How bad is the Winstanley Estate in north Battersea?

[astrobutnought]

Anyone know the area? I’ve been searching for a flat close to Clapham Junction (or at least with good transport links to Waterloo). There’s a cluster of new build apartments by the river, around Cotton Row street that I’ve viewed. Had a bit of walk around yesterday and found the area a tad depressing…not dangerous but a bit off iyswim. York Gardens and definitely the streets behind it. Was told by a friend that Winstanley Estate is best avoided.

Would you live in North Battersea? I would be walking up Plough Road regularly from Clapham Junction, would you feel safe?

I used to live in North Battersea - it is great but I would be nervous about the Winstanley estate . The council apparently have spent lots of money upgrading it but I think it is the one place I'd be nervous of - but this is old news - haven't lived in North Battersea for a long time. Cotton Row & Plantation Wharf etc if that is what you mean I would say is absolutely fine. 30 years ago my son went to a nursery in Plantation Wharf - it was fine. But again - my news is old

tbh I haven't looked at Balham. Kinda thought it was suburban, not somewhere where a lot is happening. Happy to be told I'm wrong!

St John's Hill, Wandsworth riverside, Battersea Sq are all gorgeous. I wouldn't live by the Winstanley.

Ah yes Balham is lovely, I don’t know what your situation is but have you considered the likes of Richmond? Putney?

My niece was looking in Battersea, and she asked our opinion, we lived in ifield road for a few years, it was nice my husband and I and our first born, but two children did make it feel small - it was small - but I loved it - I loved living near Fulham, and Kings Road and the river with all the beautiful houseboats, I look back on that time in my life with such happiness.

My niece and her husband bought a basement - three big rooms, big kitchen, bathroom and a garden, and the space in front of the flat with cupboards for what I thought was an extremely reasonable price (£340,000) in the next street, Finborough Road. It is a busier street, they have a moped which can be parked in the hallway with ease.

i have been there quite a few times recently and i still love it.

Cotton row is plantation wharf. Which is really nice. You have the river boat, Thames path, there’s a really good French restaurant, a cafe, the pub up the river walk, a co op etc. etc. Whitstanley is the other side of York Rd so hardly on your doorstep but I guess it’s en route to the station. I’d walk through during the day taking the main route through only. Any other time I’d avoid but that’s easy to do as you can walk the main road or take the bus.

Yes Plantation Wharf is where i viewed the properties. I thought it was fine but the walk to the train station is what worries me.

Yes to looking in putney but it's so busy! Richmond is a bit far out. I want to be somewhere with a bit life but close enough to get into the centre. I've also looked on the opposite side of the park where all the gitz is 😅

Is St John's Hill a 'location'? I thought it's just a high street.

I’m not sure what you mean by a destination. Sounds like it might be worth spending a bit more time in the area at different days of the week and times of day if you’re considering a flat in that area. St John’s Hill is a high street yes. It’s got some great independent restaurants, several gyms and a really nice ‘vibe’ on a weekend. There are half yearly street fairs hosted by local businesses and a great butcher. Plantation wharf and the riverside also have nice pubs and restaurants. You can get the bus or the boat to Battersea power station, the King’s Road or into town. Spend enough time wandering around the heliport and you might spot Tom Cruise who is a regular (or so the local Instagram accounts suggest). It’s very easy to avoid walking through the Winstanley at night if you’re not comfortable doing so. In the daytime you’ll find that there’s a very regular stream of commuters walking through (and plenty of perfectly lovely residents of blocks too, families, kids on way to one of the four very local primary schools, users of the church, library etc and a new sports facility is part of the development plans). And the 170 is a good option to skirt round it if that’s a preference.

If you otherwise like the flat I wouldn’t be put off. I have relatives who live PW whilst I live elsewhere in Battersea so do this journey quite a lot, DH also used to work in PW some years ago. So we know it well!! It’s fine to cut through the estate during the day. I’ve done it more times than I can count even with little kids in the buggy. At night I would avoid going straight through it but that’s easy because you can go straight down Plough Rd, which is only a couple of minutes longer. There’s also the bus if you’re feeling lazy or it’s raining- I do this a lot when it’s late! You can also commute into central london via the riverboat and avoid CJ altogether.