Working in Grangemouth - Best Location to Buy

[BestLocation]

We are looking to relocate and buy following a job offer in Grangemouth. We are lucky in that there are no schools to consider as DC are all Uni age but would like good transport links to Edinburgh and Glasgow. Our budget would be in the area £450k to £500k for a good size 4 bed detached. Older, do it upper or new build. Don’t have a preference and the location is definitely key.

We really are clueless about surrounding areas so would welcome any suggestions that I could start to research. Preferences would be for somewhere established with a proper centre and decent facilities rather than anywhere remote. Suburbs are fine and where we are used to. Also, I don’t fancy a long daily commute.

It would be great to get some local knowledge.

Polmont, Brightons, Linlithgow, Bo’ness
11 Cow Wynd, Falkirk
www.rightmove.co.uk/property/90754279
The Fairways, Falkirk Road, Larbert, Stirlingshire
www.rightmove.co.uk/property/104926451

With the budget you have mentioned, I am thinking Linlithgow would be an ideal location.

Definitely Linlithgow

I also vote for Linlithgow!

Polmont and Linlithgow both have the train link to Edinburgh and Glasgow. Linlithgow is much prettier with a more town feel to it, pubs and a great community with lots happening. But Polmont still has amenities, a couple of pubs, takeaways, Aldi, library, the Inshyra Hotel has a lovely gym with pool and spa. Polmont is closer to Grangemouth but both are very close, Polmont is walkable (I'm assuming the job is at Ineos / BP?) but Linlithgow would be short a drive.

And another vote for Linlithgow!

Don't want to be pessimistic but please take into account the locality of both the tip & refinery with the prevailing wind direction.

I'll add South Queensferry into the mix too, that's a relatively easy commute.
There's not many 4 beds on the market either there or Linlithgow but I think you'll be looking at the top end of your budget if you want detached.
espc.com/property/15-hewlett-way-south-queensferry-eh30-9aa/35924123?sid=184631

@LizzieMacQueen

Don't want to be pessimistic but please take into account the locality of both the tip & refinery with the prevailing wind direction.

Yep, Linlithgow is lovely. I loved living there but the tip smell was particularly grim last time we stayed.

You do know when the refinery is flaring but it's not Mosmorran...

Great dogwalking round the area & loads to do. Easy access to Edinburgh & Glasgow.

Wow, I wasn’t expecting such a majority of responses recommending one location. I’ve had a quick look and can only see three 4 beds on presently. Don’t know if that is unusual or a symptom of lockdown.

The air quality sounds a little concerning. That is the kind of local knowledge I was hoping to get.

We would definitely want a detached property and have a dog so the dog walking comment is also appreciated.

Someone who works at Grangemouth has recommended Larbert. I am searching for older similar threads and see that Larbert had mixed views.

Thanks for all your thoughts so far. We have a few months thankfully.

Larbert is ok just a bit dull with no nice town centre, you would get more for your money.

Larbert has new builds popping up all over the place - maybe consider bridge of Allan or dunblane ? Not too far from motorways with all the links you need, and much much prettier. Although for bridge of Allan and dunblane, very desirable so you do pay for the postcode.

Stirling would not be a bad commute either (and no tip smells), though the town centre isn’t the most thrilling. Some of the surrounding villages are nice. The biggest problem is there is so little on the market at the moment - it’s really tough for buyers.

You can do a search on rightmove that will give you areas within a commuting distance you specify:

where.rightmove.co.uk/

Also, saw this which might fit the bill, rural setting but only 2 miles from Stirling train station and also near to get onto the motorway and down to Grangemouth in jig time.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/90741043#/

I've never noticed the smell of the tip in Linlithgow! It's to the west of the town and the prevailing wind typically comes from the west but how bad would it have to be to reach the town itself? It's pretty potent as you pass on the M9 but barely for any distance.

There’s some lovely houses in Linlithgow but I find it a bit of an odd place.
Dunblane/Stirling as bit further away but close enough to commute

This is in Stirling, older new build, nice estate (properties sell quickly) and this is below budget and has views of the castle from the back garden. Dog walks from your doorstep.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/105590741#/

They are building new houses at Barbush on the northern end of Dunblane that might be worth a look, again easy access onto the motorway plus trains to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

I would look at Dunblane or Bridge of Allen. Both lovely places and on the train line plus not a long commute to Grangemouth.

Linlithgow is great but (when we were looking) 4 beds were rarer than hen's teeth. I think as well with lockdown people are moving out of the cities so places like Linlithgow are in high demand. And you'll be competing with families with school age children too...

Would Queensferry work for you? Lots of new builds around there and it's a nice place to live, wouldn't be that much of a commute.

Linlithgow doesn't smell from the tip, it's further out than the town. The flaring isn't bad from there either.

Linlithgow and Polmont both have train stations so easy access to Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Bo'ness is 3 miles from Linlithgow but doesn't have the same nice shops cafe and bar culture that Linlithgow has (but is great for dog walking)
Larbert is a bit dull. It's just houses with nothing much else happening.
Redding is full of Grangemouth workers at the new build estates, but again it's mainly housing. Depends what you want, if community feel with cafes and bars and train station within walking distance then Linlithgow or South Queensferry although SQ a bit further out for travelling and can get caught up in the Fife bridge traffic.

Linlithgow and Bo'ness are both in a housing boom atm, everything sells within days. You'd need to be on the ball for Linlithgow

There's not much on right move at the moment but Wallacestone is quite nice and an easy drive. 50 Comyn Drive
www.rightmove.co.uk/property/79726638

Also Winchburgh isn't too far away either

Church Place, Winchburgh, Broxburn, EH52
www.rightmove.co.uk/property/79553385

You don't get much for your money in Linlithgow. The high school is a draw for people so you pay a bit more for that and a lot of housing stock is 70s and 80s 3 beds. Fewer spacious, older houses than say Stirling.
In your circumstances I would look elsewhere.

Winchburgh doesn't have a decent centre and has NO facilities!