Allestree guidebook

Allestree property

It’s not hard to see why estate agents say Allestree is one of the most sought-after areas to live in Derby.

It might be the most northern ward of the city, but it’s still only about two miles from the centre and is home to Derby University.

It’s a big, airy city suburb with its own shopping precinct at Park Farm, and is virtually surrounded by farmland and open space; no surprise, then, that it's popular with the better-off middle classes.

Allestree was once a quiet village steeped in history up until about 40 years ago when it became boom time for the house builders, and it grew and grew.

Now there’s a real mix of housing here, from the handful of original wood framed properties and few streets of traditional terraces in the old village through to lots of modern chalets, semis and some big, deluxe homes.

 Park Farm shopping centre, Allestree

Most of the construction was finished in the 90s, so the area is now well settled with just pockets of new infill build.

At the last count, there were about 13,000 people living here, making it one of the city’s biggest suburbs.

It has its own infant, junior and secondary schools taking children from a large catchment area, as well as plenty of shops and a few pubs, making it virtually self contained.

It’s a busy place with a good community vibe. And with the city centre only a short bus ride away, it’s easy for city workers to get in and out for work and fun.

Apart from the community activities and the pubs, though, there’s not much in the way of leisure.  This is not a trendy area; the houses are fairly traditional, as is the way of life.

Allestree was described as a ‘socially advantaged area’ in the 2001 census with the unemployment rate lower than the national average.

So it’s not hard to see why houses prices here are higher than in most other areas of the city...and why they hang on to their values.

And, with hardly any new houses being built in this popular suburb, you usually have to pay a premium to move in.

History, too…

The church in Allestree dates from the 12th century and the Red Cow pub next to it goes back to 1800.

The suburb also has a yew tree reputed to be 1,000 years old and a ghost that hangs around the lamp in the old church yard.

In the conservation area at the village centre, around Park Lane and Cornhill, there are several listed buildings, including the 17th Century wooden framed Yew Tree Cottage and the old village pump.

Property in Allestree

Where is it? It’s the city’s northernmost ward and situated on the busy A6, about two miles north of the city centre, between Mackworth and Darley Abbey.

What's there? Virtually all privately owned homes, with a good property mix ranging from big terraces and pleasant, modern semis through to the deluxe.

Built mostly between the 1930s and the 70s, the little estates have tended to merge together into one large one.

Of the 7,500 plus homes here, 85 per cent are owner-occupied, with just 15 per cent rented, so there’s not much scope for the buy-to-let investor.

Half are detached – among the highest number in the city – a third are semis, 13 per cent are terraced, the rest are bungalows and the flats around the Park Farm shopping centre.

Half of the houses have three bedrooms, and the other half four- and two-bed, so virtually the whole suburb is targeted at families.

House building pretty much finished in the 90s, apart from some pockets of new infill. The area has stopped growing, and is now well established.

Allestree has several shopping centres, including the Park Farm which has a number of shops and a supermarket, doctors, chemists and banks, and there's a fabulous, extensive park.

There are two primary schools, Portway Junior School on Robincroft Road and Lawn Primary School on Norbury Close behind Park Farm.

Woodlands Community School is the local comprehensive school with a sixth form, catering for around 1,150 pupils.

The University of Derby has its main campus on Kedleston Road and has been here since the buildings were opened in 1960.

Buyers: Professional families and middle classes who don't mind paying a premium to live in this district and can afford to; it's more expensive than the rest of the city.

Pros: According to estate agents, Allestree is a particularly desirable part of town. A few terraced streets, but predominately lots of large, good-looking semis and some stunning big detached houses.

Cons: It's a big area and can feel like living on a giant housing estate at times.

Living here

Transport:

Train: Derby mainline station is two miles away in the city centre.

Road: Allestree sits on the busy A6 and is minutes away from the main north-south A38 to the M1 motorway. The A50 cross country road is also minutes away.

Bus: Excellent regular service winding through the suburb and into the city.

Air: East Midlands International Airport (EMA) is about 15 miles away.

Shopping:

There is the Park Farm precinct and a few little shopping centres; everything for day-to-day living, including doctors, opticians, chemists and banks.

Eating and Drinking:

A few pubs, some serving food, plenty of takeaways but no restaurants; however, as the city centre is just a walk away, everyone heads for there.

Sports:

Lots - pretty much everything, including a very popular and successful cricket club.

Parks and Open spaces:

The area is well blessed on this front: there is Allestree Park on the north, Markeaton Park to the south, and Darley Abbey Park on the eastern side.

Allestree Park is exceptionally scenic and comprises a mixture of woodland, open parkland, a lake, a hall, a golf course and abundant wildlife. The park dates from the end of the 18th century when the present hall, a Grade 2 listed building, was built.

Markeaton Park is the most-used leisure facility in Derby with a wide variety of activities including a boating lake, pitch and putt course, children's playground and mini golf course.

Just a short distance to the southwest of the suburb, set in beautiful parkland of its own, is Kedleston Hall.

Surrounding Areas

1. Mackworth

Where is it? On the eastern edge of Derby, Mackworth is next to the main A38 north-south trunk road which divides the estate from the city centre.

What’s there? It mainly consists of a large council estate of around 3,000 homes, although these days around 60 per cent of it is owner-occupied. 

There is also a smattering of older terraced streets, and strangely enough, some roads of large, upmarket detached houses rubbing shoulders with the council homes.

Built during the 1950s, the estate was one of the largest in the city, with semi-detached houses making up the vast majority of the property stock.
 
It is well maintained and has attractive gardens and plenty of green open spaces, as well as decent amenities and facilities.

Many roads are named after places in London including Knightsbridge, Wembley Gardens, Bayswater Close and Marylebone Crescent, giving it the nickname "Little London".

Mackworth's most noticeable landmark is a large water tower owned by Severn Trent which can be seen from much of the estate. It is also home to Derby College on Prince Charles Avenue.

Buyers: People moved in when it was built in the fifties and have stayed.  Most new buyers are the children and children's children of the original settlers.

Pros: Self contained estate with nice little row of shops and a school. There are a few pubs which tend to be well frequented by people who have grown up here.

Cons: Although it's possible to walk into the city centre, people feel cut off by the A38.

Biggest residents' gripe is the bus service, which they say could be improved; you really need a car to get into Derby centre.

Living here

Transport:

Train: Nearest station is in Derby city centre.

Road: Mackworth is well placed for those with a car as it's right on the A38 and close to the city centre.

Bus: Service – but could be better  - through the estate and into Derby city centre.

Air: East Midlands airport (EMA) just 15 miles away.

Shopping:

Mackworth has its own busy row of shops, enough for daily needs.

Eating and Drinking:

A couple of pubs and takeaways but no restaurants.

Sports: Plenty of teams and clubs on the estate, from cricket and football to karate.

Entertainment:

Just the couple of estate pubs, so many people head for the city.

Parks and Open Spaces:

Typical big council estate with plenty of green parts in between the houses and a handful of children's play areas.

2. Quarndon

Where is it? North of Derby city centre and Allestree, off the busy A6 down Burley Lane.

What's there? Quarndon is a charming little village which is said to be one of the healthiest places to live in Britain.

Between the 17th and 19th centuries, Quarndon was a celebrated spa village; visitors flocked to Chalybeate Well – just below The Joiners' Arms – for its healing spring waters.

Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe, is believed to have stayed here in 1727 during his grand tour of Great Britain, and it was where Brian Clough, the famous Derby and Nottingham Forest football manager, spent his retirement.

Quarndon has less than 400 homes housing around 900 residents; just 32 new properties have been built in the village since 1984.

There is a blend of charming Georgian and Victorian semis and detached houses, with some sympathetic modern homes mixed in, all backing onto glorious countryside.

Quarndon consists basically of just four roads with a pretty little 12th century church, one pub, The Joiners' Arms, a pre-school playgroup and a primary school.

The Church Hall, opened in 1914, is the venue for two productions a year by the Quarndon Amateur Dramatic Society.

The village has stunning views of Kedleston Hall on one side and the Derwent Valley on the other, and is close enough to the city for commuters.

It won its class in the Best Kept Village Competition in 1976, 1977, 1986 and 1991, and the popular cricket club won the village cricket team of the year in 1983.

No shock that property in Quarndon carries a price premium, then.

Buyers: Affluent families; property is not cheap here.

Pros: Stunning views, great village life, good for commuting.

Cons: Not much in the way of facilities apart from the pub, and it's an expensive place to live.

Living here

Transport: 

Train: The closest station is in Derby city centre.

Road: It's located off the A6, so not bad for getting to most places.

Bus: Regular good services to Derby city centre, and Ashbourne in the other direction.

Air: East Midlands international airport (EMA) is less than 20 miles away.

Shopping: None.

Eating and Drinking: Just the pub, the Joiners Arms.

Parks and Open Spaces: There's the cricket ground as well as miles of rolling countryside all around.

Sports: Quarndon Cricket Club boasts three teams and coaches over 100 junior members.

It won the Border League Championship in 1980, the Whitbread Village Cricket Trophy at Lords in 1983 and the Derbyshire County League Championship in 1993.

Entertainment: Several clubs including the amateur dramatics group which puts on two shows a year, the Women's Institute, a youth club and other youth offerings, and a pensioners’ club.

A busy organising committee called ‘Events Quarndon’ arranges regular activities including a treasure hunt and barn dance.