[ad_1]
Located within the leafy countryside simply 45 minutes from Birmingham is a ‘fairly’ market city rated one of many ‘nicest locations’ to dwell within the West Midlands. With it is picturesque excessive road, unbiased retailers and vary of pubs, residents say there aren’t many higher locations to dwell than Newport.
The city, with a inhabitants of 11,387, is positioned in Shropshire, seven miles north of Telford and 35 northwest of Birmingham, near the Staffordshire border. Whereas the city is highly-rated, Newport can be surrounded by swathes of greenery, with many scenic walks on its doorstep together with The Wrekin.
The city was ranked because the third nicest place to dwell within the West Midlands in 2024, and a hundred and sixtieth in England and Wales (out of 1,429 locations), following a study by Garrington Property Finders. Right here, the typical household house prices £403,365, an increase of two.7% in 12 months. Newport residents and companies agreed with the survey outcomes – and so they stated it was the those that made Newport particular.
READ MORE: I went in search of ‘secret waterfall’ hidden 20 minutes down Midlands river but got lost
Get breaking information on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click on the hyperlink to affix
Danielle Woodhouse, 36, initially from Wolverhampton, advised BlackCountryLive: “I moved right here a 12 months and a half in the past, it is fantastic. I’ve lived in different places, Manchester, Australia, South Korea – it simply feels good right here, it is the individuals. I’ve seen lads and youngsters going out litter-picking, charity teams going out, volunteer teams doing the flowers down the excessive road. I believe that is the primary factor, the individuals maintain it good.”
Judith Hardman, 64, was out strolling along with her daughter and pet canine, known as Moose. Initially from Rochdale in Higher Manchester, Ms Hardman relocated 82 miles to settle in Newport. She stated: “We now have simply moved from Manchester. It is vitally pleasant, there are quite a lot of unbiased retailers which we did not have up there.
“Initially (we moved) as a result of my daughter lives down right here. We used to dwell in Rochdale, it was not very good, there was quite a lot of crime, and we had been at all times damaged into. The crime price is rather a lot decrease right here.
“Throughout lockdown, we did not get to see (our household). We determined to maneuver down right here in case – God forbid – it occurs once more.”
She added: “We wish to help the native merchants if we are able to. There are quite a lot of group occasions right here, the carnival, there is a craft fayre each different month. It is a thriving little city. There are good pubs right here, too.”
The excessive road itself is large and spacious, that includes black-and-white timber buildings, a stone monument, a Twelfth-century church, floral shows by Newport in Bloom, a handful of pubs – together with The Pheasant and Shakespeare Inn subsequent door to 1 one other – and quite a few unbiased retailers. Among the many retailers embody Objects and Dogby, run by Lyne Looker-Revell. She stated: “I really like Newport, we got here right here for the faculties initially. Since then, now we have by no means seemed again, we have been right here about six or seven years. Initially I am from Wolverhampton, my mum and pa lived there. I managed to persuade them to go away.
“The perfect factor about Newport is, it’s not too large, it’s not too small. The (college) college students assist to maintain it alive, as effectively. I do not suppose we might have the Excessive Avenue we might have if it wasn’t for them. I really like Newport, I believe it is pleasant. You get a number of individuals moan about it, I believe in the event that they went to maneuver (elsewhere), they might realise the truth of life.”
Michelle Walsh runs Oh Sew Bluesky alongside Sara Brettle additional down the Excessive Avenue. Their store specialises in house interiors and materials, and so they additionally promote Frenchic paint, which may solely be offered at shops inside a sure distance from each other.
She stated: “I dwell in Codsall, a 25 minute’s journey from right here. I completely adore it right here. I do know my enterprise companion needs to maneuver right here.
“The excessive road is so fairly. And we’re so fortunate to be by a church. My son stated to me, ‘mum, it’s got that vacation really feel right here’. The individuals are tremendous pleasant. The journey, it’s a pleasure to come back to work. I am unable to knock it, not one thig. Really, I’d say the parking, however you’re going to get that all over the place.”
A number of individuals stated that Newport was rising in dimension as a result of housebuilding, inflicting a priority over pressures on native facilities. A 71-year-old man, who gave his identify as Mr Smith, stated: “Newport is a pleasant place typically. The individuals, the buildings. No matter store you go in, you at all times get a smile. It is getting greater. All people used to know everyone however extra individuals are transferring into the realm.”
A girl, who labored at a pub within the city, stated: “Newport is without doubt one of the greatest cities. I’ve lived right here for seven years, I adore it. There may be nothing prefer it. It has an enormous excessive road, it is so large and appears so fairly. Newport in Bloom has finished their job, it appears to be like superb with the entire flowers out. Newport has received a great group.
“The homeowners have been right here for 2 years, the pub is doing rather well, it is vitally standard. There’s one thing happening each night time.”
She added: “It is rising quickly as effectively, there’s quite a lot of housebuilding. For residents, it is like will there be sufficient faculties and medical doctors? One of many estates has practically 700 homes. You suppose if that is the case, with one youngster per home?”
In the meantime, Daybreak Tomlinson, who runs The Kabin, which sells furnishings and distinctive objects, stated: “I undoubtedly agree with the survey. The individuals listed here are pleasant, there’s quite a lot of retailers. It is simply quaint.”
However regardless of its idyllic life, Ms Tomlinson revealed there was a hashish farm unearthed lately within the city centre: She added: “There was a medicine manufacturing unit across the nook in one of many buildings, a hashish farm. We may do with a number of extra policemen, however that is right here or there. I simply adore it right here, I have been right here for 15 years. The individuals are sensible.”
Newport, positioned within the borough of Telford & Wrekin, additionally boasts a big Waitrose, an Aldi, a cricket membership, a bowling membership, its personal soccer crew and numerous faculties. A reasonably and small canal additionally runs by the city centre.
Whereas the market city does not function a practice station, it’s served by numerous buses, a few of which join with the bigger city of Telford 9 miles away, the place there’s a practice station. And Newport can be positioned near the motorway community, round a 17 minute’s drive from Junctions 4 and 5 of the M54.
The 2 West Midlands locations that ranked increased than Newport had been Broseley, one other market city in Shropshire, which got here second regionally and 116th nationally, and Knowle and Dorridge, two giant giant villages in Solihull, which got here first within the West Midlands and 76th nationally. To see the total research outcomes, click on here.
[ad_2]