Spotlight on Whitefield

WHERE: Eight miles north of Manchester in the borough of Bury. Two minutes form the M60.

WHY: Originally part of the Earl of Wilton's estate which cut a swathe across north Manchester from his home at Heaton Hall. Whitefield is still very green but most of the rolling acres are golf courses although there is greenbelt protection to the southwest.

Whitefield has only ever been a residential town and is one of the few places where you will find £1m mansions and £50,000 ex-council houses within half a mile of each other. In recent years there has been a fair amount of new build on in-fill sites. There is a strong local community but nearby Prestwich is where most shop. The local Philips Park High School rates slightly higher than the UK average with 56 per cent of pupils getting 5 A-C GCSEs

TRANSPORT: A two minute drive gets you to the motorway network and the new M60 link means you can get to Stockport in 20 minutes and the airport in 30. But the A56 Bury New Road, which runs through Whitefield is tortuous at the best of times. The Metrolink tram will get you either into the city or Bury in 10 minutes.

WHO: The area around Ringley Road/Stand Lane is very well to do with the first £1m property sold last year and many more topping seven figures. It is very stable and many people have lived here 20-30 years and sales are rare. But across Bury New Road, housing is much more affordable for young families while developments like the Suburban Loft scheme and Bett Homes Atrium have attracted young professionals.

AGENT'S VIEW: Jonathan Dines, of Alex Dines and Co, said: "We have everything here from £1m properties to cheap terraces. Although there has been some new building, the amount that can be done is finite because Whitefield is bounded by the motorway, golf courses and the green belt, so prices are always going to be strong. Houses are selling within a week. Whitefield is attracting a new market of young professionals who want good local bars and restaurants but an easy journey to Manchester."

RESIDENT'S VIEW: Jimmy Gillespie: "I moved here five years ago from Glasgow to live with a my fiancee. It's great. I work in Manchester and it takes me 20 minutes on the tram. Our street is very multicultural and everyone gets on really well. The council has just upgraded the streets and play park and it looks better."

View comments (2 comments. Last comment 24/03/2004 at 12:50)

Related stories