One Tameside town is topping all the others when it comes to house price increases.
Denton has seen values shoot up 15 per cent since 2016 and insiders say that with more investment planned in the new ‘Wellness Centre’ and swimming pool being built in the town and improved shopping the trend should continue.
Estate agent Franca Carbone said: “Denton is a bit of a secret as people are usually rushing past on the motorway but the truth is it is a very settled town with everything you need and perfectly placed between the city and the country.”
Her Italian parents met in Manchester and settled in Denton and Franka has lived there all her life – now with her husband Rob and their daughter.
She said: “At various times we have considered moving further west around the M60 to The Heatons or to Didsbury but when you look at the compromise you would have to make on space it just did not make sense to us. Plus all my family is here. So instead we just moved to another part of Dane Bank!”
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Dane Bank is one of the established prime areas of Denton and was where three members of the of the famous hatting family of J Woolfenden & Co, built grand houses in the mid 19th century.
Denton had a thriving hatting industry two centuries ago, turning out everything from woollen felt hats to top hats and industries grew up around them to support their manufacture.
The town centre has its high street of shops and the unique St Lawrence’s Church or “Old Peg’ as the building is affectionately known because of the wooden pegs used in its construction back in 1530.
There’s more retail therapy at Crown Point where the usual outlets can be found along with a branch of the upmarket independent clothing store Flannels.
The town’s Victoria Park is considered a municipal jewel but it is the countryside on the doorstep that sets Denton apart with many of the roads around Haughton Green having an unexpected backdrop of rolling hills and countryside.
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Franka, who heads the Denton office of Phillip James, said: “I valued a property last week with a stunning backdrop of hills. Amazing when you think that you can also be in Manchester city centre in eight minutes by train.”
While prices have shown strong growth the attraction for Denton remains affordability for families looking for outstanding schools as well as lifestyle and commuter convenience.
Franka said: “The upper price, even for detached properties on the nicest roads, such as like Wakeling Road for example, is around £400,000 and there is big demand for family sized three bedroom semis.
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“While it may not have the bars and restaurants of the south Manchester suburbs I personally think Denton is a hidden gem offering a lovely lifestyle and location for half the price of Didsbury!”
MEN Property put that claim to the test looking at five different categories and comparing what the properties cost in Denton v Didsbury.
Denton v Didsbury
TWO BED TERRACE
Denton - 2 bed terrace £119,000
A smart mid terrace with two proper double bedrooms and a brand new fitted kitchen with Shaker style units and on trend metro tiles. A small back yard provides all important outside space.
Didsbury – 2 bed terrace £309,950
Behind the cute cottage exterior is a sleek open plan interior with through living/dining area and a contemporary gloss grey kitchen. Brand new bathroom and two double bedrooms. It also comes with cellar rooms and an enclosed courtyard garden
MODERN THREE BED
Denton - 3 bed modern terrace £170,000
A modern three-bedroom end terrace in the popular area of Houghton Green. Big open plan living on the ground floor with kitchen tucked away to one side and upstairs two double bedrooms and a single. Plenty of parking and a manageable garden
Didsbury -3 bed modern semi £375,000
This modern semi is deceptively spacious with accommodation over three floors and balconies leading from two of the bedrooms. Great south facing garden
TWO BED FLAT
Denton - two bed flat £89,000
Well located ground floor apartment in a purpose built block that takes full advantage of the garden setting and green fields beyond. Great dark wood kitchen and decent sized bedrooms
Didsbury- Two bed flat - £200,000
Top floor apartment in a purpose built block within walking distance of the Burton Road tram stop. Good sized living space complemented by big balcony, parking and communal gardens.
PERIOD SEMI
Denton - 5 bed period semi - £280,000
The perfect period property that has been brought bang up to date and ready to walk right into. Converted cellar, three bedrooms on the first floor and a great attic conversion. There are gardens front and rear.
Didsbury -5 bed period semi - £750,000
In Didsbury even an unmodernised period property can set you back a quarter of a million. This five bedder is advertised as a project and its going to need deep pockets to bring it up to show home standard.
PROJECT
Denton - 3 bed semi £165,000
It looks like someone has begun work on this three bed period semi and run out of steam. So its ripe for anyone looking for a project. Big front living room with bay window and lots of other period features plus a decent sized rear garden
Didsbury – 8 bed semi - £1,000,000
An investment property in need of some TLC and no little tidying up. It already has an HMO license for the eight bedrooms but it could be brought back to being a family house.
