There’s a rise in people leaving Manchester for a Yorkshire suburb because you get ‘more for your money’, according to locals. Birchencliffe, in the centre of Huddersfield, is said to be up-and-coming with new-build estates springing up to house families.
One estate agent says house prices have rocketed in the past few months in the area - which recently welcomed Samuel L Jackson while he was filming for a new Marvel series. And so the M.E.N's sister title, Yorkshire Live spent a day in the suburb to see what life is really like in the area - and why some Mancunians are apparently keen to live there.
Claire Ramsbottom, of Peter David Properties, has worked in Birchencliffe for three years. She claims the relatively short commute is drawing people who work in Greater Manchester and have been priced out of the region.
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'A lot of people are moving here from Manchester'
"Manchester is so expensive to live in," she said. "You get a lot more for your money here than you would over there. Loads of new builds are coming up around here. I think that is because it is such a sought-after location."
Claire estimates the price of a typical home in the suburb has shot up by around £60,000 during that time. The average house price in the suburb now stands at £196,000.
"If we get any houses up here, they fly off," she said. "We have the new development at the top of the road and there is a lot of interest in properties up there."
Describing the surrounding streets, Claire said: "There are some really nice semi-detached homes; it is just a nice area, really close to the M62, not far from Huddersfield and not far from Brighouse - it is quite a central location.
"Lindley is really popular too and that is still walking distance away. Houses are not quite as expensive as central Lindley, but it is still really popular here."
'The area is beautiful - people keep coming back'
Enrico Deriu is restaurant manager at Birchencliffe's Da Sandro, on Halifax Road. He describes the area as 'beautiful' - saying the restaurant's growing reputation draws in people from across the country, partly down to its close proximity to the M62.
"Our secret is fresh food, people keep coming back. People come from Manchester and Leeds because we are so close to the motorway," he said.
Describing the area, Enrico said: "It is more popular now, there are a lot of new buildings about - it is a good area. The houses cost quite a lot and we get big families here."
Welcoming Hollywood royalty
Diners and staff at Da Sandro were left gobsmacked when Samuel L Jackson walked through the doors of the restaurant in January and casually asked for a table for seven.
Recalling the day he served Hollywood royalty, Enrico said: "He did not say he was coming and just walked through. A customer recognised him so one of my waiters went to ask if it was him.
"He said 'yes' but that he did not want to be disturbed while he was eating. He said that after the food we could have a nice talk. He really enjoyed the food.
"He had a steak with veg - he said it was all good. A lot of people come here; Huddersfield Town players come here to eat."
'We get a lot of people coming to see what is happening'
Among the facilities attracting families in Birchencliffe is St Phillip's community centre. Wendy Armstrong has worked as a team leader there for more than 10 years and helps to run a holiday and after-school club for children.
"We have loads of parents who ring up who want to use the facilities - it is well received," she said. "When it comes to holidays, and parents are working, it is nice for them to have somewhere to send their kids. It is a very rewarding job."
Wendy said a number of other activities take place at the centre, which is open seven days a week, such as fitness classes and a 'tea dance'. It has been here for years and we have different things going on.
"It is a good centre for the people in the community to actually use. People are aware of it and we get a lot of people who come here to see what is happening."
'The community are very supportive, polite and nice'
Sarah Gerrard works as a sales marketing manager at Briar Court Hotel in Halifax Road, which she says attracts a lot of 'passing trade'. "Some people stay for leisure and some may come for a wedding," she said.
People travel from down south to come and visit their family and friends," she said. "We do get a few local people staying, but not many."
Sarah, who does not live in the Huddersfield suburb, described the community as "supportive, polite and nice" but said there was "not much going on" in Birchencliffe.
"We can nip up to Lindley, which is quite nice - but it seems like a very nice area. There is nothing untoward about it," she said.
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