A Nottinghamshire town dubbed one of the most 'desirable' locations in the county has been praised by residents who describe it as a great place to live. People who have made Kimberley their home say they get to enjoy the best of both worlds, with the city of Nottingham and the countryside on their doorstep.
Estate agent Watsons recently pinpointed the town as a hotspot for activity from younger buyers. Kimberley sits six miles northwest of Nottingham along the A610 and was once known as a centre for coal mining, brewing and hosiery manufacturing.
Now the town is becoming popular with young professionals and families looking to settle down. Chris Boston, a 56-year-old working in the printing trade and his wife, 54-year-old Alison, a business advisor, live in Kimberley with their two children.
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The pair said they can understand why the town has become such a desirable location. Alison said: "I've lived here a long time and it’s a good place to live. It's great for transport and it’s good for shopping and we have Ikea just down the road.
"We can get to Nottingham really easy on the bus. It feels like a nice place to live and there's not a lot of anti-social behaviour. There are good schools around. I can see why young people would want to move here. You get a bit more for your money here than south of the city. If a for sale board goes up around here it goes straight away."
The town, which has a growing population of almost 7,000 people, recently won a bid for £16.5m from the Government Levelling Up Fund – which is a key driver for inward investment and opportunity.
The improvements planned for the town as part of the funding include a new addition to Kimberley town centre in the form of a Community and Business Hub to replace the Parish Hall, which will offer space for start-ups and small businesses. Small Business Grants for Kimberley businesses have also been promised, which will contribute to improving the look and feel of the town.
A new active travel route is also in planning, to link up Kimberley with Eastwood, Giltbrook, Phoenix Park Tram Stop and Bennerley Viaduct, making the connection from the town to the city, and other local areas, quicker and more efficient.
Speaking on the town, another resident added: "The thing I like the most is having the countryside so close. I wouldn’t say it’s good for shops but the transport links are good." Another added: "There’s some talk of the tram coming here but that won’t be for years. That would definitely improve transport and I would use it a lot.
"There's also a lot of lovely walks around here - we're also only a 25-minute drive from Matlock." Estate agent Watsons has been working closely with homebuilder Fairgrove, selling properties on its latest development in the town.
Will Watson, director at Watsons, said: “It is a really exciting time to live in Kimberley and we’re seeing an influx of buyers from outside of the NG16 postcode looking to relocate to new builds in the town thanks to the excellent connectivity and amenities and attractions for young families – for example M&S Food at Ikea retail park on the doorstep and there are a selection of outstanding nurseries and primary schools, with a secondary school having regular students from Sixth Form attending Russell Group Universities.
“We are seeing people moving up from London, finding the Nottinghamshire area and Kimberley in particular very good value for money. Generally speaking, you get more value for your money in Kimberley compared to the city centre.”
Steve Midgley, Managing Director of Fairgrove, added: “There’s always a strong demand for homes in Kimberley, it’s a buzzing little town, with great local amenities, excellent schools and a strong community feel. We’re proud to sell homes in such a lively, family-centric area and wholly agree with Will that the town is becoming one of the most desirable locations in the county for families thanks to its proximity to the Peaks and Nottingham city centre.”
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