We have just offered on a house at Crookes and my daughter will hopefully go to Westways school .

Can anyone tell me what it is like.?Crookes and the school..
We have just withdrawn an offer on a house at Ranmoor due to overpricing and I do prefer the area of Ranmoor but I feel that Crookes will be better for the kids.

I have a teenager at King Teds and a daughter aged nearly 9.She will go to Westways

I would appreciate any info about Brownie groups if there is one in the area.
Thanks

Crookes is a nice area but it's full of students!! Unless it was very overpriced I would have stuck with Ranmoor!!

Crookes is a great place. But make sure there are no student houses next door to yours. If you have a year with noisy students next door, who don't go to bed at night, they can make your life not worth living.
The atmosphere in crookes is great though, and the high street is superb. I would certainly enjoy living their myself. It's also high up and the air is fresh and the countryside is on the doorstep.

Ranmoor doesn't have inflated house prices, it'll always be an expensive area (just look at the calibre of the houses); it's Crookes housing that's currently inflated. A 2-up-2-down terrace for over £100k? That's mad. We've been looking for a house in S10 for two years now; I guess we'll sit it out until the market crashes (bring it on!).

Rant over.

That said it is a nice area, with good shops and regular buses (the 52). If you're in the upper reaches of the area, towards Tapton then it can feel like you're on top of the world, with great views back down to town.

And yes it is studentsville, but student housing is mostly on the city-side of Crookes (i.e. the main road).

Its a great area, I moved to Crookes from Ranmoor in Oct and have never looked back :thumbsup:

Ugh, people who slag students off need to grow up and shut up IMO.

Originally posted by Rich
Ugh, people who slag students off need to grow up and shut up IMO.

But nobody did slag off students. :confused:

Rich,
I don't know if you are referring to me, because I recommended someone to not buy a house right next door to students. I was a full time student for 5 years. And when I lived my student life I did student things like going to bed at 2 am, having a rock band in the basement, sitting on the roof of the house, playing guitar in the sun on the top of the bay window and getting up at midday. I lived on ecclesall road at this time, amid loads of other students, and this was a great place to be at the time. But after I had finished as a student, and started working full time, I realised that I could not live there any longer, because the other students kept me awake at night sometimes. It wasn't that bad, but I knew I'd be better moving somewhere else, and I did and it was.

I don't think that is slagging off students.

In fact I am now a part time student again. And have an NUS card to prove it.

Originally posted by Rich
Ugh, people who slag students off need to grow up and shut up IMO.

I WAS a student (a few years ago!!) and as a result, I know I wouldn't want to live next door to students.

They aren't all bad, but as they change nearly every year, you never know who you will get the next year.

I live in Crookes and really like it but I think the price of some houses may come crashing down now that the huge phone mast thing has been put up over the horse shop.

We moved away from Crookes in March as we couldn't afford house prices over there, and reluctantly took my son out of Westways school. He went to the nursery there and foundation 2 and loved it. I felt the school had quite a laid-back atmosphere and was, at times, a bit disorganised. There is a really nice bunch of parents and the staff (at foundation level- I can't comment on other year groups) were great.

It is so stressful buying a house and moving to a new area, especially when you have schools to think about- Crookes is a nice area- I hope it goes well for you.

I used to be a student and would rahet not live next door to students. However, some moved in next door a while back and aren't too bad.

I'd say it depends where the house is. If its going up from crookes road then its a great place to live.

Originally posted by stelps
I live in Crookes and really like it but I think the price of some houses may come crashing down now that the huge phone mast thing has been put up over the horse shop.

It's coming down as they didn't get planning permission. See this notice here:

Enforcement notice (http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/your-city-council/council-meetings/planning-boards/north-and-west/agenda-30-november-2004/enforcement-northfield-rd)

Originally posted by espadrille

We have just withdrawn an offer on a house at Ranmoor due to overpricing and I do prefer the area of Ranmoor but I feel that Crookes will be better for the kids.

Ranmoor is very pricey but worth it. Houses are always sort after there and command top prices. I would definately have stuck with Ranmoor.
Westways is fine I think but you are better asking the parents of the children who already go there. As for Crookes, it is very mixed. Prices there tend to be high because of landlords buying to let to students, whereas in Ranmoor they are high because it is considered one of the best places to live.

Originally posted by max
It's coming down as they didn't get planning permission. See this notice here:

Enforcement notice (http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/your-city-council/council-meetings/planning-boards/north-and-west/agenda-30-november-2004/enforcement-northfield-rd)

The council report states the telephone company's agent claims the mast is permitted development - ie doesn't need planning permission. The council say by reasons of various clauses/rules that it isn't permitted development. What's the difference between this and all the other masts going up as permitted development with the council unable to intervene?

The council imply that permission is needed because the mast is on a roof facing a highway, and also that the mast itself is near a highway. Haven't I seen lots of masts being erected actually adjacent to the highway - A61 at Firshill, also Ecclesall Road at Berkley Precinct, Slayleigh Lane top etc. - along with accompanying protesters!

Grateful to know what the difference is - some masts cause the council concern and they react to them, and others are just erected without any council intervention.

Originally posted by nuf_said
The council imply that permission is needed because the mast is on a roof facing a highway, and also that the mast itself is near a highway. Haven't I seen lots of masts being erected actually adjacent to the highway - A61 at Firshill, also Ecclesall Road at Berkley Precinct, Slayleigh Lane top etc. - along with accompanying protesters!

Grateful to know what the difference is - some masts cause the council concern and they react to them, and others are just erected without any council intervention.

The difference is that the general election is on the way!

Thanks for all the comments.

We had a nightmare situation with the house at Ranmoor.
We really loved it and wanted it, but it really was way over priced for an end terraced house .

The vendor would not come down and, whilst we could actually afford to pay it, we felt that we could make more money doining up the house that we have the offer on now .It is the top end of Crookes and whilst we accept that the area cannot compare to the conservation area in Ranmoor, it was the only alternative that we had.
We sold a lovely 3/4 bed semi at Meersbrook, with none of the issues that Crookes has.
It had a huge garden and relatively easy parking and whilst I have nothing in principle against students, it is nice to go to bed at night especially when you have a family and not worry about noise.

We certainly would nt have moved away from Meersbrook if my son had not moved to King Teds, but as he has epilepsy and travels each day 0n 4 buses, we needed to get a house quickly.

So here we go, hopefully with no further problems, on our way to Crookes!!!

Originally posted by espadrille
We have just offered on a house at Crookes and my daughter will hopefully go to Westways school .


I went to Westways when I was a kid, it's a proper old Victorian school with the big stone walls round it and the slight "prison" atmosphere :0)

Crookes, it shares the same post code as me - well the same prefix.

I like it, it is a bit studenty, nevertheless, it is better than other areas.

nuf_said,

From the enforcement notice:

The applicants have stated that they consider the installation to be permitted development falling within part 24 Class A of The Town and Country planning (General Permitted Development) (amendment) (England) order 2001, indicating the development comprises of an antenna system and not a mast.

Could it be that the ones the council haven't objected to are classed as antenna systems and not masts? I couldn't tell you what the difference is, they all seem to be masts to me.

basshedz

Originally posted by Tony
The difference is that the general election is on the way!

Even for you Tony that's a bit cynical. I thought you said you knew how the planning boards operate. There is representation from all parties and the recommendations are made by officers who are non-partisan.

... and the Officers, whilst following national planning guidance, have to generally recommend approval to the Planning Boards.

However, the politicians (of all persuasions) seem to be requiring refusals with no legal grounds.

I have no axe to grind on this - it's just an observation.

Originally posted by Tony

However, the politicians (of all persuasions) seem to be requiring refusals with no legal grounds.


Just responding to the electorate, who they are elected to represent, btw.

As to Crookes, I bought my first house there and was happy for 20 years. What finally prompted me to move was the idiot in the house behind who built a decking viewing platform so he could look into my garden.

Originally posted by espadrille
We have just offered on a house at Crookes and my daughter will hopefully go to Westways school .

Can anyone tell me what it is like.?Crookes and the school..
We have just withdrawn an offer on a house at Ranmoor due to overpricing and I do prefer the area of Ranmoor but I feel that Crookes will be better for the kids.

I have a teenager at King Teds and a daughter aged nearly 9.She will go to Westways

I would appreciate any info about Brownie groups if there is one in the area.
Thanks

Crookes is a very good area to live. There are plenty of shops and pubs. The Hallamshire, New Jessops and Children’s hospitals are close by. The bus service is excellent. The 52 covers the top end of Crookes while the 95 skirts the bottom end on its way to Walkley. There are plenty of parks to visit. If your child is going to Westways (it used to be called Western Road School) the Bole Hills will be close on. If the weather is nice you can take a stroll down to Western Park and Crookes Valley Park. There is also easy access to the peak district.

The students can be a noisy lot, especially the “freshers “ who tend to get a bit giddy with being away from mummy and daddy for the first time. But a lot a pubs, chip shop and other shops earn a good living off the students. They tend to calm down a bit as their course work mounts up.

Brownie groups?

Try St Tims on Slinn Street.

Just reading all the info about Crookes, my boyfriend and I are moving there in the summer - just off school road. Just wondering what it is like and could anyone recommend any pubs/ eateries ? Also, how much do you reckon to pay for a 2 bed end terraced? Think we are paying too much!
Thanks jx

I think you can pay about 120,000 for something like that at Crookes.Dependant on condition

Originally posted by Jaynos
Just reading all the info about Crookes, my boyfriend and I are moving there in the summer - just off school road. Just wondering what it is like and could anyone recommend any pubs/ eateries ? Also, how much do you reckon to pay for a 2 bed end terraced? Think we are paying too much!
Thanks jx

erm, not the best place to live off of School Road (can be noisy at night as main thoroughfare and a nightmare to drive down)

As long as you have double glazing you should be ok though.

120,000 is probably a touch steep for a 2 bed terrace . More like 100,000-110,000 imo.

The Ball is a good popular pub. The Cobdon View is a little pub just off of School Road. The Grind Stone is quite good and so is The Noah's Ark . Also The Closed Shop and Springvale at the bottom of School rd. They will all be within a 5-10 min walk)

Food-wise.

Takeaways:

Pizza Hut and Pisa Pizza up on Crookes. Good Chinese on School rd and on Crookes Rd. Admiral is a quality chippie and Jaflong a good Indian Take away.

Eating in you have Spinrocs (tapas) and Indian Chef on Crookes Rd.

Great Grocers (Natural) and cafe (Hercule) on Crookes Road.

ta very much for the advice robbie! Very useful! Looking forward to moving!
cheers jx

Originally posted by stelps
I live in Crookes and really like it but I think the price of some houses may come crashing down now that the huge phone mast thing has been put up over the horse shop.

There has been a phone mast over the co op supermarket for ages... the only pople affected by this are the staff in the co op!!

Having lived in Crookes for 6 years I can say that the students aren't really a problem, especially if you keep to the top end in the roads around the shops.

Apart from the lack of parking I can't really say anything bad about the area.

From talking to (ex) neighbours a 2 bed terrace without a converted attic would sell for about £125K if in good nick. Smaller houses without frontage and maybe a smaller 2nd bedroom are going for £110K, less if they need doing up.

I moved to Walkley/Crookes (top end of Commonside, where it joins School Road - yes it is a bit busy but we manage fine without double glazing) from Ecclesfield four years ago, and I am so glad that I did. I love it round here. Great local shops (the ones already mentioned, plus Beanies for food & the Dram Shop for weird & wonderful bottled beers); the Cobden View is a great little pub, extemely friendly; there are parks in every direction (Ponderosa, Crookes Valley, Weston Park, Bole Hills, Ruskin Park), Bole Hills has one of the best views in Sheffield and if you walk towards Hagg Hill you are straight out into the countryside, you can also walk 30 mins into the centre of town (try doing that from Ecclesfield!)

We live next door to students and rarely have problems except for the odd summer barbecue that goes on a bit late. Oh, and the bins. They never take their damned bins in, the streets can be a bit of a slalom especially steering a pushchair (which is also made hard by the amount of pavement parking).

My daughters (aged 9 & 4) are both at Westways (the eldest will probably be in your daughter's year, espadrille). It's a brilliant school, there's a really mixed intake there due to the transient population of mature students/lecturers/hospital staff. They run a lot of extra-curricular activities, some really great stuff going on there including very good occasional "international evenings" where you get to sample food, songs, dances etc from some of the many nationalities represented at the school.

I think the Brownies meet at the church on Slinn Street. There is a Woodcraft Folk group that meets at Crookesmoor Community Centre.