Moving to Stafford - grateful for advice...

Slowhand

Slowhand

Newbie
Hi all,

I am moving with my family to Stafford, having lived in the South all along. I'd be very grateful for your advice on finding a place to live.

I work in London, and although I can work mostly at home, I need to go in to London once or twice a week. Thus my plan (hope!) is to live within walking distance of Stafford station. We're going to rent for a year or so before buying (if we like the area).

Our overriding priority (apart from living within walking distance of the station) is safety and living in a nice, low-crime, reasonably quiet neighbourhood. I have a four-year old, and access to a good nursery and being in a decent primary school catchment are other important aspects.

Quite possibly, my priorities are not fully compatible with each other, but I'm going to try! I've read the other thread on 'where to live in Stafford' and found that very useful. I'd like to seek advice more specific to my own situation, though.

I've looked at rentals on rightmove, and found a couple that appeal. However, it'd be good to get some views on the areas these are located in. One is in Christie Avenue in ST16 (though the nearest primary appears to be in Doxey judging from the map, and Doxey doesn't seem to inspire confidence judging from the other thread!) The other is on the station end of Newport Road (near High Park?), but my understanding is that this area may not fit my preferences as described above?

Any comments gratefully received!

Thanks,
Slowhand
 
tek-monkey

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Any preference on house size and price?

EDIT: Also what about parking? The closer to the station the less chance of a parking space in most cases.
 
db

db

#chaplife
Slowhand said:
I've looked at rentals on rightmove, and found a couple that appeal. However, it'd be good to get some views on the areas these are located in. One is in Christie Avenue in ST16 (though the nearest primary appears to be in Doxey judging from the map, and Doxey doesn't seem to inspire confidence judging from the other thread!) The other is on the station end of Newport Road (near High Park?), but my understanding is that this area may not fit my preferences as described above?

Any comments gratefully received!
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welcome to the forum, slowhand - and pre-emptive welcome to stafford!

i lived round the corner from christie avenue for about 4 years, on the same estate (castlefields).. it's a great place to live - walking distance to town & sainsbury's, yet all the perks of a residential estate (e.g. quiet, no trouble, etc.)..

it was just me & the missus though - we haven't got kids, so can't comment on the school requirements i'm afraid..
 
Slowhand

Slowhand

Newbie
tek-monkey, we're looking to rent place with 3+ beds. Having lived in the South, the rents up there look very reasonable to me, and so the rental price is not a major constraint, thankfully. Parking, yes - that would be important.
 
Slowhand

Slowhand

Newbie
db said:
welcome to the forum, slowhand - and pre-emptive welcome to stafford!

i lived round the corner from christie avenue for about 4 years, on the same estate (castlefields).. it's a great place to live - walking distance to town & sainsbury's, yet all the perks of a residential estate (e.g. quiet, no trouble, etc.)..

it was just me & the missus though - we haven't got kids, so can't comment on the school requirements i'm afraid..
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Thanks db, that's very helpful to know!
 
tek-monkey

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Slowhand said:
tek-monkey, we're looking to rent place with 3+ beds. Having lived in the South, the rents up there look very reasonable to me, and so the rental price is not a major constraint, thankfully. Parking, yes - that would be important.
Click to expand...


Lol, and here's me thinking they've gone through the roof!

I'd agree with DB, Castlefields is a nice quiet place to live with fairly modern homes and in a great location in regards to town. Your closest nursery would probably be Butterflies at the college, which would also be convenient for dropping the little un off then going for a train should that be needed. Afraid I have no idea on primary schools, but I know someone who worked in one here recently so can ask on Tuesday when I see his wife next.

Love your avatar BTW, I love red pandas :D
 
M

markpa12003

Well-Known Forumite
Hi Slowhand,

I would recommend Castlefields. It's within walking distance of the train station and town and is a nice area to live in. Plus, I'm sure you will be able to provide a property to suit your requirements. The (relatively) new housing estate in Castlefields provides off road parking for at least 1 car, as such I don't think parking should be a problem. I have no experience of the local schools, however the nearest secondary school (for when your child gets a little older) I'm told is very good (Blessed William). Hope that helps and welcome to Stafford.
 
V

Vicky

Well-Known Forumite
Most schools will be happy to show you around so you can see them for yourself before deciding.
Doxey primary school failed its ofsted ( I think in 2011) but has improved since then and now has been rated as 'good'. Castlechurch is one of the schools your child may attend if you live at the other side of the station, (in Castlefields) it tends to have a good reputation. The Grove is another school close to Castlechurch which is a nice, small school but is currently in special measures. You may even be in the catchment for St Pauls, a small cofe school. Hopefully now you have the names of a few schools you can look at their websites and see if theres one that helps you decide.
I am not as sure about nurseries, there is one called Lollipops, on the Newport Road which you would walk past on your way from Castlefields to the station.
 
Yalla

Yalla

Well-Known Forumite
Castlefields is fine - we have friends who live there and there kids go to St Austins Catholic Primary School in Garden St. There is also St Paul's Primary in Garden Street too. Rowley Park is a lovely area but houses will cost more than Castlefields but as you are moving up from the South that shouldn't be too much of a problem! Good luck with the move.
 
Stafford College

Stafford College

Well-Known Forumite
tek-monkey said:
Lol, and here's me thinking they've gone through the roof!

I'd agree with DB, Castlefields is a nice quiet place to live with fairly modern homes and in a great location in regards to town. Your closest nursery would probably be Butterflies at the college, which would also be convenient for dropping the little un off then going for a train should that be needed. Afraid I have no idea on primary schools, but I know someone who worked in one here recently so can ask on Tuesday when I see his wife next.

Love your avatar BTW, I love red pandas :D
Click to expand...

Hello Slowhand
As Tek mentioned, Butterflies is incredibly well located for anyone using the railway station (in fact....I don't know why we don't advertise that fact. When we start doing so, you will know that it is a Stafford Forum idea). It is also one of only two nurseries in Staffordshire to win the top platinum award for promoting a healthy lifestyle in children - including healthy meals served in the nursery as well as things like education on nutrition and exercise.
Stafford is a great place to live, with easy access to wonderful places like Cannock Chase and the Roaches as well as to big shopping centres and visitor destinations like Trentham Gardens and Alton Towers. I hope you find somewhere suitable to live and that your family will be very happy here.
 
M

McPhee

Well-Known Forumite
I would throw in Rowley Avenue/Rowley Hall Drive/Crescent Road, the properties on Newport Road and the new development at Brunswick Terrace as well to give you a bit more to choose from. It might be worth mentioning now that a new housing development is likely to be built around Castlefields in the near future - I'm not too sure how that will affect residents, but it's worth baring in mind if you're planning on being there for a few years.

I'm not sure if this link will work or not, but in this area:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property...TvFk@zTbe@qGb[iMvPoJvJm_@be@{Nk@cG}b@~\\whA"}
 
D

daz100

Well-Known Forumite
I would suggest St George's Park I was impressed with the new development when I went for a look. I am not sure if any will be for rent at this point? I also would second Rowley Park as a nice location.
 
tek-monkey

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I'd expect a lot of St George's Park to appear as rentals, there are still many people that rent that want a new property and will pay the asking price (I know several). Pretty much every new development I've seen has had rentals up very quickly, with rents what they are now I'm not that shocked. I prefer older places myself, with a bit of character and a decent sized garden.
 
M

McPhee

Well-Known Forumite
At least Bovis are trying for a bit of character on St George's. It's looking like it will be a great place to live once it's done and the new town centre developments are in place. Personally I wouldn't mind more development if other developers put in this sort of effort - it's the orangey-brown identikit boxes that are a horrific eyesore.

Nowt on there to rent at present though as far as I can tell. Wouldn't be surprised if they're all being snapped up under Help to Buy.
 
tek-monkey

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I'd never consider the St Georges development until St Georges itself is refurbished. We've had too many 'accidents' on sites round here and the idea of letting the building decline so badly whilst throwing houses up around it sickens me. If it had been planned to keep it, as per the instructions, they would have at least tried to stem the rapid deterioration. That building could have been the crown of the development, nay should have been legally as they are supposed to be restoring it. It is a hugely impressive building with masses of character in a unique location for Stafford. Yet we all know a 'negligent worker' or random fire will happen, or it will be deemed unsafe to all the newly fleeced locals and have to be torn down as an eyesore.

Sorry, anger now in check, but we all know its coming.
 
tek-monkey

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
There are certainly much worse places to end up. Despite hating Stafford growing up, and leaving for good twice, I like it here and can't see myself leaving again :)
 
John Marwood

John Marwood

I ♥ cryptic crosswords
I used to work in London

You may consider Nuneaton and Chelmsford as alternatives

Rowley Park is where you are a heading if you choose Stafford

Doxey is rife with Premiership footballers and me so maybe stay clear

I hope you like cooking..
 
Andreas Rex

Andreas Rex

Banned for smiling
tek-monkey said:
There are certainly much worse places to end up. Despite hating Stafford growing up, and leaving for good twice, I like it here and can't see myself leaving again :)
Click to expand...

I've left Stafford twice too; once to move to London and once to move to The Netherlands. Enjoyed both, but missed the familiarity of Stafford...and my friends.

My sister currently lives in Aberdeen...my mum spent 2 weeks up there a few weeks ago (on a trip over from Spain) and then she came to stay with me for a week. When she was leaving my sister's, my sister said something along the lines of "You'll really appreciate how pretty Stafford is"...now she'd never have made that comment to someone who was moving here when she lived here, but she certainly misses it now she's elsewhere.

Good luck in your search, Slowhand.

:stafford:
 
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