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Original poster

Would you buy ideal house if opposite a school? *rightmove link*

84 replies

fancyaflatwhite · 06/11/2022 11:35

A house that looks ideal for our needs in many ways has come on the market. The caveat is, it is directly opposite a school.

It does have its own driveway, but would the school parking issues/idling cars/deliveries etc make living there a right pain.

Has anyone got experience of living quite so close to a school?

OP posts:
OldTinHat · 06/11/2022 13:10

I lived in a converted flat opposite a primary with on street parking. I used to daydream that I'd have DC and they'd go to that school. A house move later and I and they did! Was never a problem.

Currently live about 400yds from a primary, again, on street parking only. I love it, especially seeing and hearing all the littlies on their way to school.

That house has a decent drive definitely wouldn't put me off OP.

custardbear · 06/11/2022 13:23

I'd check at certain times of the day to check parking in front of the driveway. Does it have a white H painted in the road outside? Could you put a no blocking sign up? Does the school regularly tell parents about the parking? You'd probably need to ask the school that one.
Nice house though

girlmom21 · 06/11/2022 13:27

The driveways huge and set way back from the road so I think you'd be fine.

SpinningFloppa · 06/11/2022 13:28

Primary not too bad but don’t buy one near a secondary school, I live near one (not even that same road) and it’s awful!!

crossstitchingnana · 06/11/2022 13:33

I've lived near two primaries and I love it. Quiet on the evening and weekends (unless the summer fete is on) and I love the sound of kids playing.

We have our own drive and once, in 15 years, have I had to ask someone not to park on it. It is busy 8:30 and 3 but doesn't bother me. My first house, opposite a school, was on-street parking. Now that WAS a nightmare at pick-up time.

Pinkspottedbanana · 06/11/2022 13:34

We lived in a village and our friends had the house nearest the primary school. They regularly had people blocking the drive. In addition the village hall was attached to the school and when it was hired out for events same problem and lots of noise.

We live on the through route to a secondary, no problem with parking as we are not near enough, but the noise is awful, shouting and swearing in the morning and afternoon, rubbish thrown in the front garden etc, kids 4 abreast on their bikes on the road etc. I would never buy close to a school again and would be worried about resale too. It is a lovely house though.

WakingUpDistress · 06/11/2022 13:50

I’d go and have a look when it’s school time.

Curlyhairedbrummie · 06/11/2022 13:56

Beautiful house! I know this area very well and it can get really busy! I also use to live opposite a primary school and I couldn't quite believe what parents would do.....they would often park across my drive way and park on it too. Always telling me not to worry and that they wouldn't be too long!

Even when I was in labour with DS, DH had to go and bang on a drivers car window as they'd blocked us in and we needed to get to the hospital asap:) never again.

emanonsah · 06/11/2022 14:02

You should check out the school fisted report. Ours is opposite an outstanding over subscribed primary which increases its value considerably as pretty much guaranteed to get a place. So if you don't need that you could be paying over the odds

Needmorelego · 06/11/2022 14:06

@Frazzled2207 I understand the reasons behind the traffic scheme but it will affect the residents.
Residents have deliveries, district nurses/health visitors, family needing to visit or pick you up, taxis picking up/dropping off, builders arriving for work etc etc. In places that have have these schemes all of this has caused chaos for those who actually live there essentially having to put their everyday lives on hold for several hours a day.
The scheme suggested where I live WILL be a massive pain in the arse.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 06/11/2022 14:12

Grin at 'school fisted report'....

Reading with interest and slight nervousness as we're looking to move to a house near a primary school. Maybe 100-200 yards away rather than opposite, though.

SuperCamp · 06/11/2022 14:13

I think catchment is also relevant.

Our primary was a London one-form entry, so everyone lived less than 10 mins walk away, so none of these traffic nightmares.

If it is a smallish school with a tight catchment you may be OK.

TerryIsAllGold · 06/11/2022 14:22

One thing to consider is that as it’s opposite a Catholic primary kids may well be coming from further afield and so more cars than you’d expect with a usual “catchment” where many kids can walk. That said we live a few doors up from one and it’s mostly ok the only time I get aggravated is when someone pulls into our entrance to “let me past” and then I can’t turn in (on our road the parents are parking on street so the road becomes one lane iyswim).

Artygirlghost · 06/11/2022 14:32

Secondary: that would be a no, because I would be concerned about anti-social behaviour

Primary: maybe, but not if it was directly in front of the house. Further down the street would be fine.

DWMoosmum · 06/11/2022 14:35

Well, school pick up drop off is twice a day so if you're worried about the amount of cars, people, then it will be at both ends of the day. If you're out at work it's not going to be an issue. There will be no traffic/parking at the weekend, and no noise from the kids, of which that will only be a couple of times during the day.

I live at the back of a school and its never been an issue with noise, in fact its quite lovely to hear the kids if I'm ever around during the summer months.

newtb · 06/11/2022 14:44

Not only the school, but the hedges would put me off.

RobinRobinMouse · 06/11/2022 14:48

No I personally wouldn't, we looked at a house we really liked but I was put off by the closeness to the school. Even though the school was lovely to look at I worried about the traffic, potential noise at break times and just the effect it may have on reselling if needed. That said, it's not the end of the world, it just wasn't for me.

Givenhud · 06/11/2022 14:55

We live right next to a primary with over 300 kids in it. Our youngest goes there and I can't tell you how envious the other parents are when they see how easy our school run is!

Our houses have the living space backing on to the back of the house so I barely notice the school run traffic when I'm home. We have a drive and I think maybe someone has blocked it once or twice since we moved here over ten years ago.

If you're the sort of person who's going to be obsessively looking out of the window like some of my neighbours then that house isn't for you but if you're like me and don't really care then you'll be fine.

It's a lovely house, I love the way it's decorated.

Blossomtoes · 06/11/2022 14:58

It’s a beautiful house.

We live opposite a primary and we have no off street parking. The free car park just up the road is rammed for half an hour each term time morning and afternoon. Other than that we wouldn’t even notice. If we had a drive I wouldn’t think twice about it.

ImJustNotMeAnymore · 06/11/2022 15:02

We live just around the corner from a secondary school with 1500 on roll. The only time it's busy is when parents park to collect/drop off, and when the kiddies are walking to and from the school. We know when these times are so don't make attempt to either leave the drive or return, though to be fair the parents will move their vehicles if we need to get in or out and the kiddies do make way.
Being in the vicinity of a school didn't put us off buying.

QueueEtwo · 06/11/2022 15:15

What's the rest of the road layout like? We back on to a school, round the side rather than
opposite & on an estate with one route on & off!

It can be a nightmare, I have to leave for work either before 8:30 or after 9 or it can take me 30 mins just to get down the road! 🙄

It is a lovely house so I could probably put up with it! 😀

SarahAndQuack · 06/11/2022 15:16

I would. I live next door to a Primary school and I love it. It's nice hearing the children, and it's only a very tiny window of time when the road is busy - you get used to knowing you probably don't want to try to park outside the door at 3.10 but it'll be fine by 3.20. Plus, I've mostly found people aren't dicks, and usually leave the spot outside my door free.

The only thing I did find annoying was when people used to come early and sit with their engines running outside - my house opens direct onto the pavement, so they were very close. But I think the head must have sent round a message about it (it is, after all, illegal and unpleasant for the children, too), and they seem to have stopped.

Tinytortilla · 06/11/2022 15:19

We live as close, if not closer to a primary school than that. We’ve lived here almost 2 years and had someone park across our drive 3 times, it’s really not an issue for us. Especially if you aren’t home at school drop off or pick up anyway.

It looks like a lovely house!

viques · 06/11/2022 15:24

Wow, I am feeling faint at the effort and time that has gone into prepping that house for selling ( because I can’t believe anyone lives like that!). If you do a viewing OP please ask to see inside the garage and come back to reassure me that yes, all their family tut is heaped in higgledy piggledy boxes on the garage floor .

Whitewolf2 · 06/11/2022 15:47

What a lovely home! We’ve lived opposite a primary school (small village one) for 7 years and have never had anyone park on our drive. Although people park opposite our drive we can still get out ok, though I avoid the 5 or so extra busy minutes when the school bus goes past and everyone is parking etc. Both our kids now go to the school, so it’s super convenient!