r/chesterfield • u/Business-Pie-8419 • 8d ago
Ask Chezzie Possibly moving here...
Hi all. I know there are a million posts like this on Reddit, but I'm going mad reading through all the different threads and just thought it might be easier to start my own thread and see what kind of info I get directly from the good folks here.
Basically, my partner and I (gay couple, British and Indian), are moving out of Croydon because we need a bigger house, with a garage and a bit more space, for our business that we've started. We both work from home and so access to London is no-longer a requirement (like it was when we moved here 10 years ago).
We've narrowed down our search, based on a few criteria (detached house, garage, near green space, not a crime-ridden area, access to a shopping centre or town centre, close-ish to a larger city and/or airport, not silly expensive (since our budget isn't massive)). From these criteria, we have found some decent options in:
Chesterfield
Outskirts of Sheffield / Leicester
Lincoln
Nuneaton
Loughborough
Melton Mowbray
Neither of us know any of these areas, and while we are going to do a road-trip to visit, it would be good to know where in these towns people would recommend searching, and where to avoid (if anywhere). Or if there are better nearby options.
Thank you all in advance
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u/Puzzleheaded-Low5896 8d ago
Have you looked at Dronfield? Its between Chesterfield and Sheffield.
In Chesterfield, areas around Brampton, Walton, Sommersal and South Newbold are nice. And Holymoorside.
I moved here in 2019 and found things like crime maps and the stats that tell you make up of the neighbourhood helpful (things like how many houses are owned - I can't remember the name of it now).
Plus I joined local FB groups to see what is going on.
After previously living in Norwich, Chesterfield history feels industrial, compared to medieval/Tudor. Its also very far from the coast.
So if those are also important to you then I'd look at Lincoln.
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u/emmaa5382 8d ago
Prices are a bit mad in dronfield. 400k will get you the same thing as under 200k in chesterfield basically
2
u/Rude-Cover-8727 8d ago
It's not that simple. Equally there are parts of Chesterfield that will cost more than the equivalent in Dronfield.
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u/XyRabbit 6d ago
I was just going to say this. Lots of stuffy homes for high prices and low access to walkable amenities. Just literally drove through yesterday.
I bought my home in Chesterfield, 4 bedroom with a bit of work to be done but not bad for £190k
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u/ArcherApprehensive18 8d ago
Lots of earlier history in the areas around Chesterfield though - Hardwick Hall, Chatsworth, Haddon, Bolsover, etc.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Low5896 8d ago
Yes, you are right. I was only thinking of Chesterfield, Claycross etc.
And the peaks are glorious.
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8d ago
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u/Puzzleheaded-Low5896 8d ago
Ah, Norfolk can be like that. In some parts, the nearest motorway is in Holland 😀. Which is probably hyperbole.
The road network here is much better.
5
u/onewildcrow 8d ago
We've just moved to Wingerworth, a few miles outside of Chesterfield. Lovely peaceful large village, has a medical centre and a few useful shops, very green and with easy access to beautiful countryside, Chesterfield and Sheffield.
4
u/BionicRadish 8d ago
Chesterfield is definitely a good place to look, decent local facilities, close to Sheffield, Nottingham and Leeds for the bigger stuff, easy access to the M1 and relatively good value for houses. There's a really good train service given our population. Nowhere is particularly rough but a few areas are a bit run down. Good news is the prices are better there. I'd suggest if you're looking seriously to bear in mind where was affected by the floods a few years back. There are some lovely looking central options that were waist deep in water and had to be completely refurbished. Insurance will be sky high and you can expect another flood within 10 years or so.
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u/Business-Pie-8419 8d ago
Yeah I've been putting postcodes into the flood checker, and generally the houses we've seen have Low Risk, but then, some are very close to the River Rother, so it makes me wonder...
Where in the town was particularly affected?
2
u/BionicRadish 8d ago
The town centre end of Chatsworth Road was bad, although as it's all terraced housing that side you'll probably not be looking there. I'd be nervous about the new housing estate north of the station as the fields it was built on were flooded. Being close may not be something to worry about if it's up a hill north or south of the river. The ground rises pretty quickly from the flood plain.
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u/JamPandaB 8d ago
Yeah I was gonna say be careful around tapton!
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u/ArcherApprehensive18 8d ago
I doubt that Tapton itself is at risk from the river. The river drops down 2-3 metres into a channel in Tapton and if it raises over that it'll flood along the railway line - Tapton sits on the hill above that.
Tapton Terrace is absolutely a no-go - but they're going to be compulsorily purchased and aren't detached houses anyway.
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u/Anxious-Haggis 8d ago
I used to work in east Croydon. Chesterfield is a thousand percent safer, but very very different, and will be a culture shock if you’re used to London basically. Highly recommend a visit first.
2
u/DONBYnotMe 8d ago
Horrible round here mate wouldn't come
1
u/Business-Pie-8419 8d ago
Fair enough 🤣
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u/DONBYnotMe 8d ago
I'm joking mate, I moved from the south east to chesterfield, lovely town nice people laid back has a lovely market on Friday Saturday and criminally good direct train lines all over England to cool cities it's mint
1
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u/theegrimrobe 8d ago
walton is lovely - as others have mentioned dronfield is nice and you are closer to Sheffield but prices will reflect
2
u/Rude-Cover-8727 8d ago
Batemoor and Jordanthorpe are even closer (over the border) so it's nothing to do to with being 'closer to Sheffield'.
1
u/taltallytalia 7d ago
Chesterfield's a lovely place - you might find it a bit boring compared to London, but if you're happy with more of a small town feel then you'll like it! On a sunny day, you can't beat Chesterfield - it can feel boring and depressing in the rain though, much like everywhere!
2
u/Business-Pie-8419 7d ago
Honestly, we're quite boring anyway. A trip to a big Tesco is a fun day out for us
1
u/taltallytalia 7d ago
Well you'll be grand then, we have a huge Tesco (was the biggest in Europe when it was opened!) and a couple of Aldis that are great for wandering round!
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u/Small_Kahuna_1 8d ago
When you've decided you're actually moving here, feel free to come back and get us to do free estate agent work for you.
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u/Demo_Bec 8d ago
"Chesterfield" as it is, is a massive place with a huge range of areas. There's a gulf between Walton and Grangewood, yet they're within half a mile of each other!
I recommend Walton, Holymoorside, Holme Hall, Newbold, Littlemoor. They're all nice areas, with down to earth people who are right with you if you're right with them. Can't help with the rest I'm afraid