Spotlight on Birchwood

WHY: A classic 'new town' area, Birchwood has sprung into life over the past 20 years to become a busy hive of industrial and residential properties.

Business expansion into the area boosted the population, although it has created a rather industrial image. But, hidden behind those tree-lined roads is a thriving residential area.

Properties on offer show a real mix from first-time buyer flats to detached homes. And prices are not too steep compared with some areas of nearby Warrington. A five-bed detached house fetches around £300,000 compared with £600,000 in other areas.

WHO: Built slap bang in the middle of the major motorway networks, Birchwood has proved an attractive base for business types travelling to Manchester and Liverpool.

First-time buyers are still buying in the area, although with the cheapest houses now fetching around £100,000, they might not be for too much longer. There is also a fairly busy buy-to-let market.

TRANSPORT: Couldn't really be much closer to the M62 and M6 motorways. However, it is an extremely busy junction at peak times. Rail links are good with Birchwood being on the main Manchester-Liverpool line. Regular buses from Warrington town centre.

SCHOOLS: Birchwood High School got 60 per cent of its pupils through five or more GCSEs, grades A-C in 2003.

AGENT'S VIEW: Ray Egan from agents Venmore Thomas and Jones said: "Birchwood started off as a new town area, mainly Manchester overspill and was built up in the 1980s.

"A lot of people live, work, and shop within the area as there have been lots of new industrial units built over the past few years.

"There are some first-time buyers still looking here but I would say they are looking at about £100,000 for a former local authority property. But there is plenty to do for families in the area and there are good schools."

RESIDENT'S VIEW: Debbie Griffiths said: "I have lived in Birchwood for 26 years and it has changed in that time. When I moved here with my parents it was very quiet countryside. Now it's much more busy. I think it's a very good place for families to live.