Rochester and surrounds information needed

Windofchange

Hi all,

I'm at the point now where I am finally getting my debt under control and am looking at potentially putting down some roots. London is pretty much way out of my league, well, unless I want a 'stylish and compact apartment' - read broom cupboard.

So, I am starting to look at the surrounds, and in particular the SE. Gravesend, Rochester, Strood - basically the A2/M2 corridor.

I know where these places are, and I have passed them in the car, but don't know a great deal about them from a would I want to live there perspective. The commute for me to my job would be about the same from there as it is now from SW London, so that isn't an issue. I have decision in principal from lender for just over 200k, and can get together approximately a 30k deposit most likely between various sources. This is enough for a 3/4 bedroom house which would be great.

However, for the locals amongst us, are there areas I should be looking to avoid? I'm not keen to move into a war zone. Basically, I don't want Kent's version of Moss side. Are these areas generally ok?

charlamine

Hi,

I don't know to much about Rochester and Gravesend tbh just that they have good areas and bad areas like most places.

But I grew up in Strood, generally there are not to many bad areas, avoid Darnley Road. Best places would be Wainscott, Frindsbury area.

Top part of Strood around Bligh Way, The Shades etc are nice but are a bit of trek to Strood train Station but easy to trek down A2 to ebbs fleet.

I am in Gillingham at the moment, upper Gillingham has some lovely houses around Darland avenue and u get a bit more for your money.

I drive to Strood daily to catch train though as it's easier for little ones nursery, from point of getting on train and getting off train in central London (St Paul's) takes me an hour.

marmitepotato

I agree with charlamine Deffo stay away from Darnley Road. Have you considered, Aylesford, Ditton, Larkfield? Aylesford and Ditton are served by Aylesford Station, but it's a short drive to Barming, East Malling and West Malling Station. Larkfield is served by New Hythe Station or West and East Malling. I can't think of any 'no go' areas in any of these villages.

charlamine

Good point marmite potato. We looked at aylesford, making and snodland.

Snodland has dodgy areas but if u stay north of the main road not south then apparently your fine.

Snodland train station is now served by the high speed trains and is only a £2 more expensive a day and prob about 10min onto journey

marmitepotato

Saltings Road in Snodland I would leave well alone, but there are some really nice areas in Snodland, especially on the Holly Hill estate, the county is on your doorstep but you are still close to everything.

xxJudexx

I live in Gillingham. If you can go for upper Gillingham, anything above the high street you can get something lovely. Lower Gillingham has a huge parking problem, pretty much every road is permit only and even then some roads are always full.
You could also have a look at Rainham and Hempstead, these are considered nicer areas and the houses are a bit more expensive.
Walderslade woods is quite a desirable area, there is a real mixture of houses along that way.
Obviously you have all the Dickens history with Rochester but prices seem to be quite high compared to surrounding areas.
I used to commute from Gillingham, there is a great car park just opposite the station where you can park your car for £2.50 a day, bargain!

jimpix12

Gravesend is full of ethnic minorities nowadays.

Rochester city centre around the cathedral is very nice, but you'll pay a pretty premium to live there. The schools are reasonably good, but are oversubscribed. Plus, as soon as you venture out a bit, it quickly becomes deprived and depressing.

Strood, Chatham, Gillingham - you said you've driven through, surely that would be enough for anyone to form an opinion on a place and whether it's a !!!! hole or not? I won't be disrespectful to those who live there; although saying that most people I know wear it as a badge of honour.

The only parts of Medway that I would just about be happy to live in are St Mary's Island, Walderslade Woods and Wainscott, or possibly the Hoo Peninsula (I really like Upnor). But they all have their faults, and you'll pay for the privilege to live there.

I lived around Medway for many years, there are so many nicer areas in Kent within commuting distance.

Why exactly are you looking to move to that area - there are so many other places, you claim you don't know the area that well. If your budget allows I'd move nearer to Maidstone or even Sittingbourne.

vanilla_twist

Depends what you are looking to buy. I have limited knowledge of the areas. all I have driven throw I would not want to live, but there are nice parts.
My friend has a flat on the Chatham Dockyards development.
If you want a caf! culture flat with a short drive to station (or bus ride away) this area is well worth a look, A lot being built still but he loves his flat.
HTH

V x

Windofchange

Hi guys and thanks for the replies. I am I guess at the start of doing some research and looking at places that I can afford. As mentioned, I have a budget around 230k, possibly stretching to 250k if I go all in, and am looking for space.

I am London born and bred, but I only work in London. My days of clubbing all night are behind me, so to me it makes sense to move to the outskirts and live somewhere nice. I guess what I am looking for is a house with a reasonably large garden in a decent location. I am at that age where children might be on the cards in the near future, but I am not thinking about school catchment areas yet. Proximity to railways stations is really only a bonus as I drive a big motorbike, and I would be using that for my commute most of the year. I would drive when it was snowing etc.

I am going to be spending some weekends next month visiting the areas and scoping them out properly. Given my requirements above, Kent is the only place near to London that I can buy. The SW has become nearly as expensive as London unless you head out pretty far, and I don't want NE, NW as the commute would take me right across London to where I work in the SE. The A2 pretty much runs straight into my place of work, and therefore Kent seems to be the ideal.

I have found some really lovely looking 3/4 bed houses in Strood and surrounds, but figure there must be a reason they are so cheap

For instance, the below has caught my eye:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52896896.html

That is the sort of thing I am after.

Malmo

spunko2010 wrote: »

Gravesend is full of ethnic minorities nowadays.

Your point being what exactly?

jc808

230 to 250k?

much nicer areas available

tonbridge
borough green
sevenoaks
kings hill (west malling) - think this will fit budget, not west malling itself though....

i wouldnt bother with medway at all... and i used to live there