Moving to North East

[stef2024]

Hi everyone,

We are looking for our forever home in the North East. Ideally, 4 bed detached with a budget of 350k max. Since we don't know the areas very well we've done some viewings and we tend to explore the neighbourhood afterwards.

We are considering to make offers on few properties and wanted to ask for experience on areas in terms of schooling (we dont expect superb schools, we are average family so everything average ia good) safety and having other families around.

One house is in Ouston, which seems like a nice area but there is nothing going on there, didnt even find a playground. How is the area in terms of raising a child there into adulthood considering that is in close proximity to Birtley which at first look doean't seem great but I believe secondary school is in a catchment area?

Next is south west of Chester-le-street (the very edge of the town). Town centre looks ok-ish. What is everyone else's opinion?

Third is Mount Pleasant area, which I believe is part of Washington. Looking at the deprivation map it seems to be ok but Washington seems to be hit and miss. Any ideas?

How about Prudhoe and Ryton? In Newcastle city Killingworth or Benton seems to be somewhat affordable.

I have to say, I paid some attention to that deprivation map for a while, and I found it to be unnecessarily off putting.

There are a lot of areas where houses were traditionally sold cheaply but are respectable places to live.

It’s better to hit the streets and see the gardens and roads, what’s in them, old mattresses and sofas in front gardens, or everything well kept and neat?

The other thing it does is highlight all new build areas as blue, purely because the houses are so damn expensive, but that doesn’t speak to the quality of living there, imo.

I do use the ADT crime checker to zone in on the immediate area and street though.

We have been looking in the North quite a bit ourselves. What we have learned is that there is absolutely no substitute whatsoever to getting in the car and driving and walking the areas, talking to people, then popping into a pub or cafe to gauge the atmosphere. Nice areas can be disconnected from anything good, seemingly bad areas are often nowhere near as bad as it seems. If I were to believe mumsnet I would be moving to a “naice” area near where we want, estate agents rave about it and the internet almost universally agrees it’s a place people want to be, but the reality of that area is it has fancy houses, almost nothing else, and an average age of at least retirement age plus. That became abundantly clear only after talking to the seller, walking the streets and sitting in the local pub for an hour.

We have found the constant trips painful (physically for me), but you get to know areas super quickly to rule them out, which gets you far closer to what you want and need, rather than spending months on Rightmove and trying to suss the area out from a keyboard.

Please avoid Washington or Birtley! Ryton/Prudhoe/ Blaydon/Whickham all better places. Whickham comp was very good. Also hookergate school near winlaton/Rowlands Gill. You could try the mining villages in Durham, Stanley, esh winning, Lanchester.

In newcastle the prices are higher but you do get rough pockets. I ve never lived north of the river but know places by their reputation.

Should add that although I was born and bred south of the river and my kids went to school there, I've lived in the south for 20 years. My family are still there though so I still know the rough areas. EG south shields is another area to avoid

Stanley is terrible!

Hi, I would agree with previous posters. Look at Whickham, Sunniside, Rowlands Gill, Burnopfield (check they’re likely to be in the catchment for Whickham school). Alternatively, I would look at Gosforth area for schools but you would be looking at a semi rather than detached for your budget (e.g. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147222578#/?channel=RES_BUY)
Where will you be working? It’s worth considering commute when looking at areas too.

You seem to focus on south of the Tyne - is that for work reasons ?

Else cramlington is a normal town with 4 bed detached under 350 . I'd chose that over longbenton and the like - a bit more green space

Thanks everyone. I agree that deprivation map can be off-putting but in case of Birtley it appears to be right after I've had a walk there. I didn't see any comment on Ouston? We work remotely so we are not looking at the commuting distance but we still want to be near the city as no job lasts forever :-) and the kids will probably want access to the city later in life. I was doing viewings in Cramlington and Bedlington in the past but offers were not accepted. They seemed to be nice towns. Bedlington has lots of new houses that I want to avoid due to fleecehold though.

That house in Gosforth is fab and in a great area. I'd snap that up myself if I was looking.

I don't know much about some of the areas south of the river, but I'd always favour Cramlington over Bedlington. It's a bit nicer overall, has better transport links (train into Newcastle) and there's much more for kids to do as they get older.

@stef2024 have you thought of Durham? Newton hall is decent with good schools.

I agree with the above, stay away from Ouston, Washington and Birtley areas, Chester-le-Street has some nice places in it and its close to the A1 so good transport. Durham is also nice, theres some lovely little mining villages on the outskirts of Durham city with good schools and transport links.

Yes, Newthon Hall looks nice and affordable but didn't find any property to my liking yet. Thanks.

Good luck I hope you do soon.

Generally - where ever you buy - visits the areas in late evening, night times and weekends to get the different feels

Alos, if you are looking at a house from spring to summer - try to imagine what you can see or who can see you once the tress have shed their leaves.

Have a look in North Tyneside. The coast here is beautiful. You should be able to get something in the Whitley Bay / Cullercoats / Monkseaton / Wellfield areas.

Prudhoe, Ovingham, stocksfield, Ponteland, callerton are good areas house prices vary a lot especially for schools, trains and a good commute. Crawcrook is also worth a look. Closer to town is more expensive for a home.
Welcome to the north east, we're a friendly bunch!

I'd also agree with Gosforth. I used to own a café there so know it well. It's a great area, but you have to be careful as it also borders on some not so great areas (like Seaton Burn for example, so just to bear in mind for school catchment areas)

You can get a 4 bed detached 'new build' for your money.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136607411#/?channel=RES_BUY

North Sunderland is lovely - easy access to the beach and lots going on in terms of parks and places to eat. It's on the metro line so it's quick to get into Newcastle without the car.

I'm going to come back later to reply properly, grew up in Prudhoe and currently living next to Killingworth!

Welcome to the north east, we're a friendly bunch!

Going on the undertone of this thread, apparently that's all we've got going for us

Another shout for north Tyneside like. Id move to Whitley Bay if I was so inclined.

Come to Hartlepool!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/145860992#/?channel=RES_BUY

In catchment for some very good schools, near a beautiful park, ten mins by car to a big clean beach. Improving transport links, can get on the motorway easily, about 60 mins to Newcastle or York by road.

Whitley Bay is definitely in the midst of a regeneration but the high street still needs to catch up. It’s still sparse.

I agree about avoiding Stanley!

I’m in rural County Durham but have lived in Gateshead and Newcastle too before now. There are lots of nice pockets. Low Fell is great to live but the local high school (Grace College) is a bit so so.

This is beautiful!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146720651#/?channel=RES_BUY

Exactly, regeneration. Get a house there now imo. Once the new fleet of metros fit the rails and up and running, you can go anywhere for the things you like. No car needed.

Gosforth is expensive though. Except you’re looking west of gosforth that borders Kenton.
The issue with going far is public transport is awful if you’ll be relying on that. I had a friend who lived in Cramlington who constantly complained about how unreliable the bus service was.

If you choose newcastle I recommend Longbenton/Benton, Kingston park.
High heaton used to be affordable but prices have skyrocketed now and there are rarely any properties for sale there.

or Gateshead. I’ll stay north of gateshead.

I think the new railway line from Ashington to Newcastle opens this year. It has a station in Bedlington.

I lived about a mile northwards from here. It's a nice area. The main road is quite busy but you're in walking distance of the buses and regent centre metro.