Moving to Highfield/Portswood Southampton

[LillyFlower1984]

Hi Lovely Mumsnetters

We are hoping to move to the Highfield/Portswood(Belmont Road) area of Southampton and will likely have our offer accepted on a house as I have just sold mine. I know its very studently but I dont mind that becsuse of the facilities that brings. Just wanted to know if any MNers have any information and advice on the area. We don’t need schools yet but currently TTCing. We did also looked at Winchester but just too expensive for what we want (nice semi/detached period home we can put our stamp on).

TIA

I wish I was in a position to look at this property,

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/108541568#/?channel=RES_BUY

Anyone know if there are any more,

That’s a bit like the first house you linked - an amazing house in a maybe not so amazing place. Southampton is very much like that - you could be on ‘millionaire’s row’ and then a few streets away the picture is quite different.

Annoying and reminds me very much of Birmingham. I guess price is the giveaway though 600-700k is not cheap either! I genuinely thought property was much cheaper in Southampton till I saw Highfield and some of the prices in the outskirts.

I live extremely close to Belmont Rd, and I agree that you could do better with that budget in Highfield itself. The good thing about living at the Sainsbury's end is that I find it pretty quick to the M27/M3 for work, and it is a short walk to St Denys station or a short drive to Airport Parkway.

Both Highfield and Portswood primary schools are great schools. I'm guessing the last one you linked to would be in Bassett Green catchment and I wouldn't choose that.

Downside of this end of Highfield are the plane noise (although I thunk it is quieter than it used to be) and the Portswood Pong from the sewage works when the wind is in the wrong direction. I think you would also get more train noise in Belmont Rd, and it is a rat run too, with lots of cars trying to pass each other.

I'd love a Collins house - I walk along Uplands Way, and think that would be just right for a few years time. But not so handy for a commute. Welbeck or Grosvenor or Shaftsbury roads would be good, I think.

My parents used to live in a Collins house. You have to check if they have any restrictions. We were only allowed wooden window frames and the house could only be painted in certain colours. There were limitations as to what could be in the front garden too if I remember correctly.
I wouldn’t send my children to Bassett Green.

Hi All

So we saw the Heatherdeane road (really lovely finish but too small for us!). Glebe court was lovely but again too small! My DH has alot of stuff! We really want to live closer to the common than Bittern Park, so we have discounted this. Belmont road is still lovely but will need a bit if work. We checked the primary schools at is Number 1 is 0.21 to St Denys and Number 2 is 0.42 to Portswood. How likely would it be if you choose the one slightly further away?
it is also close to the The Gregg prep school so we would consider this if need be. We also wonder if we should just wait for larger Highfield house or Leaflet the desirable roads.

Both of those schools are good and either would be ok imo - I think the schools people would be more concerned about are Mount Pleasant or Bevois Town. When choosing a school, if you’re in catchment you have a reasonable chance of a place, but places are given by distance so it’s more likely to get the one you’re closest to. Portswood is oversubscribed; I am not sure about St Deny’s.

Regarding a Highfield house, if you’ve discounted both of those because of size I’m not sure you’re going to find what you’re looking for - much of the housing stock in Highfield is of a similar size to what you’ve seen. The very big Edwardians are teetering around £900k and are mainly generational houses where when they come up they need the full works. Similar housing stock exists in Upper Shirley and Bitterne Park for slightly more budget friendly prices but the areas are still competitive. You might find something on the Grosvenor Road or Welbeck Avenue side of Highfield though.

Shame you discounted Bitterne Park, it is a lovely area, the riverside park is much better than common imo.
And woodmill is easy to get over now that they put in traffic lights.

As someone said, if you want the actual catchment you can search by postcode here: www.southampton.gov.uk/schools-learning/find-school/apply-school/catchment-areas/

Have lived in Southampton all my life. Honestly I would look at bitterne Park instead of portswood, really not that far from each other but better schools and a nicer area IMHO. Also you are still very close to motorway, from oaktree Road you could be on motorway in under 10 mins going through Woodmill. Traffic is a nightmare in portswood in rush hour but better going through woodmill now they have traffic lights

Morning!

So this one isn't on rightmove but thought of you when the sign went up:
www.bluedoorsouthampton.co.uk/property/15a-westrow-gardens-southampton/

Location wise: Banister Park. So great for Springhill Catholic school. Very close to the common. A short walk to Bedford Place which offers a good range of restaurants and pubs. Also walking distance from town centre. The road has good neighbourhood feel, mostly families or retired. Fairly good for M3. Also walking distance to Southampton Central Train St.

The property: its 1930"s and could be redecorated in a period style. Structurally it is good, believe it was owned by a builder. However it is a bit tatty now as current owner has let it go a bit. Hence very little photos!

@DoneByWeds
Thank you! Unfortunately myself and DH are not very good at DIY! I understand when a house has been lived in for that long it will need extensive renovation and we would have to factor that in neither of which we have the money or time for.

Now on reflection I really loved the Highfield Heatherdeane road house finish and it was so close to the park. I am thinking how to make it work. It may be even a stopgap house until a larger house comes up in Highfield as it really was so well done.

It’s a great location. And it’s plenty of house for two of you, plus under budget so you can save for the next house too.

@LillyFlower1984 check the Southampton City Council website for catchment areas rather than relying in distance. You can be really close to a school but not be in catchment for it. Priority is always given to catchment students and students with siblings at the school especially as Highfield c of e and Portswood are over subscribed.

I would also say I far value Riverside Park at Bitterne Park than the common. Especially as you can walk/row/paddle right up the river to mansbridge

I’ve gone anon here as I’m very local. We are technically Highfield though the Welbeck side which I always think is pushing it!

It’s a really nice place to live. Personally I wouldn’t do Belmont, it’s just a bit gritty for me. That said, everyone being negative about St Denys is being daft - it’s a really lovely school with a great village feel in the city and the one I would choose out of most of the local schools. Highfield got complacent & messed up big time with their safeguarding, however the teaching is solidly good and it’s a nice community. Portswood & BP are exam factories but lots of people are happy with them - we’re well served by schools round here, in short.

Secondary wise people have historically preferred Bitterne Park to Cantell (Highfield catchment) but they’re both very good (Cantell probably more nurturing but people get nervous about the mixed catchment).

I’d choose BP over Highfield for the community…it’s more friendly. Downside is the roads are narrow & it’s very traffic-y - and not that many proper big houses either - lots of 3 bed semis.

Collins houses look beautiful but quite small, damp & the restrictions (& additional charges) of the estate wouldn’t be for me personally.

In short, people are quite snobby about Soton but it’s a great place to live & raise a family. All the benefits of a small city with lots of green space & decent communities.

Resurrecting this thread! We have since spent a-lot of time looking around these roads. So far we love Oakmont triangle and Highfield road the most. We also like Grosvenor and Upper Shaftesbury.

1 Buy Belmont and do it up (move kitchen to family room/extend and add new kitchen, new bathrooms) with the hope to add value and move to Highfield house when DH earning more as full time. However worried about resale…

2 Leaflet roads like Grosvenor, Upper Shaftesbury in the hope something might come up or even wait.

3 Stay in Winchester buy something completely small and inappropriate but likely yo go up in value. Stay for 3-5 years and either move up ladder in Winch (unlikely as it gets ever more expensive) or relocate to proper Highfield house.

I can’t see you adding the kind of value you are talking about to the Belmont Road house - a generation ago that area (along with Spring Crescent) was sort of on par with Oakmount but it hasn’t kept pace. And with the sort of money you’re talking you may as well have bought a big Highfield house.

leafleting is an option but of course doesn’t guarantee success. Houses do come up in all of those areas so maybe in time something will.

1 and 3 are both poor financial and practical decisions - major compromises.

1 you won’t get your investment back, 3 wasting serious capital in moving twice.

Be patient - the cost of living crisis will settle and open up the housing market over the winter IMHO.

Maybe rent in Southampton to get your feet on the ground and really know the place.

Or buy something in Winchester that you can invest in by extending later down the line.

Where would you like to live location wise if money was no object?

IMHO Southampton appears more “real” - and family focused whereas Winchester (City centre at least) feels congested and set up for day trippers?

@DFOD
yes I agree about patience, its just my house is sold and wanting to get a move on. Already renting in Winchester term ending in October. Also wan to take advantage if NHS relocation package. I suppose if money no object it would be something like the Oakmont house but if it were DH something with adequate space within walking distance of Winch.
@Highfieldlocal Thanks will definitely think carefully.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124295585

I grew up in Highfield! First time I've ever seen in mentioned on MN! If you could look more around Welbeck Avenue/Shaftesbury Avenue I'd recommend that more than the side of portswood high street you're talking about but that side is cheaper than the Abbots Way/Oakmount Triangle bit which is the nicest bit but the most expensive.

The Gregg Prep used to be St Winifred's - it's a gorgeous little junior school. I would t want to end up with a primary school in portswood.

Thanks I considered the question if money was no object where would we buy and the answer is in Winchester for both of us. We have now decided to just look in Winchester focusing on the areas in the outskirts and have increased our budget. We shall see!

I don't blame you! Winchester is gorgeous - it's also where my husband and I would love if we could!