Buying a house in Wythenshaw

[afi24]

Please advise, I have just seen a lovely house in Wythenshawe that has all that we need and within our price range - 350. However, it is less than 1 mile from Benchill. I am new to Manchester, I have heard of the reputation and read about the potential risks. Some of what I've read are quite dated but friends have shared some personal cases. I really love the house but I am quite worried about my teens. Please could someone advise if it is worth taking the risk. Have things changed in the area? Thank you

I think Wythenshawe's up and coming, I live South of there and if you were a young professional or couple I'd say go for it, but personally with teens I would avoid. Hopefully someone who actually lives there now can give you a better review of what it's like nowadays. With a £350k budget though you should have a few options South of Manchester if you're looking for a 3 bed semi? Xx

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149739635

Theres even stuff in Wilmslow for that price. Are your kids still at school?

I wouldn't. Especially if you have kids - secondary schools in the area are not great.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150269546?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Much nicer area....

Everywhere in South Manchester is shit. There are scroats everywhere, can't wait to get out of here once my youngest leaves school. 3 years and counting.
I live in Chorlton BTW. Supposedly one of the 'nicest' areas 🤨

Wythenshawe is one of the worst areas in south Manchester, so I don’t advise. I live a few miles away. As a PP said, you can get a similar property in other areas of the city, better areas. What it is about Whythenshawe that you’re drawn to?

You say "less than a mile from Benchill" as if Benchill is the only bad part of Wythenshawe.

For £350k, you could get a decent 3 bed semi in many better places. Withington, Burnage, Levenshulme, Stratford are all in your budget and I'd choose them over Wythenshawe any day.

Or further North, Prestwich, Whitefield or Heston Park are in your budget

I'm not saying any of these areas are "naice" or you'll get a lot for your money there. And if you didn't have kids, I wouldn't be as concerned. But I would never move children into Wythenshawe, particularly teenagers.

Don't go to Withington it's an absolute shit pit. We just moved from there a few years ago because of all the burlaries, kids on bikes robbing people and Withington village is just a haven for alcoholics begging now.

Don't do it. I would not want my teens anywhere near Wythenshawe. Don't let the nice house sway you - it's location that you need to be concentrating on.

Can you afford Gatley, or Cheadle? I'm not here to rubbish Wythenshawe mind. I bought my first house in Sharston in 2007. Adjacent to Gatley. It was quiet and we had no issues (liked it a lot actually) BUT we moved with work after a few years and were late 20s no kids. So we were not really aware of issues for kids and teens (which I do not underestimate). In truth, we rarely used the town facilities either). We headed in other directions for that.

Gatley is a decent enough place with good people and services. It's also located near Wythenshawe if you need that for work.

Sorry, but Withington and Chorlton are not 'shit pits' with regards to outcomes for young people compared with Wythenshawe. Of course there is some trouble in any urban area, but Withington and Chorlton don't experience the grinding poverty and intergenerational ingrained family dysfunction on anywhere like the same scale. They also have much higher attaining education options.

Which does not mean that there aren't good families in Wythenshawe and troubled ones in Withington or Chorlton. It's a question of scale and proportions.

@RunMamaJustRun I'd still say it's better than Wythenshawe, as the Didsbury tram line is safer to use than the Airport/Wythenshawe one and it's well connected to areas I'd be happier for my teens to be hanging out in. But agreed that it was the worst of the options I mentioned and OP's budget can afford better.

Fwiw I have lived 30 years in Chorlton, brought up 4 kids, and never experienced any trouble.

I lived in Withington for 30 years. I've been in Chorlton for 4 years.
Council houses. Yes they are shit tips. Wythenshawe is a shit tip.
Manchester is a shit tip.

I've spent my whole life here from being born.

In 2024 alone we've had

-bike stolen from shed
-DS2 mugged for phone on way home
-car window smashed in

And my sister who also lives in chorlton has had her house burgled and her car window put in with a rock (3 other cars on road had same, just kids on bikes riding by smashing windows)

@Toasticles absolutely nailed it. Anyone who thinks Chorlton is a shit pit is vastly out of touch.

I'm on benefits and live in a council house. I'm not out of touch with anything or some rich bitch.
I'm telling you what I see.

Everyday through chorlton there's kids on motorbikes with balaclavas and MACHETES

Look at the local FB pages.

They ride down the fallowfield loop robbing school kids

@RunMamaJustRun But OP isn't looking to buy on the Nell Lane or Meadow bank estate. She's looking to spend 350k on buying privately. It may be wrong, but that means she won't be in those more problematic parts of Chorlton or Withington if she does buy here.

I wouldn't spend £350 to live in Wythenshawe and so close to Benchill.

Mind you for 350k Northenden or Stretford is a more realistic proposition...

I don't live in those areas.

I live on the 'good side' if there is such a thing.

@RunMamaJustRun With all due respect, you absolutely don't live in a good bit if there are people running around with machetes.

There simply would not be a market for £500k+ houses in Chorlton (which there is, in the actual nice bits) if it was the type of place you describe here.

Or perhaps think somewhere to the west of Wythenshawe? Such as Timperley or Sale.

For example, a nice 3 bed semi, 78 sq metres, in Sale for £350k.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150426014#/?channel=RES_BUY

It is literally a 2 minute walk to Sale High School or a mile away from Sale Grammar School.

Totally agree with you @ClonedSquare

OP if it's the house I'm thinking of it's the wrong side of the brook and there's no way over to the other side. The only way out is via Shady Lane which is definitely very shady and not a road you'd want your kids anywhere near.
You can do so much better for your money. Best schools are in Trafford, look at Flixton, Urmston, Sale, Sale Moor, Broadheath.

Agree with @RunMamaJustRun , even the ’nicer’ parts of Chorlton are plagued by scrotes. It’s become so much worse as an area since Covid. Yet the minimum house price is 500k. And that Wilmslow link another poster has provided is to a house on an estate where there are similar issues.