Heanor guidebook

If you're looking for a housing bargain, head for Heanor: you can't beat this former mining town in terms of value for money.

It's set high on a hill overlooking the Erewash valley - so if you don't like steep walks, forget it! - and it has quite a saucy history.

D H Lawrence wrote Lady Chatterley's Lover using Shipley Hall and park, just outside the town, as the book's setting, and rumour says it may have been based on a local working lad and aristocratic lady.

After mining disappeared in 1968, taking with it thousands of jobs - nearly half the town had been employed at the mines - Heanor began to grow as a small industrial base. 

There are now nine sizeable business and industrial parks around the town, with more than 130 businesses.

And the big cities of Nottingham, Derby and Leicester are just a hop away which is gradually transforming it into a commuter town and attracting BTL interest.

Commuters are taking advantage of its position - close to major centres of work, just four miles from the M1, and with its own London rail link - and investors are quick to grab the buy-to-let opportunities.

Heanor is full of the old and the new, from old terraced mining cottages to super new three storey starter homes; from the world's biggest maker of Christmas puds to a paint shop for Formula 1 racing cars; and from little corner shops to big modern superstores.

Although its traditional town centre took a bit of hit when Tesco moved into the edge of town, with a new retail park opposite, this has pushed the old centre towards providing more specialist types of shops, such as the surf and skate outlet that brings in trade from all over the country.

But if you're looking for a trendy town, don't bother. Heanor isn't about being fashionable: in fact, the town centre still looks like a run down mining village, and this probably explains why it's not yet become a 'boom town'.

Things are beginning to change, though, and with new facilities, lots of house building and an influx of new faces, Heanor has the potential to become a property star.

Coal might have gone, but it still has the positives attributes of an old mining town: salt-of-the-earth people with a friendly smile and a big welcome.

Property In Heanor

House building is going on everywhere in Heanor. It only has 15,000 houses - and 700 have just gone up, so you can see how fast the town is growing.

They're mostly affordable housing, which has meant a big influx of new money, from young couples looking for cheaper housing, and investors looking for inexpensive buy-to-let properties.

It's becoming commuter city and is attracting fresh faces from all over the East Midlands.

But new starter homes means young couples without children and the town is suffering from a shortage of families, so developers are being encouraged to build some bigger homes.

Langley Mill, just outside the town centre and with its own rail link to London, is attracting buy-to-let landlords by the droves.

Areas in and around Heanor

1. Marpool

  pic: Semi-detached houses
Where is it? On the Heanor to Ilkeston Road, the A 6007, just outside the town centre.

What's there? A former council estate.  There are some older mining terraced houses, but it's mainly made up of council semi-detached homes.

Buyers: Mainly families who have been brought up here and want to stay close to home. Very stable community who tend to be long term residents.

Pros: Strong and friendly community spirit, and not much movement out of the area. Set on the edge of the countryside with good views, and Shipley Country Park is just a short distance away. Lowest council tax rates in Amber Valley.

Cons: Still an ageing council estate; could do with a facelift. Hardly any facilities with just a few shops. The post office is about to close.

2. Heanor Town

  pic: Edwardian terraces
Where is it? The central area that envelopes the town centre.

What's there? Mostly Victorian mining terraced houses and semis.  Some small estates are springing up with around 20 to 30 affordable town houses.
 
Buyers: First-time buyers and anyone else looking for affordable housing.
 
Pros: Close to the town's facilities. It's a friendly, welcoming part that feels more like a village than a town.

Cons: Built on a hill, so you need good lungs and sturdy shoes to get around. Appears run down and is another area that could use a facelift.

Close to the Heanor Gate industrial estate, and the town gets clogged with traffic.

3. Loscoe

  pic: Bungalows
Where is it? On the Heanor to Ripley Road (A 6007) just outside of town.

What's there? The private end of town, mostly owner-occupied semis and bungalows in a pretty village setting.

Buyers: Usually professional families or more mature people.

Pros: In a countryside setting so great views. Upmarket, village feel to the area.

Cons: Few facilities so you have to travel into town for most of your shopping. Feels a little left out of the redevelopment going on all around.

4. Langley Mill

  pic: Detached houses
Where is it? Out of town on the main Heanor to Nottingham Road, towards the A610 and Nottingham.

What's there? Old mining terraces with infill detached and town houses. A big estate of about 400 homes has just gone up.

Buyers: Commuters moving in to take advantage of the good road links and the main line station with direct trains to London. Buy-to-let landlords snapping up properties.

Pros: A pretty area which is great for commuting - just two miles to the motorway and major rail link. 

There is a little shopping centre and it's close to the secondary schools. A new shopping estate, Junction 26, with nationwide chain shops, has just opened.

Cons: Perceived to be an industrial area; the industry has actually long gone but it still gives that impression. Houses are now being built on the site of the factories.

Losing families who are moving upmarket, replaced with couples who want to commute, and renters.

Living Here

Transport:

Trains: High speed service to London from Langley Mill station, just outside the town, and good local services.

Buses: Regular and reliable bus service to Derby and Nottingham.

Roads: Close to the M1 so great for commuting, but the town centre can be a bottleneck at peak times.

A ring road around the town centre to solve the problem is being considered.

Air: East Midlands International Airport (EMA) is just twenty miles away, two junctions down the M1.

Shopping:

Small shopping centre.  The town centre is becoming more specialist, with a surfing and skateboard shop which is one of the most popular in Britain. 

It has its own popular antiques centre, with more than 200 independent traders, which is a real "hunter's delight".

Tesco has opened on the Derby Road just outside town, and a big new retail park, which includes Argos and other national chains, opened opposite.

Eating and Drinking:

Heanor might be small, but its eating habits are quite diverse. Eating out mainly revolves around traditional pub grub, with a few good Chinese and Italian restaurants.

There's a fair few cafes, and lots and lots of takeaways of every kind; a real fast food town for kebabs and similar food.

Sports:

Good for sport with lots of local clubs offering all kinds of activities such as bowls, cricket, cycling and running.
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Heanor Town Football Club is at the Broadway.

There is a big new multi-million pound "William Gregg VC" leisure centre, named after a local hero who won the Victoria Cross. Its swimming pool is due to open in 2008.

Entertainment and Leisure:

There are lots of local societies, and some of the pubs host regular gigs.

For cinema and theatre, you need to go to either Nottingham or Derby.

Parks and open spaces:

Shipley Country Park: This old colliery site has now been landscaped.  It covers 600 acres and has 18 miles of walks.

There is also Heanor Memorial Park on Ilkeston Road.