Durham County Safest Areas

[sho646]

Hi there, If you could share from your experience what are the safest areas around Durham County. I have been renting around West London areas for past 14 years or so, now have a budget of around 130K to buy a house, I am from Asian ethnic background. Heard few concerns from family regarding living in Durham County and ethnicity acceptance in community there. I have not much of a budget to buy any property in surroundings of London. So the only chance for me to land in some property is in Durham County. Please if you could share your knowledge and experience of Durham County areas where you think is safe to reside and have acceptance for other ethnicity. Thank you.

I’d probably avoid Skerne Park and Red Hall.
The Denes, Mowden, Cockerton, West End, Harrowgate Hill, Haughton all nice.

I live in rural County Durham. It isn’t an ethnically diverse area (I grew up in Leeds which really is so I notice it!), but I have noticed any issues with racism in the area. I have friends who have Chinese and Taiwanese heritage and they are a part of village and school life the same as anyone else and a welcome part of our community.

if you are looking for city life I’d be looking in Durham itself, not Consett.

DL3 postcode a good starting point, eg on RightMove
West Park / Faverdale also good

Thank you, Yes sure, would surely love to meet up. We are from different ethnicity and backgrounds, so we may have diverse interest. It is sad that people are still divided by the skin colour and backgrounds in this day and age.

And firthmoor (avoid)

Yes be lovely to meet you OP ☺️ I hope you find somewhere soon 🙏🤞

Thank you for your detailed reply, just sharing a thought, no one can take away anyones opportunity to live. the problem lies within, if one is talented enough to land a job or have business brains, no one can take that away from one.

Thank you for your reply, I am just looking for less crime less hatred area, not much concerned about city life or even ethnic mix. I lived around big cities in and outside UK and have not much love left for buzzing life, particularly since i have touched 50s

It is an absolute pleasure meeting you and I am much obliged for your replies. Thank you.

I just wanna thanks everyone generally, who really put their efforts to reply me back. I am grateful to you all and I am sure you all are living or have lived around the same radius and that shows enough love and kindness Durham people have. Thank you all.

Just last thing, if you know any areas in Consett to avoid because of high crime. please if you could let me know. Thank you

@sho646 you're very welcome. I'm due to move myself soon. To a much quieter part of the coast. I can't wait. Am also 50s.

Have you looked on https://www.adt.co.uk/crime-in-my-area

I live in Consett, I'm not sure anywhere here would be considered high crime, its very low compared to London. We've been here 7 years and it's definitely got more diverse in that time. I've never overheard any racist comments, I'm white so perhaps I don't notice. No-one has ever said anything to me about being a southerner (not to my face anyway!), it's feels like people are very 'live and let live'. I have witnesses some anti social behaviour but again nothing compared to London.

Hi, @sho646 , I just wanted to make one more point. Although Durham itself is technically a city, it is way smaller than most cities and actually has more of a market town vibe. I think it is only its historic religious significance that has earned it it's city status. So in terms of safety, a quiet life, etc, it may be appropriate for what you want. I know that my son resented Durham for its lack of a 'buzzing' life!
And many of the villages in the surrounding areas are former mining locations that have suffered a lot from the loss of industry. In that sense, County Durham is a bit of a mirror image of many UK regions: the more rural areas suffer from the blight that in other parts of the UK are associated with the more urban areas.

I also wanted to say how lovely and kind you sound in all of your posts. And I think you are right to mention, in one of your posts, how kind the people of Durham are. I'm from the south of England and when I arrived here 25 years ago I was very struck by people's friendliness. xx

@GoodOldEmmaNess Thank you for your kind words. It's touched my heart. I wish you all the lovely things in your life. Thank you so much.

Hi.

I'm 62 and lived in various parts of the County for 58 of those years.
I know the County very well and also I know of the places to avoid.
It also depends on your budget.
Please feel free to ask me

Newton Hall is not cheap.
Could get a semi on newish builds at Pity Me for 150k.Decent there.
Some parts of Giles gate to be avoided especially Sherburn Road

I live in Lanchester which is 5 miles from Consett.
It has a good reputation but not cheap.
Council area more affordable around Deneside/Manor Grove is decent but walls are thin so neighbours TV will be heard.
But its safe.
And the village is renowned for being a safe village.
Locals are okay.Some friendly but the less friendly ones don't cause trouble.

I agree Newton Hall isn't cheap. I have family there. Nice though.

@sho646 how are you getting on?

I lived on Newton Hall for many years.
Four different houses.Very safe
Plus Fram Moor.Fram Moor average but mainly ex council.
Newton Hall better and I was brought up in Fram Moor on a private estate.
But noticed today 3 bed private estate semis on Newton Hall are about £190k so out of the OP price range

I'd think it really depends on if you want to be a little more rural or closer to the city.

Newton hall as mentioned is nice, safe enough and within walking distance of the city centre.

Consett is nice, has a lot of snow! Further away from the city centre but there are plenty of shops etc on your doorstep. Particularly a lovely farm shop called Knitsley farm shop which has a little cafe too.

Lanchester is gorgeous, they have plenty going on there, some nice restaurants, a few shops and a lovely village green that gets beautifully decorated at Christmas.

Bishop Middleham is a little village close to sedgefield. Great community feel, pretty safe. Only one post office/shop and a pub but close to a large supermarket, nice walks.

Sedgefield, beautiful, fairly expensive, shops, restaurants , a pub which Tony Blair once took George Bush. Close to Hardwick Park which is gorgeous for a walk and has a little cafe.

Durham is beautiful, I think you would be happy here.

Oh and Burnhope, fairy near consett, I don't think it has the best reputation but have always found it safe and it has a lovely community feel to it, nice people.

Fairly near 🙈

Might want to google the Wright family and Burnhope if you’re thinking of moving to that location.