Spotlight on Edgeley

WHERE: Suburb of Stockport 10 miles south of Manchester. Junction 1 off the M60.

WHY: It may be a suburb of Stockport but Edgeley is home to the bigger town's main line station and its football club, Edgeley Park. Split in two by the main road, the more popular areas are to the south where the streets of large terraces and semis border Alexandra Park.

But the other end of town behind the market and near the station is undergoing something of a revival with new investment coming in. It is part of the Shaw Heath renewal area, with money being spent improving the local parks, street lighting and traffic flow.

The pedestrianised shopping centre has had money spent improving shop fronts but could do with more. It was one of the first in the borough to be covered by CCTV and security is a priority - even the small Boots store has its own security guard.

WHO: Popular with young families because the terraced houses are both big enough and affordable and the local primary schools are good. Its proximity to the main train station and the M60 makes it good commuter territory and many who live here work in nearby Stockport. Traditional first-time buyer territory, the interest of investors keen to buy terraces at under £70,000 has driven up prices. Strangely, the top end prices do not seem to have increased at the same pace and give much better value.

It is hard to find anything in Edgeley much over the £250,000 mark.

TRANSPORT: Five minutes from the M60 but a lengthy journey into Manchester during rush hour. Main line station with connections into the city and the capital.

SCHOOLS: Avondale High School gets 28 per cent of its pupils through five or more A to C GCSEs.

AGENT'S VIEW: Antony Mckae, of Edward Mellor estate agents, said: "The market over the past two years has been quite frantic here and I see no let up really. It is being driven not only by investors but first time buyers from the surrounding more expensive areas of Cheadle, Hazel Grove and Bramhall who see Edgeley as a good alternative.

A house that will cost £90,000 here would be £130,000 in Cheadle. I think there is still room for growth in the market because it is such good value and has so much going for it: good transport, good schools and a nice park. All it needs is a wine bar and a Pizza Express in the town centre and it will take off!"

RESIDENT'S VIEW: Lyndsey Trafford, 23, said: "I moved here from Skelmersdale two years ago but have visited since I was a child. The town centre now seems a lot quieter than it was with the market less busy and some shops closing. If I want to get anything special I will go into Stockport.

And if I am having a night out with my girlfriends we would definitely go into Stockport not stay here. Having said that, we live near the town centre and the street where we are is very nice with a friendly atmosphere. And things do seem to be happening around the town with bits of clean-ups and new developments, so perhaps it will improve soon."

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