Thinking of moving to the Stoke/Stone/Newcastle U.L area but don't know that area

spirit

possibly moving there from Hampshire. Properties seem much cheaper there but I have no idea if it's a nice area or which areas to avoid?

Any other MSE'rs from round there could help please?

p00hsticks

First question would be - have you got a job sorted out and whereabouts is it ? One of the reasons that the area is so cheap is that there's high unemployment and average salaries for those jobs on offer are low....

chambta

If it's a move from Portsmouth to Stone then I see the plus side. Winchester to Stoke though would be entirely different!

Like anywhere there are good and bad places.

spirit

thanks for your replies. It would be from Winchester :eek:

Just toying with the idea at the moment since my employer has a few buildings there and I notice that they are building another.

My house here is on the market for £265 and if I get say £250 at least for it, then I can buy something outright with the balance after i've paid my mortgage off etc.

I've just been looking on the company intranet to see about jobs but it doesn't say the salary.

my motivation is to downsize money wise so I could either get something smaller here, or something larger elsewhere.

sjcollett

Hi,

I have a business there and I would have to tell you honestly that i commute 300 miles per week as I prefer to stay in Hertfordshire. That is not to say there is anything wrong with the area - it just all depends what you are used to.

Given you are from a very different area [I am familiar with Hampshire] I really feel you should go there for a weekend and get a feel for the place. Newcastle U Lyme is where you probably would prefer - although there is still a distinct lack of cafes, bars, restaurants and other such leisure facilties.

It is true the houses are cheaper - but the 'culture' is less and it all depends on how important that is to you. BTW i never realised before but Tesco really do adapt for their local audience - what they sell in Stoke is very different to what they sell down here.

It is also colder and greyer....sorry to sound like such a snooty southener - but i believe there is a reason why house prices are so much more down here

creditboy

I live in Stafford, I wouldnt choose to live in Stoke at all. It depends what you want from an area. Stone is just a few miles from me and has nice areas but again it all depends what you want?

johnycoldears

Try looking around the Uttoxeter, Marchington area. It's a quick 25 min run to Stoke via the A50, set in some glorious countryside, and still relitively affordable.

A bit further south again and you hit the Hoar Cross, Newborough area. Lovely but very little available for less than £0.5 million.

I'd definitely avoid Stoke itself. Nice people but not a lot to commend it otherwise.

seven-day-weekend

Remember Stoke is in the Potteries ( i.e. industrial, although most of the industry is gone now) i.e. full of little houses and the associated infrastructure for pottery workers.

Don't know the other areas, sorry, but I know I would much prefer Winchester.

spirit

Thank you all for your honesty, it's exactly what I was hoping for from replies.

It was just an idea really, someone i chatted to round the pool on holiday was from there (and seemed nice person).

I guess that I'd continue to accrue a higher value and therefore equity if I stayed round here. I do love Winchester since it is so easy to get anywhere from here.

thank you all for your replies :beer:

mynameisdave

When Kirsty and Phil did one of those endless C4 property shows and did something like 20 Best and Worst places in the UK Stoke ranked poorly.

I think Phil annoyed the Council / Mayor whatever by suggesting that 30 miles down the road you can go to Alton Towers and ride the Oblivion but why not come here and get it for free.

Avoid Stoke, its grim. The other areas I do not have any knowledge of

mynameisdave

Found it!

http://www.channel4.com/4homes/on-tv/best-and-worst/stoke-on-trent-13th-worst-place-to-live-in-the-uk-08-06-04_p_1.html

Phil And Kirstie's View

Around 3.5m tourists come to Stoke each year to see the internationally renowned Pottery industry. They can't all be lost. What amazes me is that 80 per cent of them come back again! Stoke is one of the most depressed - and depressing - areas in the country.
There are houses to be had for as little as £50K, meaning that you'll be able to snap up four terraced houses for the national average price of £200,000. Britain's number one Theme Park, Alton Towers, is just down the road but why pay £35 for a ride on Oblivion, when it's right here for free?