I was looking on the net for information on Newbury - saw this site and was hoping the friendly locals could help me with some advice.
In short - My wife and I are moving from Nottingham to Newbury in September for job reasons and are looking for advice on where in Newbury we should live (we don’t know the area).
We will be using Newbury as a commuter town while she goes off to Bristol and I head into London. We are fairly set on Newbury as a place to live after having recently visited a few weeks back - reminds me of the market town i grew up in (Shrewsbury in Shropshire....) So just after people's honest views on the area and surrounding villages.
For a bit of background - we are both 29, recently married but with no kids yet (so schools not an immediate concern). We don’t want to be too far away from Newbury town centre (e.g. within 3-5 miles) but nor do we want to be right in the middle either - so can consider close by villages if anybody knows any nice ones (that also have a good pub). We are initially looking to rent so we get a feel for the commute but all being well we'd want to buy within 6 months with a budget of about 400K. We’re looking for a nice area that we can settle down in for at least the next 5 years, therefore I’d like to rent in a similar area to which I might buy....
We have tried using "Up my street" as a guide on the different places in Newbury, but as I’m sure you know - it’s a big too vague - I’d really like some "on the ground” knowledge/ advice from the locals.
Always a difficult thing to do without slagging off parts of the town. I suppose the £400k budget gives you a lot more scope than many buyers and generally ensures that you don't end up in a rough area anyway...
You probably want to be around the north of Newbury to be handy for the M4 and the rail station. There are a lot of nice places around but virtually every one has some sort of downside you just have to live with. You couldn't go far wrong in the parish of Shaw-cum-Donnigton. Chieveley is lovely but can be a bit dodgy for traffic and also people with sticky hands visiting via the M4. East and West Ilsley, Compton all lovely but a bit out in the sticks. North Thatcham around Henwick, Cold Ash are lovely places but Cold Ash and Bucklebury can be a bit on the high falluting side. Hermitage excellent but the main road is a bit on the busy side. Hamstead Norreys, Birghtwalton excellent but a bit out in the sticks. Kintbury also nice but a bit overun with traffic in the village (but the train station is good here)
I would go for somewhere in north Newbury or Thatcham, or their outskirts, and particularly look for a cul-de-sac. I think living in a village way out in rural West Berkshire is over-rated, but that's just my personal opinion - winter isolation, rather over-heated social interaction etc. But of course, if you like hunting, shooting and fishing that's the place to go!
It's worth getting somehwere within walking distance of Newbury town centre as this allows easy access to Newbury's many offerings of shops, entertainment and pubs without the downside of parking, struggling through traffic on Saturdays particularly etc
If I was to give any advice above any other - based on 25 years living in the area - it would be that - get a house within relatively easy walking distance of Newbury town centre because the traffic on Saturdays is a nightmare (less so now the by pass is in place) and parking is an extra expense and hassle. Again, this would reinforce Shaw-cum-Donnington parish as a great target if you want somewhere non-townish but within walking distance of Newbury (as long as you aren't too far out) and easily accessible for the M4 and train station - and Waitrose!
Also bear in mind the many potential development areas earmarked around the town - particularly on the south and west. It's worth getting the plan from the council (perhaps on the website)
Another option would be to go for Hungerford which is well connected with the train and the M4 junction - and is a wonderful town - though a bit high falluting in certain circles.
After-thought - reading your brief again, if you don't mind a bit of traffic/parking whenever you visit Newbury town centre, then Hermitage would be an excellent place to aim for.
In your price range you should consider Woolton Hill which is just off of the A343 Newbury to Andover road. Easy link to the M4 via the Newbury Bypass and you are not subject to Council Tax from West Berkshire Council.
and you are not subject to Council Tax from West Berkshire Council.
You don't live there for free however as you still have to pay but to Hampshre Council. Woolton Hill is a great area for the sort of money you might invest in a property. When you're ready, there are excellent primary and junior schools in the village. Close to and an easy journey to the A34 and thus to M4 and the North or South. Disadvantage that travelling to Newbury for the trains can be a bit of a grind as can be the parking once you've got to the station. Get a copy of the Newbury Weekly News property search sent to you and you can see what there is to offer. You might find the property price differential a bit daunting however.
The North Newbury option well worth investigating. There is quite a mix of housing in a ribbon between town and country. In the Clay Hill corridor - you can walk to the town and station quite easily. Yet short walk the other way and you are in open country. Plus a river park runs through the district. Links to A34 and M4 are superb and as well as the direct way there is an 'emergency route' to the junction via Love Lane. Major historic interest - Shaw House and Shaw Mill on door step. A few convenience shops scattered about, plus a couple of quality eating places - Sun in Wood and Castle very close.
Wash Common/Wash Water (between East Woodhay and Town) is a good area, but mind the school traffic from Park House, and there is a development ear marked for the field along Monks Lane.
Greenham has good areas, like the Race Course Estate (mainly private houses), including the new part. The good thing about the south east of Newbury, is getting in and out of town is easier than some other areas: whether walking or driving.
What would be good is if you could explain what is most precious to you in life (pre-kids). What are the key elements a home must have in terms of parking, space, access to town, etc...? Will you walk, drive, taxi, bus to town for a train, for instance? What do you like to do for recreation, or night life?
Dunno anything about where to live but it sounds like the basis for an ideal marriage, one spouse going West for 60m and the other going East for the same distance........................
Hi I came here from Leicester 7years ago and have found it a really nice place to live. Like you I wasn't sure where to move and also like you I had a young family. Hillier and Wilson estate agents tend to have some of the better property (not sure why?) we've move 3 times and found them really helpful.
From my experience on the edge of Newbury (in the £350-£400K bracket): Knightbridge Road and Salcombe Road (going out towards Enbourne); as well as Gloucester Road, Craven Road (closer to town) are all very family friendly places to live, close enough to the town centre but also very close to the canal and fields for nice walks all in the areas of good schools. Wash Common is nice but a bit too far out of town
Out of Newbury
The best state funded primary school (2010) is in the village of Hermitage
Thatcham is notoriously rough and the kids are a bit chavy, so my advice would be to steer clear of there!
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