Working in Eastleigh, where to live New Forest side?

[M005]

I've just accepted a job in Eastleigh and will be commuting down from North Wiltshire until we move.

We know the area pretty well having been to Uni in Southampton and the in laws having a second house in New Milton.

We are looking for somewhere semi rural, but close enough to shops & amenities, good schools are a big factor as we have two young children.

Had a look around Ringwood and really like it; close to the forest & coast but have a niggling feeling the M27 / A31 will be a nightmare for commuting.

Romsey is another place we like, but obviously a bit further away from the forest / coast.

On paper Hythe & Dibden would tick the boxes, but I've heard the roads are a nightmare for commuting.

Where else should we be looking at?

Anyone else do a similar journey to Eastleigh / Chandlers Ford from the forest?

Thanks.

[amoeba]

Why not live in Chandlers Ford, too pricey?

[pat_y]

I currently work in Chandlers Ford and live in the Hythe area, the commute can be a little tiresome occasionally, the problem is mainly the A326/marchwood bypass, it's the worlds longest cul-de-sac. Usually takes anywhere from 30-40 mins in the morning, same in the evening.
The A31 westbound on friday evenings can be fairly epic, really bad in summer.
If my wife actually let me choose where we lived then i would live in Ashurst or Brockenhurst, but you need a big budget to do it.

[M005]

Thanks for the replies, we've seen a couple of nice places in & around Chandlers Ford, but there isn't much of a centre (shops etc) and it just morphs into Eastleigh, which morphs into Southampton etc.

Budget is ~£350-375k and need a minimum of 3, preferably 4 bedrooms.

Children are 5 & 2 and we're planning on this being a long term house.

[.:ian:.]

I live down the Hythe/Dibden area too, I can do A326(or back roads)->M27->Whiteley in 35-45mins if I leave at 7:00-7:30.

The M27 isnt too bad in that direction, though I`m not sure about the M3.. The traffic going the opposite way into Soton even at that time is much worse..
Schools in the area aren`t brilliant and some are awful, though there are some better schools out towards Lymington. (including Hordle Walhampton if you have some spare cash lying around )

Hythe and Dibden Purlieu have some shops, There also Holbury (but I would give this a miss, way too close to Fawley) and Blackfield/Langley/Mopley. The last three are in the catchment for Beaulieu village primary.

You could look at East Boldre, but I suspect your budget may be too low even though its one of the cheaper New Forest villages. It has a shop a massively overpriced garage/petrol station, a decent montessori nursery and uh, thats about it

[nick1275]

Going from ringwood isn't to bad if you go earlyish, the a31 is just a 50mph bumper to bumper traffic jam. There's always a couple if routes across the Forrest if the Friday traffic is bad

[MarkwG]

As Nick says above; I leave Ringwood at 7:15 for an 8:00 start in Whiteley - generally it's a 50 - 60mph commute. Occassional blockages on the A31, but gets considerably slower once past Southampton airport, which shouldn't affect you at Eastleigh. Well worth it to live around here, though. Ringwood schools are excellent in my experience, plenty to do around here - small enough to be friendly, big enough to have the facilities you need.

Edited by MarkwG on Wednesday 26th October 13:30

[amoeba]

M005 said:

Thanks for the replies, we've seen a couple of nice places in & around Chandlers Ford, but there isn't much of a centre (shops etc) and it just morphs into Eastleigh, which morphs into Southampton etc.

Budget is ~£350-375k and need a minimum of 3, preferably 4 bedrooms.

Children are 5 & 2 and we're planning on this being a long term house.

Chandlers Ford has the best secondary school in Hampshire - Thornden. It also has very good primary schools, and is part of the reason it is so expensive.

375k doesnt get you particularly far, although you could get decent something on the new estate at the bottom.

Continuing the school theme Romsey schools are pretty good, or another option might be to get the kids into Salisbury Grammar schools if they are bright enough.

[GT03ROB]

I do Ringwood to Farnboro every day, so do the A31 M27 M3 run. I leave about 6:30 & to be honest the run to Eastleigh, is a steady 60-70 mph run. The problems are usually around Winchester which is well beyond where you will be heading.

Ringwood is OK, good schools but not the greatest. Looking in some of the surrounding areas could give better accommodation. There is a lot better value for example in the Ashley Heath area. As soon as you go in the Forest it's silly money.

[M005]

Thanks all.

Any opinions on Fordingbridge? Only been through it a couple of times on the way back home from the coast, but looking at the map lats week it seems a little closer to Eastleigh and would avoid the A31.

[GT03ROB]

M005 said:

Thanks all.

Any opinions on Fordingbridge? Only been through it a couple of times on the way back home from the coast, but looking at the map lats week it seems a little closer to Eastleigh and would avoid the A31.

Well you get more for your money than in Ringwood, however on the days the A31 is OK which will be most the journey time is longer albeit a lovely drive through the Forest to/from the M27. Not a huge difference, but still longer. On the days the A31 is snarled on my way home, I run thru the Forest up to Fordingbridge & get home that way. I'd guess its 15 mins longer than from Ringwood

[5potTurbo]

amoeba said:

Chandlers Ford has the best secondary school in Hampshire - Thornden. It also has very good primary schools, and is part of the reason it is so expensive.

375k doesnt get you particularly far, although you could get decent something on the new estate at the bottom.

Continuing the school theme Romsey schools are pretty good, or another option might be to get the kids into Salisbury Grammar schools if they are bright enough.

A mate of mine I go to LM with lives in Chandler's Ford for the very reason that the schools are VERY good there.

My outlaws haved lived in Romsey since 1969 and my wife went to school there, Cupernham & Romsey School, but I don't think those schools are as good as they used to be.

375K WILL buy a 4 bed detached house in the Thornden catchment area.
e.g.: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

I know if I was to move back to England, I'd certainly look at Chandler's Ford as the commute to the City's not too bad either from Southampton Parkway.

Edited by 5potTurbo on Thursday 27th October 11:05

[mikeyr]

I've commuted from the outskirts of Totton to Chandlers Ford and it's not too bad, some of the places like Ashurst, Netley Marsh or Bartley are right on the Forest and only just a short distance to the motorway.

Alternatively, Otterbourne is nice if you want to be nearer work.

[M005]

Thanks Mikeyr, I'll have a look at those.

Is there much difference between the part of Ringwood to the south of the A31 and that to the north? Hightown v Poulner? The schools have better ofsted reports the Hightown side, but obviously the secondary school is the same one.

Looking at Ashley Heath & St Ives; would I be right in saying there would be road noise from the A31 unless you were on the far side of the villages?
Also, it appears that the primary school is OK, but West Moors middle school doesn't get a great write up. Are any parts in the Ringwood schools catchment areas?

[GT03ROB]

M005 said:

Thanks Mikeyr, I'll have a look at those.

Is there much difference between the part of Ringwood to the south of the A31 and that to the north? Hightown v Poulner? The schools have better ofsted reports the Hightown side, but obviously the secondary school is the same one.

Looking at Ashley Heath & St Ives; would I be right in saying there would be road noise from the A31 unless you were on the far side of the villages?
Also, it appears that the primary school is OK, but West Moors middle school doesn't get a great write up. Are any parts in the Ringwood schools catchment areas?

There's good & not so good parts to Hightown & Poulner. Don't think there is a better side. Regarding the road noise from the A31 at Ashley Heath or St Ives, depending where you are it will be no different to Ringwood. It also depends what you are used to.

I was concerned about the road noise from the A31 before I bought my place in Ashley Heath. To be honest you don't even notice it & I'm relatively close. Ashley Heath is in the catchment area for the Ringwood High School, not sure about all of the jnr schools.

[MarkwG]

We're in Poulner; Ringwoods so small relatively, there'll always be a compromise somewhere. A31 noise doesn't really affect us, except for the odd Scooby or bike; just the shushing sound that you would get from the trees anyway, when the winds in that direction. If you're listening for it, you'll hear it pretty much where ever you are. Occassionally you'll get aircraft off Bournemouth, but that's pretty quiet at the moment anyway.
School catchment is one to be very careful with: the only "guaranteed" feed schools are Ringwood & Poulner, even Matchams Lane can be tricky if it's a bulge year. The county border is by the Fish Inn, so south of there is in Dorsets catchment, not Hampshire, & if they need to they'll pull the drawbridge up. Both have advantages & disadvantages, & as with any school, depends largely on who's the Head at the time. The Head at the High School is very focussed & runs a pretty tight ship. Poulners seems like a pretty astute guy, but he's only been there six months or so, so is getting his feet under the table. There are always the private schools, if you prefer, the Forres Sandle minibus stops in town for example.

[GT03ROB]

MarkwG said:

School catchment is one to be very careful with: the only "guaranteed" feed schools are Ringwood & Poulner, even Matchams Lane can be tricky if it's a bulge year. The county border is by the Fish Inn, so south of there is in Dorsets catchment, not Hampshire, & if they need to they'll pull the drawbridge up.

You are correct I was talking bks as usual!

[M005]

Thanks all. We're coming down on Saturday to look at the following places, any comments on locations etc greatly received.

Hightown

Ashley Heath

Ashley Heath

Hythe

Dibden

Dibden

Some of the above we're viewing, others just a drive by with option to view.

Also got a couple in Fordingbridge, Bransgore and Woodlands; it's going to be a busy day

[.:ian:.]

said:

Hythe

Reallly close to a rubbish estate and the worst primary school in the area!
Close to the shops at Dibden Purlieu though (Tesco express, chemists, decent butchers, fish-n-chip shop, pub, etc)

said:

Dibden

^^ In the catchment for Orchard Primary/Secondary, I think, the best school in the area? Probably the best location of the 3 in Hythe, but the furthest from any shops.

said:

Dibden

^^ This one isnt the greatest location, very close to Tescos though! The long straight road is technically a 30, but I bet people race up and down it like I may do on occasion.. I think the estate nearby is that great, but not as bad as netley view (first link)..

How about:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

Converted bungalow, but walk to the end of the lane its on and you are in the open forest.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

Terrace, but hey,

[GT03ROB]

M005 said:

Thanks all. We're coming down on Saturday to look at the following places, any comments on locations etc greatly received.

Hightown

Ashley Heath

Some of the above we're viewing, others just a drive by with option to view.

Also got a couple in Fordingbridge, Bransgore and Woodlands; it's going to be a busy day

1st one is an Ok'ish part of Ringwood, just about walking distance to town. Easily walking distance to the local hostelry. Road is not too busy. Also walking distance to the primary & secondary schools.

2nd is 3 doors up from a friend. Quiet area, pleasent enough but not much in walking distance.