North West Dwellers...

In the New Year I need to start looking for a house to buy 'up North' as I'm being relocated to Manchester Airport later on in the year (hopefully).
Living down South, and with no connections at all to area, I'm looking some feedback about the locations as it's all new to me. I know this has the potential to open a can of worms so please be mindful if you reply !
We are looking at places like Sandbach, Congleton etc because we need to be near secondary schools and my wife works at B&Q. We'd consider Buxton/ High Peak also, but what is the weather like at it's worst in winter. Any areas that are prone to flooding? Area must be within 25 miles of airport
Want to avoid near the airport and definitely no interest in going North towards the city....
Living down South, and with no connections at all to area, I'm looking some feedback about the locations as it's all new to me. I know this has the potential to open a can of worms so please be mindful if you reply !
We are looking at places like Sandbach, Congleton etc because we need to be near secondary schools and my wife works at B&Q. We'd consider Buxton/ High Peak also, but what is the weather like at it's worst in winter. Any areas that are prone to flooding? Area must be within 25 miles of airport
Want to avoid near the airport and definitely no interest in going North towards the city....
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I was born in Northwich, even I'd say avoidit
and of course BR favourite
ALSAGER and its associated weirdoes .. avoid cycling thru it at all costs
What sort of town/lifestyle are you looking for? What are you used to. No point in suggesting X when you are used to and expect Y. and OFC budget, no point in suggesting an area full of 5 bed houses all costing 750k - 5 mil if you only want to spend 500k.
Trafford district has plenty of good schools, transport links are there for the city or to get out to the peaks (no comment on Manchester traffic, that view depends on how often you hit the M25).
Not a fan of say Macclesfield, however plenty of the surrounding smaller towns and villages are nice enough. Unless I was heading into the Peaks or Cheshire plains proper I'd probably be looking at Altrincham, Hale, W Didsbury but then I like the access they provide to the city and the peaks along with their own towns for Saturday brunch. However I've got friends living around the Knutsford / Alderly Edge / Wilmslow area who love it for being that bit more out the way as they leave their 20's
Crudder
CX
Toy
How are you planning on commuting? Car? Buxton to the airport via the A6 at rush hour can be painful, can go via the Cat and Fiddle, but that route isn't always reliable in the winter. You could probably cycle a few days a week though (the airport is just a bit futher than Stockport though!)
I like living in Buxton, but it's a long old commute, my other half works an hour's drive south of Buxton so it's one of the nicer places we can both commute from.
Budget will be around £300k, hopefully...there's no shortage of new builds around that price from what I've seen.
My commute will be mostly outside the typical rush hours as I'm a shift worker. My commute is 60 miles each way at the moment, including a fair bit on the M25 & M23 - so I'm looking forward to the shorter journey to work !
We're not interested in the City life - we're only 30 mins from London here and only go to the smoke once a year. We like the idea of the Peaks, and the countryside but obviously that reflects in the price of property - hence getting it right the first time !
And obviously it's close to some good cycling !
Holmes Chapel, Knutsford, so many good areas and there's loads of sportives that will go past your front door out that way.
I'd prob not go Buxton way just because you are so high up and every bike ride you'd do would end with a climb - plus you will get the main roads closed with snow.
I'm quite jealous !
Flood areas are very localised - you'd have to assess that on a street by street basis - but I'd not think its a massive risk - but do check. Isnt there a floodplain map ?
I live in Littleborough which (although technicaly part of the borough of Rochdale *shudders*) is a cracking little village right on the edge of the pennines and 28 miles away from the Airport.
A house on our street, 4 beds and in imaculate condition was on the market for £270ish. No idea what it actually went for though.
Edit - zoopla reveals £261k
I ride out that way a fair bit - I believe the longest continuous climb in the UK is at Littleborough?
As a sweeping generalisation;
North Manchester is hilly and cheaper.
South Manchester is flat and more expensive. And closer to the Airport.
North = much better cycling.
Tis true, Cragg Vale from Mytholmroyd to the top of Blackstone edge, 8.37km.
If you do indeed do a 9 to 5 then forget this suggestion as you will spend a lot of time sat on the M56 same goes for if you go Rochdale / Oldham way as others have suggested just substitute sat on M62 / M60 for M56.
I have commuted in and out of Manchester (past the airport) for the past 5 years and it is no picnic.
Normally people are constrained by quite a few factors, so you could get a great house out of this.
the Date used to commute down some of those roads to Altrincham and halved the time by moving in with me on the Wirral.
Crudder
CX
Toy
Whatever you do, don't let the locals hear you say "Peaks", you'll be tarred and feathered!
You are forgetting that there are no secondary schools North of the center though!
Coming from Middleton I totally get your perspective on Rochdale (and lots of Oldham :oops: ) though.
And I've been stalking you for years.
South Manchester is generally more attractive to be truthful, though flat and more expensive. Don't forget there are little gems and sh*t holes no matter where you go.
As for flooding - low lying areas near a river are generally places to avoid. With the exception of perhaps Hebden Bridge, you generally get more floods than us any way, despite our rainy reputation.
If anyone in your family dabbles in fishing at all, stick with a base in Cheshire.
I'f you're the one who shouted "alreet fatty" the other day I'll set me whippet on yer.
Is this picture photoshopped?
It looks like it's sunny with blue skies.
It flies in the face of what I've been told to expect...
....there's even shadows !!
Huh?
I thought we was the United States of Engerland?
No it's a freak of nature, we get them once every three years. Mainly when the smoke from the factories clears.
It's great for driving and riding to the airport (I live in HC and have worked there)
You also have great riding options and a massive local cycling scene.
ABCC Cycling Coach
It's a complete nightmare deciding where to live - we are making a flying visit next week and staying over night in the peak district to have a quick look at the new builds there.
I must admit I am looking forward to some new cycling routes although finding somewhere to live is the priority !