Redditch & Bromsgrove - Any views?

Dummie_2

Hello There

Just thought I'll throw this thread out to see if any of you MSEs have any views to offer.

I currently live in Bridgwater, Somerset and am planning on moving to the Midlands at the end of the year. Would like anywhere with good motorway connections within 1/2hr drive of Birmingham city and with good nursery and primary schools. Currently looking at either Redditch or Bromsgrove in Worcestershire but am still open to other places.

Would also like to know what areas I should avoid. I currently live near a huge council estate and have experienced many problems. Would like to avoid any council estates at all cost. Does anyone know how I can find out where council houses are located? Is there a council site that gives out this info?

Thanks in advance for your replies! :beer:

Doozergirl

:hello: I'm originally from London, but I live in Bromsgrove now and also lived in one of the villages near to Redditch for a while. Plenty of greenery around and excellent links into Brum. It takes 20 minutes from Bromsgrove generally, though longer in rush hour, I'm sure. Redditch always feels a bit long winded and more of the suburbs of Birmingham to navigate.

I'd pick Bromsgrove over Redditch, though Redditch town centre has more shops and has cheaper house prices. Redditch being a 'New Town' takes a long time to navigate with all it's roundabouts etc. although it doesn't suffer badly with traffic. I don't like to say, but I think there are more areas to avoid than head for in Redditch as it feels very disjointed because of the road system

Bromsgrove is very nice on the whole; civilised, affluent, little bit 'keeping up with the Jones' but I think good value for for money when stacked up against other towns.

I've always got an eye on the market, know pretty much exactly what houses should be worth and which areas to avoid (theres' only Sidemoor and Charford really, immediately identifiable by the house prices). Any questions you have, I'll happily oblige

Dummie_2

Hi Doozergirl

Thanks so much for your post.

I've visited both Bromsgrove and Redditch a couple of times to get a feel of the place and to view some properties. Bromsgrove feels a bit old and sleepy but the people seem friendlier. Redditch feels opposite to that. Busier and a bit more up-to-date but the people not so friendly.

In Bromsgrove I've got my eye on Stoney Hill and Aston Fields. Any views on these 2 areas? My DH is self-employed and will need to travel a lot. I will be a SAH mum to our 21mth old toddler. I don't drive so will need to be near some shops or a supermarket and would ideally like to be near a park as well. Would also like to live in a area with similar people (young professional working families).

I heard about Charford but didn't know about Sidemoor so thanks for that bit of info.

Good schools are very important as well. At the moment, only looking at nurseries and first schools. Do you know of any good ones or ones to avoid?

Funny you should mention the roads in Redditch. We got lost completely both times we went there. They are so confusing as they all look the same.

Sorry for some many questions . I'm sure you will understand that it's very important that we get the location right. Any info you can provide is greatly appreciated. :T

Doozergirl

Dummie wrote:

Bromsgrove feels a bit old and sleepy but the people seem friendlier. Redditch feels opposite to that. Busier and a bit more up-to-date but the people not so friendly?

I'd say similar on first impressions but Bromsgrove is absolutely full of young professional familes, problem being they don't frequent the town centre, as is the problem in most high streets these days. Redditch has a better share of troublemakers IMO and for my kids, I'd rather avoid.

Dummie wrote:

In Bromsgrove I've got my eye on Stoney Hill and Aston Fields. Any views on these 2 areas?

Stoney Hill is one of the most sought after areas and there are lovely big houses there. Aston Fields, not so much so, bit crowded maybe and you'll have to cross the big A38 to walk into town. Kidderminster Road has lovely houses, near to the town centre and the big park, Sanders Park is there.

Dummie wrote:

Good schools are very important as well. At the moment, only looking at nurseries and first schools. Do you know of any good ones or ones to avoid?

I am in love with Dodford First School; It's a very small, village school with a lovely feel and a nursery attached which you would have to put baby's name down for, difficult if you don't drive though. I think Meadows First is good too, but much bigger. My little boy goes to Fec.kenham, another great school; we used to live there, but it's in the middle of nowhere, hence we moved; I'm too young for that!

Dummie wrote:

Sorry for some many questions . I'm sure you will understand that it's very important that we get the location right. Any info you can provide is greatly appreciated. :T

I'll provide as much information as you need Property is what I do, as you'll guess from my other posts here, so if you want to run anything past me or need any help with your search, I'll happily email you anything that meets your criteria.

balsingh

Have you considered Solihull and the areas areas around it? Right on the M40/M42 so gives access to the rest of the country very easily.

Doozergirl

"Pah!" to Solihull, far too expensive for not much, IMO. and exactly the place I was talking about in my first post when I referred to Bromsgrove 'stacking up' against other towns.

If I want to go shopping, I'll go to Selfridges and Harvey Nichols in Birmingham over the selection Touchwood has to offer.

Opinionated? Moi?

Doozergirl

Astwood Bank is a village just south of Redditch which would kind of fit what you're looking for. Has a very good first school and also has a Post Office, butcher, baker etc. where you can buy everything you need in between trips to Tesco. Little bit further to Birmingham because of it being on the South side. Nigel Poole & McGinn have an office there and Linda Gillespie is the smaller agent there.

Word of warning about Bromsgrove agents; Judith Hitchin is notorious for overvaluing property and Andrew Grant can go a little on the high side because they're generally thought of as being top end.

HTH

Dummie_2

We did look into Solihull during the initial stages but crossed it off our list due to it being quite expensive. We have heard that it's a nice area though.

Doozergirl, when you say Kidderminster Road, I notice that it's the A448. Do you mean houses along that road? Will it not be quite noisy? Or do you mean the roads that lead off it?

Thanks for throwing Astwood Bank out there. I will look into it. And thanks for the tips re the agents.

You're BRILL!

Doozergirl

Both the Kidderminster Road and some of the cul-de-sacs leading off it; depending on budget(!) places like Whitford Gardens and Greyfriars Drive have lovely big houses. Many of the houses on the Kidderminster Road are set well back of the street and it's not really that busy as it doesn't really go anywhere except single lane all the way to Kidderminster (not surprisingly!)

Of the newer developments, Woodland Grange is particularly nice because it's not too big and the developer kept all of the big, huge trees (hence the name!) which gives it an established feel. Lots of fields nearby for kids to play and for dog walking etc. Also on the north side near to the M5 and M42 junctions. I live there right now, but needs must and we're moving on Wednesday to Lickey End (:rolleyes: yes, I know, the name!)

I'd chat non-stop as you can tell. Sorry!

Dummie_2

Can't seem to find any properties around Kidderminster Road or Woodland Grange. Found loads in Cradley Heath. Any thoughts on this area. Also, am I right in not including Catshill on my list? I think I've heard negative things about it but can't remember what!

This 'finding the right location' thing is really doing my head in . Then again, we're thinking of renting for the first 6-12mths so that we can really get to know the areas and schools before we really commit and buy so I don't know why I'm getting myself in a state about it for. Guess I want to rent in the right place too;)

Don't mean to be nosey, but it seems you've moved around a lot. Are you looking for the 'perfect' place too?

Doozergirl

Cradley Heath, nooooo! Just No!

Catshill is a bit chavvy and I don't think the school is great. (I'm soo going to get beaten up walking around Bromsgrove - the bright blue hair is a give away!)

I've moved a lot mainly because we're property developers and have been selling mainly this year; we planned to move twice, but we've had really bad chain problems with one house, down chain, then up that it looks like we'll be moving FOUR times! :wall: We're moving to rented accomodation ourselves now as the only property we have left is the London flat with the lease problems.

ps. I don't really have blue hair.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/action/publicsite.PropertySearch
Does that link work? I think all the new build in that search are on Woodland Grange.