Places to live near Crewe

fozzeh

Morning all!

I've just got a new job in Crewe with some good prospects for the future.
We're looking to move there ASAP but we're having a real struggle deciding where!
We're realistic with our criteria...we can accept we can't have everything we want. We've looked at places like Willaston, Wistaston and Wybunbury and they all have their positives and negatives but there aren't many houses on the market. We want to try and keep below £250k but can stretch a little more if the right house is available.

We (ideally) need 4 rooms, an extension/conservatory/room to extend, etc etc...but that's house specific.

The main question is where are good places to live? We want a nice sense of community, some good local activities, a good school (which doesn't seem too much of a problem in this area as there are quite a few which are good), close enough to bike/train into Crewe. Anyone have any opinions of their area?

I, personally, like Willaston but the availability there is very limited.

Any insight appreciated!

agrinnall

Would you consider renting until a house in the right area comes up? It would mean having to move twice, but you might have to do that anyway if you buy in a less favoured area and decide you don't like it.

colesy

The three areas identified are the ones I would say meet your criteria; all good locations. On the other side of town heading towards Sandbach, you might consider Haslington or Winterley. As I'm sure you've found, Nantwich is quite pricey and you might not find a 4 bed there within your budget.

Edit: just looked on Rightmove and found that there are some 4 beds in Nantwich for around £250k.

fozzeh

agrinnall wrote: »

Would you consider renting until a house in the right area comes up? It would mean having to move twice, but you might have to do that anyway if you buy in a less favoured area and decide you don't like it.

We've thought about that but we'd still have to try and get into the same area to rent...and moving twice would be a pain, more so with schools if we have to commute.
I know what you mean...we're still contingent on our property selling but we've had a fair few viewings, a couple of offers and that all in a relatively dank period! It's such a hard balance to find lol.

colesy wrote: »

The three areas identified are the ones I would say meet your criteria; all good locations. On the other side of town heading towards Sandbach, you might consider Haslington or Winterley. As I'm sure you've found, Nantwich is quite pricey and you might not find a 4 bed there within your budget.

Edit: just looked on Rightmove and found that there are some 4 beds in Nantwich for around £250k.

Haslington may be one to have a look around. Winterley doesn't have its own school so we're a little put off with a drive to school (although, if we had to, we would).

Any knowledge of Sandbach itself as a place to live?

Nantwich itself...it's a consideration but would prefer a village.

colesy

fozzeh wrote: »

Haslington may be one to have a look around. Winterley doesn't have its own school so we're a little put off with a drive to school (although, if we had to, we would).

Any knowledge of Sandbach itself as a place to live?

Nantwich itself...it's a consideration but would prefer a village.

Wistaston is basically a 'nice' suburb of Crewe so not a village at all. So is Willaston but it does have a certain village feel to it. I don't know Wybunbury very well, but it's certainly a village.

Sandbach is a town, definitely not a village but, like Nantwich, it has a nice small town feel about it with lots of independent shops. Both have indoor and farmers' markets. Sandbach has a Waitrose if that's a factor for you.

As a bit of a flyer, I would suggest you might want to look at Wychwood village which is a modern estate intended to have a village feel. It's about 4 miles out of Crewe on the road to Keele. You won't find it marked as such on a map but a quick Google should do it.

fozzeh

colesy wrote: »

Wistaston is basically a 'nice' suburb of Crewe so not a village at all. So is Willaston but it does have a certain village feel to it. I don't know Wybunbury very well, but it's certainly a village.

Sandbach is a town, definitely not a village but, like Nantwich, it has a nice small town feel about it with lots of independent shops. Both have indoor and farmers' markets. Sandbach has a Waitrose if that's a factor for you.

As a bit of a flyer, I would suggest you might want to look at Wychwood village which is a modern estate intended to have a village feel. It's about 4 miles out of Crewe on the road to Keele. You won't find it marked as such on a map but a quick Google should do it.

Yeh, we got that feel about Wistaston...I walked there from Crewe station the other day and you just it as a continuation of the road leading out. Willaston is closer, less spread out and seems to have more of a community.
Sandbach is there for consideration. Waitrose isn't really a factor for me! Give me a Morrisons any day!
I think the missus has been advised about Wychwood and said it was quite isolated.

colesy

fozzeh wrote: »

I think the missus has been advised about Wychwood and said it was quite isolated.

That's true, there's no more than the occasional bus into town and no shops. Some folk love it, locally it's viewed as quite upmarket (but not as upmarket as Wychwood Park on the other side of the road), others think it's too remote. Horses for courses really.

Personally, if I was buying again and working locally, I'd go for Willaston or Nantwich but that's probably more to do with how my social life has evolved since I moved here about 5 years ago.

kingstreet

Audlem, Hatherton, Hankelow, Checkley.

Over the years I've lived in all four and my Mum still lives in Checkley, between Bridgemere and Betley.

fozzeh

colesy wrote: »

That's true, there's no more than the occasional bus into town and no shops. Some folk love it, locally it's viewed as quite upmarket (but not as upmarket as Wychwood Park on the other side of the road), others think it's too remote. Horses for courses really.

Personally, if I was buying again and working locally, I'd go for Willaston or Nantwich but that's probably more to do with how my social life has evolved since I moved here about 5 years ago.

In what sense is that then?

kingstreet wrote: »

Audlem, Hatherton, Hankelow, Checkley.

Over the years I've lived in all four and my Mum still lives in Checkley, between Bridgemere and Betley.

Audlem is too far out for no train station, plus seems quite pricey. The others haven't come up in the 'search criteria' yet. Are the quiet places?

kingstreet

Probably too small and too rural looking at your requirements again.

dimbo61

Lived in Wistaston and moved to Stapeley due to excellent academy school.
Love Stapeley as excellent local Co-op, pub, Chinese and easy walk to town centre and train station.
Good range of houses, We live in 4 bed detached with double garage worth £300K
You will find 3/4 bed houses for £250K
Nantwich is a fantastic town Jazz fest this weekend, Food and drink festival, farmers market, local indoor market, good nightlife, lots of coffee shops but No McDonald's