Why people are moving to this Sheffield suburb once described as the ‘prettiest in England’

One area in particular, where homes are highly sought after is S10 – It contains Fulwood, Crookes, Sandygate, Crookesmoor and Lodge Moor.

The suburb was once described as the 'prettiest suburb in England' by English poet Sir John Betjeman and was the main subject of his poem ‘An Edwardian Sunday, Broomhill Sheffield.’

Purple Bricks estimate that the surge has been driven by the Stamp Duty holiday and more affordable lending from banks, with the effects clearly seen in popular neighbourhoods where the demand is very high, and there is a shortage of properties for the number of buyers.

Luke Williams, Purplebricks’ local property expert for Sheffield, said: “There has definitely been a shift in Sheffield house buyers’ priorities over the past year, as they seek properties which are close to open countryside but also commutable to the city centre. People want more indoor living space, especially an extra living room to convert into an office or children’s playroom, and a bigger garden.

“The S10, S11 and S17 postcodes have a lot of big, four and five-bedroom detached houses. The areas are affluent, with very good primary and secondary schools, and border the Peak District with its stunning walks. These properties have always been popular, and people strive to live there. We’ve seen a lot of properties in these postcodes going for significantly over the asking price as there simply aren't enough houses compared to the number of people who want to live in these areas.

“House prices in S10, S11 and S17 have risen by ten to 15 per cent over the past year, and I think these areas will remain popular as people have reevaluated what they want from a home.

"My tip for buyers keen to move into these postcodes is to consider a property at the lower end of the market, such as a terrace, and use this as a stepping stone to a bigger property.”

After speaking to residents in S10 it became clear why the property market is booming right across the suburb.

Many factors that came up in conversation were that the area is only a short distance away from the Peak District, which is a haven for hikers, cyclists and the everyday person who fancies some exercise in the great outdoors.

Some of the homes for sale in the area boast beautiful gardens and private driveways but not only that, they are truly unique and have history behind their doors.

Samuel Ward, who moved to the city from Devon, said: “I lived in Broomhill for a few years when I was a student, and the area is great for a range of people from all walks of life: students, families, older people. It has great bus links to the city centre, and walks to the Botanical Gardens, Weston and Crookes Valley Parks, and out towards the Peaks if you head up Manchester Road.

“I won't lie, my favourite bit was the pubs when I would amble back from Sheffield University - and I would still visit that area now if they were open! The York, Broomhill Tavern and Fox and Duck were a few of my favourite haunts.

He added: “But there's also great cafe's, restaurants and ice cream parlours for those not as desperate for a pint - or families, of course.

“The verdant Taptonville Road is adjacent to the hustle and bustle of all of this, but still feels very serene and out of the way. My girlfriend and I have always said we would love a house on that road in particular.

“There's a poem by John Betjeman that talks about Broomhill being 'serene on a Sunday', and it really does feel like that on most days - especially when the sun is shining.”

Justin Underwood from Broomhill, said: “I think it’s mainly the universities that mainly make the area what it is, there are a lot of young professionals in the area that are employed by the university.”

He added: “It feels like a safe part of town to live in and it’s very quiet where I live.”

Martin Pierce, also from Broomhill, has lived in the area all his life and believes that the property boom is down to the area having three private schools nearby as well as the local amenities and its convenience to town.

Martin moved from a property near Broomhill around seven months ago and purchased a new three-bedroom house worth around £600,000.

He said: “I’ve lived here all my life apart from going away to university.

“I’ve never lived more than a mile away from Broomhill, it’s got a lot of amenities, good communications and housing stock.”

Maria Vegro, a student at the University of Sheffield, said: “It feels like living in a little village and everyone is really friendly. You can just leave the house and go to the shops.

“I only live in a student house but some of the other properties in the area are lovely.”

Another S10 resident, Judy Heller, said: “It’s busy, you can walk into town, you can walk into the Peak District, we also cycle so you can cycle into the Peak District easily.

Judy believes the area is quite sought after because of the closeness to the city centre as well as the accessibility.

She said: “It’s so close to town so it’s easy to get there just by walking or getting on a bus.”

Editor's note

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