Around Teesside recommendations

[HinnyInDevon]

We have currently lived in Devon for 20 years but the job opportunities are awful and we would love to move back to the NE. Having just spent the week at Saltburn and absolutely loved it. (I even went surfing and ate a pasty)

We looked at jobs and there are literally hundreds for DH on higher salaries and the absolute job of my dreams is currently in Teesside.

Can anyone recommend an area within 20 miles of Teesside that would be lovely to move to?

Housing budget is £350k and I'd love a train station nearby.

We know there are issues with Teesside so posts "North East Bashing" will be pointless as there's no need to state the obvious 😂 we are from Newcastle...

I think Newcastle is too far (traffic, fuel etc!)

I have a 5 bedroom detached house in ingleby barwick, my eldest 2 go to a very good secondary school and I have everything I need (doctors, dentist, vets, supermarkets, restaurants all within walking distance) i do drive and we visit the coast and other local areas often, we've been here almost 20 years now, we love it

I didn't say it was bad
I said it was one of the largest housing estates in Europe (which it is although I imagine Kent has taken over around Dartford).
That was used as a marketing plus at 1 point.

People tend to love it or hate it- based on the many I know who have lived there over the years- they stay forever or move out quite quickly.

The small worldy / negative vibes from @WestminsterAbbey is putting me off the area. I don't want to live somewhere hostile and backwards. It sounds like its full of miserable people who are obsessed about house prices.

I'll look at some other areas :)

Don’t base your house purchase on the opinion of one person on the internet! Following as I’d love to move back to the area. We are in Scotland at the moment.

What? Where did that come from?

In the villages then everyone knows each other! Thats part of rural North Yorkshire life, you also know their Dad and Grandma.

There is only 1 secondary school- very socially mixed which is fab. Everyone goes there unless they go to an independent school.

Where did the house price obsessed bit come from?

You must have rural deprivation in Devon? Limited transport, high prices in smallish shops, really expensive petrol, lots of seasonal worker? Loads of 2nd home owners, holiday lets etc?

Oh that's exciting. What brings you south?

I honestly don't think my comments are negative- just honest.

There is no train
There are limited things for teenagers to do

As with anywhere- renting for 6 months before buying is a good idea
Lots of winter lets usually

Thanks for your input @WestminsterAbbey - It has definitely helped with my search.

My grandparents owned a huge farm in Northallerton until they died. It was gorgeous with several stunning cottages on site. Wish they were still here - they'd know what to do! 😂

Darlington is probably your best bet for a station and a pool. The Dolphin Centre is the council run pool but there are some private pools locally also (Rockliffe Hall is divine).

Trains through Darlington are very regular and run the main east coast line as well as across to Saltburn and to the west. We moved up from Bucks and LNER are definitely more reliable than Chiltern or the tube.

350k will buy a lot of property in the area. Easily enough for a 4 bed detached with garage and garden. Would you want a new build? There's some lovely ones going up in the villages around Darlington and sales are stalling so some good incentives to be found

Oh and we have 3 good airports within an hours drive also. So connections are superb

@WestminsterAbbey that's a good idea. Do you know if rentals are going quickly? I just assumed we couldn't get one.

Renting in Devon is a nightmare. 100s applicants per property, a shortage of family homes and they go within an hour.

@ThreeB my last house was a new build and I loved it! My current house is Victorian which I also love. Definitely open to ideas. Might be easier to move into a brand new house as there'll be no onward chain!

You can usually get a winter let of a holiday cottage- end Sept- April
I know a friend took 1 this year

If you give me your must haves, I'll have a bit of a scout around for you

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/131079686#/?channel=RES_BUY

Just an example of what you can get in budget. Popular village with its own primary. Pub. Church. Easy reach to Stockton, Darlington and Yarm. Great secondary school catchment. House on leafy, green seventies estate.

Yarm, Eaglescliffe, Middleton st George.
Avoid ingleby barwick as there no character

I left Stokesley School in 1984 (sixth form), we probably know each other too.

I would probably go to Northallerton over Darlington. Personal preference really, both have stations, reasonable transport links for teenagers and pools.
The surrounding villages (where I live) are lovely but more difficult with teens as bus services are sporadic or non existent and you have to drive them everywhere. Everyone knows everyone in a small village but, in my experience, are really welcoming of new people. House prices are much more expensive though particularly after covid when the demand was pushed up by people relocating from larger towns and cities.
Thirsk is picturesque, lovely market town on the edge of the dales with leisure centre and station, independent cinema but not so much for teens. Avoid the Hambleton Estate area.