Relocation back to Cambs

[soulhalshall]

Looking for some advice...I have been working away from the UK for seven years, in Europe. In that time I have married and now have two children. We have been loving life in Greece for the last four years and expected to stay forever but my wife has found it difficult since the birth of our daughter, being far from home and without the same sort of support network.

Today I was offered a job near Cambridge/Haverhill, a decent job for the quite near future. There are pros and cons with both staying and going, including having to tell my current employers, who will be cross, leaving my mother, who is 70+, leaving great weather and Greek food but going to a place where a pension may exist, where there should be better professional opportunities, better education for the children, CUFC. I don't know what I'm asking but I am feeling torn and a bit sick.

If that's not a question, here is one, where to live in or near Haverhill? Or would you not, and live in Cambridge? I lived near Addenbrookes growing up but I don't know how financially viable the city is. I don't know much about the villages either, any thoughts/ideas/answers?

[animal]

I know a few people who love Haverhill town.
Moving into Cambridge is unfortunately all about money. I am guessing that you want at least 3 bedrooms? Half a million quid might get you something on the Gunild estate or in Chinton if you want to be close to your old stomping ground, with easy access down the old Haverhill Rd.
Saffron Walden has some lovely bits but it is approaching Cambridge prices.
When my kids were growing up Cambridge living avoided the dad-taxi burden that the pisspoor transport links incur.
With that in mind think Shelford, whittlesford or Gt Chesterford.

[lesj]

I live in Whittlesford & for a village is quite expensive.
A lot of people commute from here to London as it's so easy, Railway station in the village & only 1 1/2 miles from the M11 which seems to put the prices up . Shelford is also expensive. I don't know about Gt Chesterford.

Sawston is cheaper and a little nearer to Haverhill .



P.s if you Google Right Move uk you will be able to find out the current house prices for sale for any where in the uk

Also sold prices

[rocky]

There was an older thread on this forum about moving to Haverhill, in which you might find some useful advice.

cambridgeunitedfc.proboards.com/thread/6918/moving-haverhill-advice-needed

[Denton]

I used to live in Whittlesford and then moved to Duxford, I would suggest Duxford is the place to live, a tiny bit cheaper than Whittlesford despite being the other side of the road. I live in Bassingbourn now but I plan on one day moving back to Duxford

Whittlesford is probably better though if you've got small kids, nothing going on there at all so nice and quiet.

[terryd]

Unfortunately, as with the most things in life, you tend to get what you pay for.

[soulhalshall]

Thank you for the thoughts, folks. We're busy hurriedly weighing things up at the moment. The whole process is complicated by the concern that current employers will not provide kind references to future employers based on the lateness of the notice, something I perhaps do understand to an extent but which certainly concerns us as much as where we might live when or if we get there.

[nutsaboutamber]

Win the lottery and go for Romsey. Mind you I live in E Barnwell and don’t think I could afford it even this close!

[belly77]

Great Chesterford is on the verge of having 5000 houses built on the fields near the A11. The residents are obviously trying to oppose it.

There are some lovely villages between Haverhill and Saffron Walden. Radwinter, Ashdon and Sampford. Linton is also quite nice in the centre. Even places like Finchingfield aren’t that far away.

[scooterboy]

Fulbourn Balsham Weston Coalville are nice villages not too far from Cambridge

[lesj]

I must say that last Sunday I went to the Balsham sale, and for the first time ever walked round the village.

I have to say that I was quite impressed

[soulhalshall]

I had a friend in Balsham once and remember liking it but have no recollection of it really.

For now, the move is off the table, we have just turned down the job (been made aware of a couple of little surprises), so may have to revisit these ideas a year from now, with more time to investigate hopefully.