Property/DIY
Moving to Chippenham 2023
OW0809 · 22/03/2023 15:55
Hello!
Could anyone please share their thoughts on:
- Chippenham
- Melksham
- Calne
We need to relocate and have easy access to Bristol (train and car). Primary and secondary schools are also super important as well as country walks for our lovely big dog.
Melksham and Calne seem to offer more property for £ than Chippenham but not sure if it's because of the areas?
Honest opinions (the good and the ugly) are very welcomed!
Many thanks in advance
StripeyBedSocks · 22/03/2023 17:27
Hello, I am in the area, sure there will be others along too, hopefully someone who does a similar commute which I can't help with.
Chippenham is more £££ as nearer to the M4 and train line to London. Several good secondary schools, two next to each other are Hardenhuish and Sheldon and Abbeyfield across town. I don't know much about the primary ones as mine are at one of the secondaries.
Lots of countryside around each town, you could look at Corsham as well.
Calne is better if commuting to Swindon rather than Bristol.
StJulian2023 · 22/03/2023 21:56
I’m in the area too. Chippenham is much better connected than Melksham and Calne; Chippenham schools much better than Melksham (don’t know about Calne); several very good primaries as well as the secondaries mentioned above. Love Corsham. But yep, train line not yet reinstated. Lovely countryside from all three
OW0809 · 23/03/2023 10:26
StripeyBedSocks · 22/03/2023 17:27
Hello, I am in the area, sure there will be others along too, hopefully someone who does a similar commute which I can't help with.
Chippenham is more £££ as nearer to the M4 and train line to London. Several good secondary schools, two next to each other are Hardenhuish and Sheldon and Abbeyfield across town. I don't know much about the primary ones as mine are at one of the secondaries.
Lots of countryside around each town, you could look at Corsham as well.
Calne is better if commuting to Swindon rather than Bristol.
Hello. Thank you very much for replying :)
We are couple of years away from secondary schools but would like to be in the catchment areas with this move as I can't imagine my OH would be happy to move again anytime soon😂
We are now looking at North of Chippenham (the Birds Marsh view development). Would you say that either Hardenhuish or Sheldon in the catchment area? Which one do you think is better? Struggling to get an idea from google
OW0809 · 23/03/2023 10:29
Madcats · 22/03/2023 21:15
I live in hope that they will reinstate Corsham station, but have you had a look at Corsham?
Where would you need to get to in Bristol as the commute could be miserable?
Hello! Looked at Corsham but ruled out due to the train station situation.
We need to have access by train to Bristol Temple Meads and Abbey Wood although happy to drive to Abbey Wood. We are also hoping to go down to 1 car and wouldn't like to spend more than 40 mins commuting so train line is super important.
OW0809 · 23/03/2023 10:31
StJulian2023 · 22/03/2023 21:56
I’m in the area too. Chippenham is much better connected than Melksham and Calne; Chippenham schools much better than Melksham (don’t know about Calne); several very good primaries as well as the secondaries mentioned above. Love Corsham. But yep, train line not yet reinstated. Lovely countryside from all three
that's really good to know! I think we'll be looking at Chippneham now rather than outskirts.
Is there any local opinions on the new development in Chippenham? We are currently looking at the Birds Marsh View development and although it seems to be nice, I am not sure how busy the roads get around there
Madcats · 23/03/2023 10:49
Hmm.. Calne is station free and Melksham only has a handful of trains (mainly shuttles between Swindon and Westbury). This is what wikipedia says:
"Since December 2013, Melksham has a significantly improved service.[19] Trains run approximately every two hours each way Mon-Sat (with peak period extras – nine departures in total) and seven trains each way on Sundays. Two weekday southbound services run through to Southampton Central and two northbound services continue to Cheltenham".
I've just looked to travel between 7-8am tomorrow on GWR and I am being quoted journey times of 83 (3 changes) or 72 minutes.
Chippenham to Abbeywood (note spelling) is 42mins if the 06:33 is running, otherwise it is closer to an hour with a change of trains.
Have you thought about Bradford on Avon or Keynsham (if price has ruled out Bath)?
TheGuv1982 · 24/03/2023 07:28
OW0809 · 23/03/2023 10:29
Hello! Looked at Corsham but ruled out due to the train station situation.
We need to have access by train to Bristol Temple Meads and Abbey Wood although happy to drive to Abbey Wood. We are also hoping to go down to 1 car and wouldn't like to spend more than 40 mins commuting so train line is super important.
Madcats · 22/03/2023 21:15
I live in hope that they will reinstate Corsham station, but have you had a look at Corsham?
Where would you need to get to in Bristol as the commute could be miserable?
So I work in Corsham, and live in Bristol - so I sort of do the opposite commute from the one you intend.
The traffic coming into Bristol on a morning is horrific. If you come down the M4 from Chippenham you can quickly get off the M32 for Abbey Wood, and onto the Avon Ring Road. Great in theory, but at peak times it can be heavy going. If you’re able to leave early it’s not a bad drive.
You can get a train from Chippenham to Abbey Wood (or Bristol Parkway at a push) but will need to change at Bristol Temple Meads, or Bath. It’s a fairly regular service.
Any reason why you wouldn’t look at being closer to Bristol? There’s a lot of new builds going up on the Northern Fringe. If we use Yate for example, you’re on the edge of Bristol, near a station and pretty much on the edge of the countryside. Schools probably would be the worst aspect in that scenario.
I see other people have mentioned Keynsham. That’s a good shout as well, mainly due to having all what Yate gives, but also a very good set of school options. You’ll pay for it kind, Keynsham is very expensive for what it is imo, but my friends that live there love it.
dizzygirl1 · 24/03/2023 07:43
Looks like lots of locals on here.
Corsham is lovely, I've lived there but now in Chippenham and I'd move back in a heartbeat. Chippenham I think the bird Marsh estate is good, I've not heard a lot about it but both sheldon and Hardenhuish are next to each other so they would be fine and are both good schools.
Commuting to ABW I wouldn't drive it, it's horrible. I drove to Bristol and hit the interchange at commuting time the other week and it was awful. I was looking at roles in ABW but seeing that has stopped me. - you won't be able to drive Chippenham to ABW in 40 mins unless you're working outside of general commuting house.
Train line is the main Bristol to London route so as long as there are no strikes or power lines down then trains are regular.
OW0809 · 06/04/2023 16:39
Thanks all for your responses.
Looks like Chippenham could be a no go as our budget has changed.
Feel so stuck! Our budget is £450k. We need 4 bed. Live somewhere that has direct trains to Bristol and country side with good schools!
A wish list that I don't think is achievable at the moment.
Any advice/opinions on any locations we could look at, would be hugely helpful.
Many thanks in advance X
Madcats · 06/04/2023 18:13
£450k for a 4 bed is going to be a challenge if you want to be near a station in Somerset/Wiltshire I would have thought.
I know nothing about the schools (I guess you need to traipse to Gloucester or Stroud for Secondary), but Cam (& Dursley) seem to have a lot of property around £450k https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124443998#/?channel=RES_NEW
This map might help you narrow down some easy train rides: https://dcrp.org.uk/travel-advice/map-of-the-network/
Check out this 4 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove
4 bedroom detached house for sale in Box Road, Cam, Dursley GL11 5DJ, GL11 for £465,000. Marketed by Bovis Homes Cotswolds
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124443998#/?channel=RES_NEW
FragranceFree · 06/04/2023 18:24
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132393890#/?channel=RES_NEW
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/129888404#/?channel=RES_NEW
I can see loads. What are you looking for?
Check out this 4 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove
4 bedroom detached house for sale in Hilltop Park, Methuen Park, Chippenham, SN14 for £410,000. Marketed by Bloor Homes
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132393890#/?channel=RES_NEW
OW0809 · 07/04/2023 09:17
Thank you VERY much for trains map link! That is super handy.
We had a drive around the area of Cam and Dursley, but weren't keen.
I think you have confirmed to us that we are being a bit optimistic of what we could get so close to Bristol with transport links. Looks like we need to re consider and look elsewhere 🙂
OW0809 · 07/04/2023 09:20
We have looked at this development. We need 3 double beds and a study. This house in particular is very similar to what we have now, and it doesn't work.
From what I gather, south side of Chippenham isn't in the catchment area for good schools which is a huge draw back.
We are truly spoilt where we are at the moment and quickly discovering what we'd be willing to compromise on.
Tulipvase · 07/04/2023 09:27
I’d have thought you would get something in budget in the Bowerhill area of Melksham. We don’t live there but do visit fairly often. There are some nice towns but in my opinion Chippenham or Melksham aren’t great. Just a bit boring, nothing dreadful. There is a new secondary school in Melksham but I don’t know what it is like.
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