We made the move up to Sheffield from South East London in 2021. My wife and I were renters in Lewisham and Beckenham, however we knew we wouldn’t be able to afford buying in London, we had no previous connections to the city like some of the people you interviewed. House prices and green spaces was the attraction for us, we first rented in Meersbrook and now bought a lovely house in Heeley. Think Heeley is definitely underrated and kind of like it’s slipped off the radar compared to its neighbour Meersbrook.
Nice to have a feelgood article. I confess to feeling more than a little smug that it turns out the grass really is greener on our side of the fence (at least for those of us with the time and resources to be able to enjoy it). Might this influx have a positive cultural impact? In his book Welcome to Sheffield, David Price counts the arrival in the 1970s of 1500 employees and families of the Midland Bank and 2000 from the Manpower Services Commission as significant immigration events. Some of those arriving have done their bit to influence the shape of the city today, just as have those from more distant origins. It takes more than a bit of drive and energy to uproot and relocate. Can we and they direct some of that to making the city a (still) better place?
Very interesting as always. My children live in London and they often send me great reviews they’ve read of Sheffield restaurants. If only the city centre could be restored to its former glory. Have high hopes for the new restaurant complex planned for Cambridge Street but will never forgive John Lewis for pulling out.
I was here as a student a long time ago and loved it. I spent 30 years working down south but covid put paid to my job in Bournemouth and our ambitions to buy a house there. I got a job up here and love it even more than when I was a student. And we could never have bought a house like the one we now have in Bradway: it would have cost literally double the amount in Bournemouth. Plus the lovely people and environment and being in the Beer capital of the UK (writing this in the Broadfield!)
I’m genuinely happy for these folks but must say it has been extremely frustrating trying to buy a house. Perhaps I can’t say much as a foreigner myself (American, my partner is from here).
But it does remind me of when I lived in Austin, Texas which was rapidly growing. People were always complaining about the Californians moving in when the data actually showed that the influx was mostly people from other parts of Texas. Regardless, we had to leave because it became unaffordable and the culture changed too much.
Professional positive people with fresh perspectives can only be a positive influence on the city. Welcome.
Remote working is a huge game changer, why live in a one bedroom flat and spend hours on a baking hot tube, when you can have a nice house and garden and the Peak District on your doorstep.
Great article, we moved from Clapham, London in 2019, after 30 years in the Capitol a work opportunity gave us a chance for a life change. Can not stress how life changing this has been. Space, greenery and strangers who say hello. Plus of course very cheap, exceptionally good craft beer. Yes the transport network is abysmal and the weather catches you out at times but, the city is amazing and I can’t believe we didn’t come sooner
I left London in 2020 for Doncaster because I couldn’t afford to stay (signed off as unfit to work following a diagnosis of autism and following a friend’s murder in NI - Lyra McKee - look her up). Lived in a big terrace on Broxholme Lane, a shooting on my street, lots of rapes in the area, stopped an ex soldier from throwing himself off a bridge, he became a bit of a stalker, had to get the police to give him a warning...but loved the house I lived in, and it was my safe place, first time living alone. Completed my first counselling course at Donny College, completed Couch to 5K at Town Fields, worked part time in freelance journalism and marketing and part benefits. No fault eviction took me back to Sheffield (I did my postgraduate degree here) and have ended up in a VERY tiny “studio” flat in Walkey. So now I’m living in a very safe, middle class suburb. Moving back to Sheffield definitely improved my MH. To be back in a city and to not feel so out of place (bisexual Irish person). Has saw me come off benefits and return to full time work after 3 years. But being forced out of London where I have aunts and uncles and cousins and many friends. Was traumatic. And it can be isolating at times. Single, live alone, no family nearby. Also being forced out of my Doncaster home was traumatic. Now have priority with Sheffield Council, so hopefully after 20 something rentals (also have ADHD) in a year or two, I’ll have a place that is secure. And over time can save to buy a place. I came upon a bus driver from Omagh, which is close to where I grew up in NI, last year. He was in his 50s and had left London. Asked him how he found it: “I hate it.” I said hopefully he settles. I really didn’t like Sheffield when I first came, to I met working class South Yorkshire people in Donny on a placement vs mostly Southern English people at Uni of Sheffield. I also found it incredibly dull and unsettling in how quiet it was. Coming from uni in Belfast where we had bomb scares on campus to trees being cut down being the biggest scandal. I was very poor and very unwell and almost failed my degree and lived in a terrible atmosphere in a shared house. But 3 years in London...left poorer than I arrived. Sheffield is perfect for me at 29, with too much chaos behind me. But yeah, there’s other stories of leaving London. More complex and painful than middle class people leaving to become home owners.
Strangely familiar... I made the same decision 45 years ago, faced by crippling rents and "where is my life going anyway, living in London?". A very welcoming city, Sheffield. One of the best life decisions I ever made, from Finsbury Park to Walkley!!!!
I’m glad people have found the move to Sheffield a positive one. We moved to Nether Edge 11 years ago from Hackney when we were expecting our second child. We were able to trade in a one bed flat for a five bed detached house with a decent garden. The house immediately needed a roof though and we’ve had to spend a lot of money fixing things. The house is impossible to heat and would be expensive to insulate properly. Our neighbours were welcoming and still are a big positive but we always had good neighbours in London too. I have to say that I still miss London. It was the right move at the time. My mother-in-law lives here and our children were lucky to have her nearby. It was a one way trip though. We couldn’t afford to go back. I can’t help think that our experiences were clouded by the tree felling fiasco. Being threatened with bankruptcy and jail by the then Labour controlled council was traumatic. I say that as someone who had always voted Labour in the past. We did meet lots of interesting people as a result though. We recently spent a few days in London and wish we could go more often.
Great article as usual Dan, except for a typo: "Were house pieces also a factor in their decision, I ask" - pieces = prices?
We made the move up to Sheffield from South East London in 2021. My wife and I were renters in Lewisham and Beckenham, however we knew we wouldn’t be able to afford buying in London, we had no previous connections to the city like some of the people you interviewed. House prices and green spaces was the attraction for us, we first rented in Meersbrook and now bought a lovely house in Heeley. Think Heeley is definitely underrated and kind of like it’s slipped off the radar compared to its neighbour Meersbrook.
Nice to have a feelgood article. I confess to feeling more than a little smug that it turns out the grass really is greener on our side of the fence (at least for those of us with the time and resources to be able to enjoy it). Might this influx have a positive cultural impact? In his book Welcome to Sheffield, David Price counts the arrival in the 1970s of 1500 employees and families of the Midland Bank and 2000 from the Manpower Services Commission as significant immigration events. Some of those arriving have done their bit to influence the shape of the city today, just as have those from more distant origins. It takes more than a bit of drive and energy to uproot and relocate. Can we and they direct some of that to making the city a (still) better place?
Is The Tribune sponsored by estate agents? It would be great to read more about the experiences of people who aren't white middle class homeowners.
Very interesting as always. My children live in London and they often send me great reviews they’ve read of Sheffield restaurants. If only the city centre could be restored to its former glory. Have high hopes for the new restaurant complex planned for Cambridge Street but will never forgive John Lewis for pulling out.
I was here as a student a long time ago and loved it. I spent 30 years working down south but covid put paid to my job in Bournemouth and our ambitions to buy a house there. I got a job up here and love it even more than when I was a student. And we could never have bought a house like the one we now have in Bradway: it would have cost literally double the amount in Bournemouth. Plus the lovely people and environment and being in the Beer capital of the UK (writing this in the Broadfield!)
I’m genuinely happy for these folks but must say it has been extremely frustrating trying to buy a house. Perhaps I can’t say much as a foreigner myself (American, my partner is from here).
But it does remind me of when I lived in Austin, Texas which was rapidly growing. People were always complaining about the Californians moving in when the data actually showed that the influx was mostly people from other parts of Texas. Regardless, we had to leave because it became unaffordable and the culture changed too much.
Professional positive people with fresh perspectives can only be a positive influence on the city. Welcome.
Remote working is a huge game changer, why live in a one bedroom flat and spend hours on a baking hot tube, when you can have a nice house and garden and the Peak District on your doorstep.
Great article, we moved from Clapham, London in 2019, after 30 years in the Capitol a work opportunity gave us a chance for a life change. Can not stress how life changing this has been. Space, greenery and strangers who say hello. Plus of course very cheap, exceptionally good craft beer. Yes the transport network is abysmal and the weather catches you out at times but, the city is amazing and I can’t believe we didn’t come sooner
I left London in 2020 for Doncaster because I couldn’t afford to stay (signed off as unfit to work following a diagnosis of autism and following a friend’s murder in NI - Lyra McKee - look her up). Lived in a big terrace on Broxholme Lane, a shooting on my street, lots of rapes in the area, stopped an ex soldier from throwing himself off a bridge, he became a bit of a stalker, had to get the police to give him a warning...but loved the house I lived in, and it was my safe place, first time living alone. Completed my first counselling course at Donny College, completed Couch to 5K at Town Fields, worked part time in freelance journalism and marketing and part benefits. No fault eviction took me back to Sheffield (I did my postgraduate degree here) and have ended up in a VERY tiny “studio” flat in Walkey. So now I’m living in a very safe, middle class suburb. Moving back to Sheffield definitely improved my MH. To be back in a city and to not feel so out of place (bisexual Irish person). Has saw me come off benefits and return to full time work after 3 years. But being forced out of London where I have aunts and uncles and cousins and many friends. Was traumatic. And it can be isolating at times. Single, live alone, no family nearby. Also being forced out of my Doncaster home was traumatic. Now have priority with Sheffield Council, so hopefully after 20 something rentals (also have ADHD) in a year or two, I’ll have a place that is secure. And over time can save to buy a place. I came upon a bus driver from Omagh, which is close to where I grew up in NI, last year. He was in his 50s and had left London. Asked him how he found it: “I hate it.” I said hopefully he settles. I really didn’t like Sheffield when I first came, to I met working class South Yorkshire people in Donny on a placement vs mostly Southern English people at Uni of Sheffield. I also found it incredibly dull and unsettling in how quiet it was. Coming from uni in Belfast where we had bomb scares on campus to trees being cut down being the biggest scandal. I was very poor and very unwell and almost failed my degree and lived in a terrible atmosphere in a shared house. But 3 years in London...left poorer than I arrived. Sheffield is perfect for me at 29, with too much chaos behind me. But yeah, there’s other stories of leaving London. More complex and painful than middle class people leaving to become home owners.
I’m well chuffed to finally be living in a “middle class suburb”!
Strangely familiar... I made the same decision 45 years ago, faced by crippling rents and "where is my life going anyway, living in London?". A very welcoming city, Sheffield. One of the best life decisions I ever made, from Finsbury Park to Walkley!!!!
I’m glad people have found the move to Sheffield a positive one. We moved to Nether Edge 11 years ago from Hackney when we were expecting our second child. We were able to trade in a one bed flat for a five bed detached house with a decent garden. The house immediately needed a roof though and we’ve had to spend a lot of money fixing things. The house is impossible to heat and would be expensive to insulate properly. Our neighbours were welcoming and still are a big positive but we always had good neighbours in London too. I have to say that I still miss London. It was the right move at the time. My mother-in-law lives here and our children were lucky to have her nearby. It was a one way trip though. We couldn’t afford to go back. I can’t help think that our experiences were clouded by the tree felling fiasco. Being threatened with bankruptcy and jail by the then Labour controlled council was traumatic. I say that as someone who had always voted Labour in the past. We did meet lots of interesting people as a result though. We recently spent a few days in London and wish we could go more often.