Buying a house in Millbrook, Southampton

bibek

Those areas are within a reasonable commuting distance from my work. Yes, I do agree it does somewhat come down to a personal taste but if people who know the area well think they are generally ok then I can go out there and look comfortably without worrying about buying in a worse part of these nicer neighborhoods.

Holmesy999

All depends on how you want to get to work- the postcode of your work opens up a lot to access via bike/walk (main cycle route is along Millbrook Road West/Third Avenue/Second Avenue) so Totton is an option to cycle in along a flat route. If bus is your preferred option, your work is in a bit of a hole- main bus corridor is Shirley High Street (really frequent and cheap) but then you have a walk. Millbrook Road is another bus route

The houses around Foundry Lane should be what you are after for £250k- easy walk to work, easy walk/cycle to city centre/central train if you change jobs in the future. Good community around there and a few pubs, a few decent schools.Regents Park is more family/larger homes if that's what you are after, but more car centric commuting.

Don't underestimate Southampton traffic if driving from other parts- some days can be rubbish if you are coming too far, and there are only three realistic river crossings, plus two roads around the common. It's such an easy city to cycle if you live close or in the flat areas (which is mainly the west side, just not north/hospital side of Winchester Road)

You can get a feel for the better areas by looking at Ofsted ratings for schools-they really match, so use a website like locrating to get a better feal

bibek

Thanks Holmesy999. I do like the look of the houses in Regents Park and have had a quick drive around the area and looks ok to me. Traffic is one of the main reasons I am a bit wary about buying somewhere in Itchen or Bitterne Park. Somewhere around Regents Park / Upper Shirly / Bassett would be nice as I would be a maximum of 10-15 mins drive away from work if that. Will keep an eye out for properites around here then.

Blondetotty

I was born in Southampton and lived there for 40 odd years until I moved to Manchester a few years ago. My Aunt lives in a quiet area of Millbrook and I've got family scattered all around that area. I lived in Lordswood for most of my life and then bought a flat near Regents Park so I've got some insight into that area.

If you're working near the Docks then I'm sorry but I'd rule Basset out unless it's nearer the Docks side of the common than the Uni side. On a bad day, the drive down Winchester road in rush hour will take ages.

Tbh if you want a 10-15 minute commute then you're pretty limited. The Docks area near Millbrook Road West gets very busy in rush hour on most days. I'd suggest limiting your search to Upper Shirley, Regents Park and also look at Lordswood, Rownhams, Nursling and North Baddesley. Possibly over the flyover and into Totton but that road can get very busy as well. Some of the roads off Winchester Road near the Sports Center are okay.

Places to avoid (and yes I'm generalising, there are some very small pockets of okay areas within these but on the whole, avoid!) Shirley Warren, Maybush, Polygon, Freemantle, St Denys, Portswood, or Swaythling.

Shirley and Millbrook I'm split on. There are some nice quiet roads and areas within these two areas but they are considered less desirable and have higher crime statistics. That being said, my aunt has lived on one road in Millbrook for 50 odd years and has lovely neighbours, a quiet area and has had zero problems with crime of any sort. It's hit and miss. You're really going to have to do that you've been doing. Visit the place at various hours day and evening, see what the neighbours houses, gardens and cars are like and talk to some of the locals but if you need any inside info on specific areas in west southampton feel free to pm me.

isplumm

Hi

I am assuming that somewhere like Eastleigh, which is 10 mins from Southampton Central by train is out of the question?

Mark

bibek

isplumm wrote: »

Hi

I am assuming that somewhere like Eastleigh, which is 10 mins from Southampton Central by train is out of the question?

Mark

Closest station to my work is Redbridge which is 15 mins walk, so taking into account the train journey, itd probably take same duration as driving from Eastleigh to my work id think. I am open to looking around Chandlers Ford but prices seem a bit steep. Eastleigh generally has also been listed as an area to avoid on couple of forums I have visited so had kind of ruled it out.

bibek

Blondetotty wrote: »

I was born in Southampton and lived there for 40 odd years until I moved to Manchester a few years ago. My Aunt lives in a quiet area of Millbrook and I've got family scattered all around that area. I lived in Lordswood for most of my life and then bought a flat near Regents Park so I've got some insight into that area.

If you're working near the Docks then I'm sorry but I'd rule Basset out unless it's nearer the Docks side of the common than the Uni side. On a bad day, the drive down Winchester road in rush hour will take ages.

Tbh if you want a 10-15 minute commute then you're pretty limited. The Docks area near Millbrook Road West gets very busy in rush hour on most days. I'd suggest limiting your search to Upper Shirley, Regents Park and also look at Lordswood, Rownhams, Nursling and North Baddesley. Possibly over the flyover and into Totton but that road can get very busy as well. Some of the roads off Winchester Road near the Sports Center are okay.

Places to avoid (and yes I'm generalising, there are some very small pockets of okay areas within these but on the whole, avoid!) Shirley Warren, Maybush, Polygon, Freemantle, St Denys, Portswood, or Swaythling.

Shirley and Millbrook I'm split on. There are some nice quiet roads and areas within these two areas but they are considered less desirable and have higher crime statistics. That being said, my aunt has lived on one road in Millbrook for 50 odd years and has lovely neighbours, a quiet area and has had zero problems with crime of any sort. It's hit and miss. You're really going to have to do that you've been doing. Visit the place at various hours day and evening, see what the neighbours houses, gardens and cars are like and talk to some of the locals but if you need any inside info on specific areas in west southampton feel free to pm me.

Thanks Blondetotty, one of the main reasons behind avoiding Millbrook was so that I dont struggle when I come to sell it in a few years time. Overall house prices are coming down and if it continues to do so, that coupled with an undesirable area might put me in a very sticky situation so decided rather not take that risk. Anyway, had couple more viewings yesterday around Regents Park but the houses werent as great as they looked in the pictures. Will continue to look around and if I do fancy something, I might drop you a PM and see what you think of the area

OnTheLadder

Chandlers Ford is nice but yes a bit more expensive. Hedge End is also nice but even more expensive than Chandlers Ford. They both have good train stations but don't think the line goes to Redbridge so would be a longer commute for you. Eastleigh is not the best area (i would prefer to live there than Millbrook though) but it does have good links via train and the airport is there. I think you're doing the right thing by driving to the areas you're considering, getting a feel for the area yourself. Good luck on your search and keep us updated!

stevenhp1987

https://explore-uk.illustreets.com/app/where-to-live-in-england?view=HyDkP8-hx&grid=HyDkP8-hx&map=-1.4665*50.9269*14

Personally I wouldn't ever consider moving to Millbrook. I know this based on living in Southampton (Banister Park), however the above links shows why.

We are currently in the process of buying a property in Bitterne Park which is nice.

Blondetotty

Np, happy to help with generalities.

One other thing I'd say is avoid "over the water" i.e Bitterne, Woolston, Midanbury, Bursledon, Netley etc. You've only got a couple of options getting over the water from that side including 1 motorway and a couple of bridges and tbh on a bad day you could drive from Manchester to Blackpool quicker than you could to get to/from work. I moved in with a friend briefly over the water while working at Southampton General Hospital and after a few weeks moved back over as I was spending hours stuck in traffic. Great on a quiet day but on a busy rush hour day it's a complete ****ache.

Have fun shopping around :-)