Help me find a place to live in the W. Midlands

[Whereshallwelivee]

Currently in Dudley. Hate it. Dh from here originally, we had to move back a few years ago for many horrible reasons which made it difficult to go anywhere else. we were 160 miles away and I was v ill and LL sold up, in laws found us a place to rent here and then we bought a place to do up which has worked out V well for us as prices have risen here dramatically as well as the work we have done to the place.

We now find ourself tied to Birmingham for work for a while.

So, where can we move to that is nicer? Schools here are shocking. Got a year 5 child, who I don’t want to go to secondary here. Very bright so will be taking 11+. i know we don’t have much chance here of getting into a grammar but she wanted to do it and really enjoys the prep work (if I hadn’t given birth I’d swear she wasn’t mine!)

Top budget is 350k. We need 3 beds (toddler and an adult child at home as well as dd). We are currently in a 4 bed which is perfect for us as mainly work from home so smallest room is office space, but you get quite a big house here for the money, you wouldn’t get that somewhere nicer.

It’s predominantly schools which are my concern, secondary ones - youngest will be home educated.

I’d rather not be in W midlands at all, but we could never afford to go back to where we were living and we ar tied here for a bit with 3 of us working here now.

Sutton coldfield and worcester are places I don’t mind.

Please help!

Streetly?

Halesowen. Some fantastic secondary schools and the possibility of Grammar schools within Birmingham.
Bus and rail links to Birmingham. There are some lovely areas where it's 10 mins either way to town or countryside.

Out of all those mentioned already and personal links, I would suggest:

Lichfield
Streetly
Shenstone
Aldridge
Codsall

The others I'd give a miss.

I moved from Streetly to Lichfield.Streetly is not the nice place it was 20years ago.I don’t rate Aldridge either.

Lichfield is lovely,direct trains to London,two airports close,East Midlands and Birmingham.

The schools are excellent.There is a lot of new housing though and no new amenities.

Barr Beacon high school on the edge of Walsall is really good. You could have a look at this catchment area (Barr Beacon school right on the edge of Great Barr). This one is nearby
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144927950#/?channel=RESBUY

or this one

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141423260#/?channel=RESBUY

Great Barr is a bit cheaper than Sutton Coldfield but still quite nice. You could also get into Queen Mary’s grammar in Walsall from this area too.

Stafford, Tettenhall, iron bridge, Shrewsbury are all nice with good links and good schools

Does anyone know much about Worcester? Dh and I are both still drawn to it.

What would you like to know about Worcester in particular? If you want to be walking distance to the town centre then barbourne, diglis , battenhall or arboretum would be best. I'd avoid st John's or anything over the other side of the river as when it floods ( and it does a lot) the traffic to get across the bridge is a nightmare! Would it be possible for your son to get a transfer if he works in emergency services as that seems to be the sticking point? I think the last train from Brum is around 11pm , but check as there are 2 stations and they have slightly different schedules. Worcester is a lovely place - the river walks in summer are beautiful and you do get the best of both worlds with the proximity to Brum.

I wouldn't move to Stafford it's depressing. I have a friend who lives in Streetly it's a good area.

Yea, it was areas. I’ve heard Northwick and Barbourne are nice?

Public transport doesn’t work for his shifts. He often works over, his late shifts don’t finish until after 11 anyway but he usually finishes in the early hours of the morning and he can’t transfer, it’s a degree apprenticeship with a certain force. Early shifts he’s got to be in for 6am. So he’s the sticking point in worcester. I don’t want him to move out and start renting. he’s saving well and we all get on well, there’s no need for him to leave home yet.

Bournville? It is very much in Birmingham but has a villagey feel and close to various high streets. Some great secondary schools in close enough distance and very easy to get to Birmingham city centre. Some affordable houses in your budget with a quick look on Rightmove.

Bearwood is up and coming and has pockets of lovely areas close to Warley Woods. Close enough to some great schools such as King Edward for girls.

I am stumped for ideas outside of Birmingham outside of the ones mentioned.

I think we have pretty much decided on Worcester over night.

Ds is looking into those fast track driving lessons, where they find you a close test date etc.

He doesn’t want to stay in Birmingham BUT he’s heavily biased as a police officer. Every area I mention, even the nice ones, he will tell me about some awful crimes he’s been to there.

I know that’s the same with all areas to be honest, but it helps that ds is on the same page.

A lot of people move to Worcester from the " big" cities as you're right, it has a lot going on but without the big city problems. House wise, it depends what you're looking for? Northwick and barbourne have lots of period houses but if new builds are your thing, there are a few estates within these areas. Warndon villages is The main area for new builds though, it's nice but you lose The ability to wander into town as it's a couple of miles away. The area around ghelevelt park is lovely which feeds into the riverside walk at pitchcroft racecourse - a nice route into town. They're building a huge new foot bridge in the park too which will get you to the other side of the river in minutes. Regarding your son, if you're really set on moving perhaps you could suck it up for a few months and pick/ drop him off until he's passed his test? Lots of people regularly commute to Birmingham - it takes around 40 minutes on a good run.

Lichfield.

Love to know how you get on OP. I dont know the area but have been thinking of worecester or malvern as possible retirement places in the next year

I think one of the best things about Worcester, is it's surrounded by other beautiful locations which are all reachable by train - Malvern is five minutes away, pershore 10 minutes, ledbury around 20 minutes and then you've got Cheltenham for your big shopping needs ( again 25 minutes on the train). Whereas with brum you may live in a nice suburb ( e.g bourneville) but your often surrounded by grotty bits so it takes much longer to get anywhere decent or an hour plus drive to get to the countryside for a day out/ change of scenery iyswim. I think you've nailed it when saying you want to live close to the town centre as that's when Worcester comes into its own - you can hop on a train for an impromptu day out or pop to the cinema or a nice cafe or restaurant without having to drive . Hope that makes sense!

Thank you.

Having spoken to lots of agents this morning, I’m pretty much stuck on Northwick/Barbourne.

I want to be close to the centre. We’ve actually spent lots of time in Worcester over the last couple of years, especially in the summer. The younger two love Gheluvelt Park, especially the splash pad.

I lived in Norwich years ago, which I love and would move back up in a heartbeat if it was practical, and Worcester reminds me so much of there.

In terms of houses, I love period. Victorian terraces are my thing, I’ve lived in a lot over the years in London and Norwich.

We are currently in a 1930s house which I love but it’s only practical as it’s been extended over the years. The ones in our price range in Worcester haven’t so they all have that tiny 3rd bedroom which wouldn’t be ideal for my son.

We get more for our money in Worcester too. Top whack is £350k, but at £250k, we’d be mortgage free in ten years.

Ooh if you're after period houses you'll be spoilt for choice, but some of them can be pricey! Anywhere off the ombersley road would be good for you and definitely get registered at nicol and co - probably the best estate agents in the area. They seem very proactive in closing the deal and I often see houses listed with them that are sold prior to marketing so you'll need to be on " their books" to get a chance at the good stuff.

I'm glad your little ones liked the park - it is a beautiful spot and I'm often down there in the summer months chilling with a book and a picnic!

funny you should mention Norwich - it's on my wish list to visit as I had a feeling if like the vibe there so you've affirmed that!

I think the only areas is avoid personally, are rainbow hill / astwood road - nothing wrong with them per se and lots of older houses, but it's a bit grim feeling plus the hike up the steep hill from town is off putting.

anything else you'd like to know ask away and good luck with the hunt. I'm sure you'll love Worcester - as I'm sure you've found out akready, the people really are so friendly and welcoming to outsiders. They don't seem as ' hard bitten' or cynical as big city folk.

agree with TimedExit I used to live on Lavender Road, one of the 4 storey ones, also lived on the Ombersley Road, and Brittania Square. Look at Northwick Road too OP.

I registered with that agent this morning! They were super helpful on areas as well.

How do you rate the schools?

Honestly, Norwich and Worcester have the same feeling for me!

Sirry, that I can't help you with! I know the private schools - rgs and kings and further afield, Malvern colleges are exceptional but state schools haven't a scooby. If you're on fb join the wr3 residents group and they'll be able to answer questions I would have thought. They're a helpful bunch!

I agree. Solihull, Bromsgrove or Alvechurch are good options.

Oops, just realised you’re going with Worcester, lovely but quite the commute on a daily basis.
Op - have you looked around Solihull, Bromsgrove or Alvechurch?
Leamington Spa is lovely too, although a similar commute to Worcester.

Just another thing to note OP, is if you're toying with Worcester id do it sooner rather than later. I've noticed how house prices have rocketed in the last three years - you would have had your pick of period properties a few years back for a 250/300 k budget but everything has gone up massively. A 2 bed Victorian terrace in barbourne go for around 220 k. now. I think covid and WFH has contributed but there seems to be an exodus of midlanders moving here who are priced out of the good areas in Solihull and Warwickshire but want the peace and quiet of a cathedral city. They are building a new town inbetween Worcester and pershore (10,000 homes) and a new development of the shrub hill area which will push up prices more. If they ever sort out the train line with faster trains to Brum so you could commute in half an hour I think it will likely go the way of Solihull and become unaffordable for most.

Just another thing to note OP, is if you're toying with Worcester id do it sooner rather than later. I've noticed how house prices have rocketed in the last three years - you would have had your pick of period properties a few years back for a 250/300 k budget but everything has gone up massively. A 2 bed Victorian terrace in barbourne go for around 220 k. now. I think covid and WFH has contributed but there seems to be an exodus of midlanders moving here who are priced out of the good areas in Solihull and Warwickshire but want the peace and quiet of a cathedral city. They are building a new town inbetween Worcester and pershore (10,000 homes) and a new development of the shrub hill area which will push up prices more. If they ever sort out the train line with faster trains to Brum so you could commute in half an hour I think it will likely go the way of Solihull and become unaffordable for most.