theOAP

In our area, in the last 15 years, and bearing in mind the depression of the last 5 years we've just experienced, there have been no "expensive" new developments built; be they larger estates of 30 to 40 homes, or smaller estates of 5 to 10 homes. Before this period, there were always at least 5 or 6 such estates to chose from. It's now difficult to find to a typical Bryants type estate of 100 to 150 3 and 4 bedroom new build estates. In our expanded area, I can't think of any.

The current demand in new-build housing, nation wide, is affordable housing.

Pulaski

Often it just means higher density housing.

bats

I used to live on the second floor of a block of flats whose rear wall was less than 10 feet from the main lines out of Euston. You soon got used to the trains. What wa harder to get used to was the traffic in the street out the front.

Vadio

Quite true Pulaski.

Sally Redux

OK complete change of tack, seriously considering a tiny 2-bed mews house right in the action in Harborne.

Pros - super-cute Victorian conversion, close to everything.

Cons - kids will be angry, no storage, nowhere for shipped furniture to go.

Editha

I lived for a while in a Victorian 2 up 2 down and loved it. But there were only two of us, no kids.

I can't resist pointing out that Victorian terraces are higher density housing than most modern estates, even those of 'starter homes'. The Victorians did high density very well. The problem is that nowadays we do it badly.

Sally Redux

We loved ours in Barnet. One baby fitted in but it was a bit tight for two (by modern standards).

The one we're looking at is actually a conversion of a meeting-hall into a row of houses, so it's slightly different in feel.

dunroving

Terraces are cheaper to heat. I owned one and one Christmas the heating broke and we hardly noticed the difference - next door provided the heating through the walls!

Have you taken a trip to Lichfield yet? I need someone to do a recce for me! One possibility for me for 2018 ... close to Cannock Chase (cycling) and Birmingham (shopping and culture - no jokes anyone!) and not far from the Peak District (hiking).

Sally Redux

Not yet! Will try to prioritise that!

Brum is great for shopping and reasonably cultured

Even Solihull looks a lot hipper, there is a great Danish juice bar staffed by ripped guys instead of the boring John Lewis caff

JOE & THE JUICE 2013

robin1234

Us old fogeys love a John Lewis caff! Not sure what a ripped guy is??

Jerseygirl

Beefcake.

N1cky

Where's everyone going to stay at Xmas?

Sally Redux

Us old biddies love a ripped guy too.
Oh God not like that. What is this latest obsession with getting the veins to stand out? Boyfriend-in-law seems to be into that
Good point.

Had another look at it today, by chance I spoke to a neighbour on the street behind who told me he is currently in dispute with an anti-social person in the next house. I believe this is a letting by the same agent selling 'my' house. Will have to investigate, and if you can follow all that,

Cape Blue

Stick a shed in the back garden - as long as they have power and wifi they won't care.

Sally Redux

Hoist on my own petard, daughter has found she can stay in halls at Christmas. It's more luxurious than where we are now