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Original poster

Moving to Lancaster

81 replies

lifeunlimited · 21/02/2021 09:56

Hi everyone,

We currently live in Teeside area in north east and are planning to move to Lancaster in May 2021. Me and my husband will be working in main city of lancaster if everything goes to plan and i have DD in year 3. We have been looking at buying a house to move straight in for last few months, but can't seem to find a proper house of our liking within our budget. Coming from North East houses seems very pricey (we currently live in decent sized 4 double bed house with an extra family room downstairs, open kitchen, detached with big garden- costed 250K) We are happy to stretch unto 400- 450K for a decent house in decent location, but seems there are no nice houses at all in Lancaster/ Carnforth or Halton, don't want to be in Morecambe.
There are some decent houses in Garstang, Forton, but they don't seem to be in catchment for Lancaster grammar schools (hoping to get my DD in) I have heard children from preston coming to grammar school, but because they are not in catchment area- she will be last priority after all lancaster children have been offered place. Getting a bit worried as no other good secondary apart from the Ripley's, might be difficult to get into.

We don't want to live too far away in Holme/ kirby Lonsdale or clitheroe or preston as too far to drive into lancaster city centre for work, shift work, getting childcare out of hours etc will be difficult- as no friends or family yet.

I would really appreciate your thoughts and advice from anyone living in the area and has better knowledge than me. We are happy to rent for few months in a flat and then buy a house if we can find good ones.
Thank you.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 22/02/2021 16:31

Eden project will make a massive difference.

Original poster
lifeunlimited · 23/02/2021 11:09

Hi all, thank you for all your comments. Sorry been working and couldn't reply and unable to reply individually.

My husband is working in RLI, and would need to be there for at least 2-3 years, but has a permanent contract so he could stay on/ change. We were just thinking i will work in north east and he will be in lancaster for these 2-3 years and then decide. But currently I am pregnant so it would be difficult for me to manage older kid, work and pregnancy/ new baby etc by myself. Hence we are moving.

So I think best bet to get into LGGS would be to buy within lancaster. we will keep looking to find any houses there which would fit our criteria. Currently we really liked few houses in Garstang and the new build in Forton. We will wait until stamp duty holiday is over and see if the property market changes in Lancaster.

As for north of river we are ok until carnforth, but any higher would be very difficult to commute as we both will be in the city working. Also all those are not in catchment area for QEGS- in penrith- It is a grammar school again and needs entrance test, but catchment is quite high up until ullswater lake only.

Regarding Halton- we really liked and we would have bought if there was any- but no houses, the 4 bed storey homes haven't even started and we have to commit and reserve now itself for them to be finished in dec 2021. We cannot buy unfinished property due to religious reasons. Wrenmanhomes- all decent new build have been reserved despite not being complete. And Redwing in Caton have no decent 4 bed available again for our liking. So we are stuck with any new builds. There is 1-2 new build in Bowerham, but they are too small- like 4th bed is single and no study or family room, or enough space for us to have anything extra.
We don't mind old , rural properties- but the issue with old ones are there is so much you need to change, and most of them don't have ensuite which is definitely needed for us. We are busy people and cannot spend more time later to change flooring, or add extra things, etc, so would prefer if everything is already as we prefer at least.

I was told by some people that Morecambe/ Heysham is a bit rough area and not to buy there. But I haven't personally been there so its hard for me to judge. Will keep an eye for all the properties in lancaster and see where we go over the next few months. If we cannot find any that would interest us in 6 months would probably go to Garstang as primary and secondary there are good as well. Currently we have got a rented apartment so we are ok for short term.

Thank you

OP posts:
RandomMess · 23/02/2021 11:37

Heysham is mainly nice as is the Bare/Hest Bank end of Morecambe so don't rule out altogether.

Lots of people commute from Milnthorpe and Kirby Lonsdale so I assume the schools cater for working parents or there are childminders around - worth a look at. Also consider Hornby & Glasson Dock and the rural homes between.

If you have a rental apartment another option is to have work done before you move in. Not ideal but we lived in rented whilst having major work done - absolutely worth the £3k and living in a not very nice rental in the overall scheme of things.

If you live close to one of the parks have a small garden is far less of an issue especially when the weather isn't great, unfortunately it is definitely wetter that the NE Sad though we get less snow Grin

Tyranttoddler · 23/02/2021 11:55

There are some grim areas of Morecambe but also some beautiful ones. Bare end is great and the view is amazing to the lakes.

I think we have spoken at cross purposes - we all meant QES which is a successful comp in Kirkby Lonsdale, rather than qegs in penrith. As QES could be a back up to LGGS.

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 23/02/2021 12:52

There are some nice houses in Cockerham which is a bit more rural but a very short drive to Lancaster and in the right side to get to the RLI.

RandomMess · 23/02/2021 12:55

Yes Cockerham - couldn't think of anymore villages out that way.

MsAnnFrope · 23/02/2021 13:21

If you aren’t set on detached this one in cockerham has potential www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/75514212#/floorplan?activePlan=1

Original poster
lifeunlimited · 23/02/2021 14:14

@RandomMess thank you will look at all parts of Lancaster
@Tyranttoddler sorry I didn't know about QES in kirby Lonsdale, if we buy a house in North, def will consider
@Ihopeyourcakeisshit cockerham is nice rural area.
@MsAnnFrope we looked at this- but downstairs is very small, no garage as well and I think it's semi-detached- but kind of on our list, but not high up.

Thank you

OP posts:
DavidsSchitt · 23/02/2021 20:20

There are several areas in Lancaster much "rougher" than in Heysham and most of Morecambe. Can you visit to get a feel for it a bit more?

You could be right in Heysham village with your budget or in a house with an uninterrupted view of the Bay.

RandomMess · 23/02/2021 20:22

I would seriously consider moving into rented and to get a good feel for the place and the traffic!

It's not a lot of money when you are looking to spend £400k

DavidsSchitt · 23/02/2021 20:24

Draycombe Drive, Heysham, Morecambe
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-99518435.html

DavidsSchitt · 23/02/2021 20:25

Yes, I'd rent too as you really need a feel for the area.

RandomMess · 23/02/2021 20:38

Some gorgeous properties around there.

There really isn't much on the market at the moment.

QueenoftheAir · 23/02/2021 21:14

So we are stuck with any new builds

Frankly, most new builds are not half the quality of the big old city centre houses in Lancaster. And if you have the budget, you won't have to do renovations.

I think you're really limiting yourself by looking only at new builds in Lancaster - it's got fabulous old houses which are sound and much bigger than new builds.

My house would suit you well (it's a 3 minute walk to the RLI), but I'm not selling!

Annoy · 23/02/2021 21:15

I worked at LGGS for a short while in 2019. It’s such a lovely school! It’s very multicultural too

QueenoftheAir · 23/02/2021 21:20

What's wrong with Morecambe? I reckon it's somewhere where there is going to be a huge property boom shortly.

I said that to a friend 20 years ago. You could see Morecambe as the Brighton of the North - lots of amazingly huge wedding cake Victorian?Edwardian houses, great Prom, commutable to Manchester [like Brighton to London].

But it just hasn't happened - even with the Midland Hotel. And I'm extremely ambivalent about the Eden Project right on the bay ... I remember the Mr Blobby disaster!

RandomMess · 23/02/2021 21:21

There are so many older properties I would be interested in with that budget!!!

Compared to Teesside though it's very different housing stock.

It's like saying you want to live in Yarm but not one of the really old houses or on one of the housing estates - there isn't a lot else...

jackieweaverforpm · 23/02/2021 21:25

I don't think anyone has mentioned the Kellets (Over and Nether). Both are in catchment for LGGS and QES and both have a nice village feel.

Notusingthisnameagain · 23/02/2021 22:12

If you really need a plan B to LGGS then it's definitely worth considering catchment for Dallam or QES. Ripley is a fantastic school but it is very much a CofE school, it would depend on how much that concerned you and how whether you could get enough points to get in.
I live in Bare which is lovely and is a one stop train ride to Lancaster - an annual train pass for children is less than £90 a year, about a 5th of the price of the bus. I also commute to the University without a problem so don't rule out north of the river, Hest Bank and Bolton Le Sands are both beautiful and have lovely houses. You have a decent budget but it seems a lot have sold at the moment, probably due to the stamp duty.

Puppywithattitude · 24/02/2021 07:44

I know LGGS has a good academic reputation, but I know of several families distinctly unimpressed with their pastoral care and two girls who left because of bullying.
This of course won't make a jot of difference to anybody thinking of applying but it's not entirely a lovely school.

DavidsSchitt · 25/02/2021 14:43

"But it just hasn't happened - even with the Midland Hotel"

@QueenoftheAir I disagree. Morecambe keeps getting better and better, Lancaster has gone in the opposite direction unfortunately.

In normal times you can't move for events and festivals throughout the summer, the prom has had a fantastic facelift.

Houses are selling fast and prices have increased. The Eden project is nothing like Blobbyland

Needabrewnow · 25/02/2021 17:05

Morecambe is lovely, you are right. There is a lot going on. The schools in Morecambe though are far from ideal.

DavidsSchitt · 25/02/2021 18:15

The primary schools in Morecambe are lovely in the main, no different to those in Lancaster anyway.

LGGS or QES for secondary - what's wrong with that?

Needabrewnow · 25/02/2021 19:01

Oh yes, apologies, I meant secondaries in morecambe