I wouldn't go for spennymoor or west cornforth.

Sunderland is a good option, then you're also on the coast and you have good transport links into Newcastle. Also as previously mentioned the children's hospital at Newcastle is very good.

I would consider somewhere like Hull or Doncaster. There is almost no racial/cultural diversity in Durham, and I think if I were Asian I would start to feel lonely.

You would be better off in a bigger city to be near a hospital

I know Consett well and it’s more diverse than stated above including a thriving Polish community. You can get a lot of house for your £70k in Consett though not on the new estates which tend to build the big houses.

There is a cottage hospital in Consett and a new one is being planned. The nearest big hospital is Durham but Hexham and Newcastle hospital are not that much further away. It’s more of a commuter town to Durham and Newcastle but far enough away to be on the door step of the countryside. It’s on the coast to coast cycle route too.

It does snow in Consett so make sure your car has snow tyres in winter.

Hi
To echo other poster. I would strongly recommend that you stretch your budget very slightly (you don't have to stretch by much) and look in Newcastle and Gateshead. Both are extremely vibrant, they have excellent public transport all over both Gateshead and Newcastle. Your wife will be able to find a community and also travel independently both to hospital appointments and to the many child friendly activities available. (Strong recommend for the many childrens activities in the baltic art gallery). The children's hospital at the rvi is outstanding and children are referred all over the North East. (I have personal experience of the rvi and it is truly excellent - it is the main A&E too).

For your budget you could get a small terraced house in Fenham or kenton or elsewhere in the west end. Or you could look at Bensham in Gateshead. Look at the grid of streets north of saltwell Park. You won't be able get a house but you could get a tyneside flat in your budget. Saltwell Park is amazing and there is a lot locally. It is diverse and welcoming community. You would sacrifice space as compared to the west end of Newcastle.

Pepin’s spit on. Bensham and north of Saltwell Park are really good options with a really good bus route through to Newcastle and the Newcastle hospitals. Worth looking into.

*spot

You definitely want to look closer to Newcastle. Durham Hospital doesn’t have a children’s ICU, or neurology department. It could take up to an hour or more to get to the Children’s Hospital from Durham. But as others have said The Great North Childrens Hospital is one of the best in the country, so near there would be better for you.

Newcastle /Gateshead is a wonderful place to have a family and you will definitely be able to find work. Good luck to you and your family. Wish you all the best.

Hello everyone

Thank you all so much for the replys it really is so helpful to us.

Im thinking that I will maybe look in the Newcastle area instead of the first areas I spoke about mainly due the hospital because it will be so important to us and the being accepted part is also so important.

Sounds like Newcastle will be just like living where I am now (apart from a fair bit cooler than here) which would be fantastic for us and we will finally have our own house to.

Thankyou all

I'd probably look at something like this: (sorry, no idea how to make the link clickable). www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/116270810#/?channel=RES_BUY

It's only a flat but the area isnt bad at all, there's plenty of amenities nearby, good schools and it's just up the road from the main emergency care hospital. It's not an ethnically diverse town but I'd say it is welcoming (I used to live there) and there's excellent transport links to Newcastle.