Manchester CIty Centre / Flats

[Crombers]

Hello!

I've noticed a couple of threads on a similar topic but as I have no requirement for good schools or indeed an actual house I thought I'd start again.

I've been working in Manchester (North Quarter / Crowne Plaza direction) for the last 6 months and may well be staying for at least the next 12 months which makes me think buying a 1 bed flat would be a worthwhile investment.

I've had a look at Green Quarter, Ancoats & Ludgate Hill and have yet to venture a little further out to Castlefield & Altrincham.

I'll only be using the flat mid-week with the odd weekend for trips out on the sauce. I'd like somewhere that is secure, relatively polished (no do-er uppers) and can be easily rented once I've had my fill.

I quite liked some of the blocks on Green Quarter for the above reasons, Ludgate Hill although convenient but not quite so well maintained. I found some of the 'Premier Management' maintained blocks a little shabby.

Some of the developments down Ancoats direction look quite nice, although less sure about the area the further down you go.

I guess I'm looking for some advice regarding each location. Anywhere in particular worth avoiding or indeed focussing on?

Budget up to £150k max

[cirian75]

these flats here with cafe cotton are quite nice

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Radium+St,+Man...

[FraMac]

Round about 12 years ago I commuted to Manchester from Kent on a weekly basis and stayed at The Place Hotel - not far from the northern quarter.

As it was long term the rate was ridiculously cheap - it's basically serviced apartments with one or two bedrooms, one or two bathrooms, kitchen living room. Lots of character - converted 1880s warehouse, lots of exposed brick, metalwork, central atrium - no idea what it's like 12 years down the line.

It worked for me while we looked for somewhere to buy, but if not your cup of tea then I can understand the motivation to buy. No idea what property prices in Manc will do short term, but they've been on the up recently.

There were some shocking conversions near Piccadilly basin that I viewed - some of the urban splash stuff at the time was much nicer.

[Crombers]

cirian75 said:

these flats here with cafe cotton are quite nice

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Radium+St,+Man...

Those do look nice Cirian, can't see any for sale from my searchings as of yet.

I've clocked up enough nights in the Crowne Plaza that my only preference is to buy somewhere now so not looking at any other accommodation options. The Urban Splash developments you mention do seem pretty decent, much like the Green Quarter.

Does anyone think Altrincham is worth the extra commute over Northern Quarter?

[FraMac]

Altrincham gives you options like train and tram.

Property is moving quickly there at the moment as demand is much higher than nice stuff on the market.

You don't need me to tell you its different to urban living. We moved here from central London (Hampstead) so opted for living out of the city centre in Manc (been there done that when we were younger).

[cirian75]

Chorlton where I live is nice.

I live just of Beach road in trendy hipsterville (Chorltonvillie).

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Chorlton-cum-H...

[Crombers]

Another day another flat viewing.

Any feedback on the Budenberg development in Altrincham?

Budenberg

A part of me thinks that staying somewhere further away from the office may not be a bad thing in terms of making a clear distinction between work and leisure.

Spending so long in a hotel tends to mean you drift out of work and drift in to the hotel bar, I worry that buying a flat next door may not interrupt that routine entirely

Less of an issue if living here full time, but this is purely a mid-week arrangement.

[cirian75]

looks ok, have you looked at which areas have late buses though?

not all do

http://www.traveline-northwest.co.uk/journeyplanne...

[Crombers]

My kind of late bus goes wherever whenever and goes under the name 'taxi'.

I was last on a late bus 20 years ago going to my mates in Glasgow. Put me off for life that did :-)

[Crombers]

My kind of late bus goes wherever whenever and goes under the name 'taxi'.

I was last on a late bus 20 years ago going to my mates in Glasgow. Put me off for life that did :-)

[cirian75]

but but but, late night drunken banter is fun, as is eating your chips on the bus on the way home

[BobSaunders]

I am west didsbury. A lot more trendier than hipster tree hugging Chorlton. Tram into town, motorway seconds away, airport 10 minutes. Tram from here goes via Chorlton into town.

Town - check out spinning fields, or salford side of town, just behind deansgate - huge amount of flats going in there now and not a bad price as it is not classed as "manchester".

Oxford road might be of interest - the old BBC site is being converted and shops and cinema is going in eventually.

Quite a lot off plan going in over the next couple of months so might be worth keeping an eye on that.

[cirian75]

BobSaunders said:

I am west didsbury. A lot more trendier than hipster tree hugging Chorlton. Tram into town, motorway seconds away, airport 10 minutes. Tram from here goes via Chorlton into town.

Town - check out spinning fields, or salford side of town, just behind deansgate - huge amount of flats going in there now and not a bad price as it is not classed as "manchester".

Oxford road might be of interest - the old BBC site is being converted and shops and cinema is going in eventually.

Quite a lot off plan going in over the next couple of months so might be worth keeping an eye on that.

West Didsbury is very nice.

The Beach Road chippy is better than The Fish Bait though.

but has no seating :/

Edited by cirian75 on Monday 26th October 06:50

[tomjol]

I'm in West Didsbury also. Can't fault it, except for traffic coming off junction 5 on my way home. Tram is great, town is now ridiculously convenient. Not convinced about Fish Bait, the food's good enough but the welcome isn't.

Castlefield seems like it might be a good fit.

[Crombers]

Thanks guys. I've had an offer accepted on a flat in the Budenberg Development in Altrincham. Further out than I first planned but think I'll appreciate having a decent bit of space between office and mid-week accomodation. A flat on the doorstep of the office may have encouraged an office-pub-bed routine much like hotel living :-)

[cirian75]

Crombers said:

Thanks guys. I've had an offer accepted on a flat in the Budenberg Development in Altrincham. Further out than I first planned but think I'll appreciate having a decent bit of space between office and mid-week accomodation. A flat on the doorstep of the office may have encouraged an office-pub-bed routine much like hotel living :-)

Oh yes, mate of mine lived across from the Printworks, even on his wages, it was ruining him.

[B3MX5]

Crombers said:

Thanks guys. I've had an offer accepted on a flat in the Budenberg Development in Altrincham. Further out than I first planned but think I'll appreciate having a decent bit of space between office and mid-week accomodation. A flat on the doorstep of the office may have encouraged an office-pub-bed routine much like hotel living :-)

Very local to me, I live in one of the houses surrounding Budenburg in the Linotype Estate. It's a great area, Altrincham gives lots to do now, it was in a state of decline for the last 20yrs which seems to be really turning round. The Market House seems to be the centre of the new activity, and it's a welcome change to another location in South manchester to Chorlton and Didsbury. As you say the tram is quick into Mcr from Navigation Rd, and you're handily clsoe to the M6 for M/Way drives, Dunham for countryside. It's the perfect place for us.

Message me if you need any local tips

I didn't realise it was a fellow Alpina-owner, I've been deliberating over (I think it's yours) B7 for sale, mine's a B3 touring.

[shirt]

can't go wrong with urban splash as an investment, that's a good buy.

bit miffed as i've been looking at a BTL in manchester and the agent i've been going through hadn't even put this on my radar. the 2 beds at 127k look very good value indeed.