There’s plenty of stereotypes surrounding Essex but dig a little deeper and you’ll find that there’s more to this home county than meets the eye.
If you’re looking to buy a new home in Essex, you’ll be perfectly placed to take advantage of great connections into London along with access to sprawling countryside and dramatic coastline.
Why buy a new build home in Essex?
When it comes to buying a home in Essex, there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re looking to buy in a village, town or city we’ve got a variety of beautiful new homes that can meet your needs.
Although Essex is an ideal place to call home for commuters venturing into the capital, Colchester and Chelmsford are thriving cities themselves.
While the county has a lively reputation thanks to its nightlife, many are surprised to find that the Essex is largely rural and agricultural, with a wide variety of country parks and quaint villages to explore.
Along the coast are the much-loved seaside resorts of Southend, Clacton and Walton, but much of the 350-mile coastline is rugged and filled with rich wildlife.
We have a long history of delivering high quality new homes in Essex and you can see our current developments that are underway below.
Education in Essex
Essex offers families a wide range of schooling options, with more than 400 primary schools in Essex, around 80 secondary schools and 20 special schools. There are also opportunities for training and apprenticeships for young people, which you can find out more about through Essex County Council.
Adults can also continue to study with courses provided by ACL Essex, some of which are free. For those looking to pursue a degree, the University of Essex is based in Colchester, but also has a Southend campus and a Loughton campus.
Transport links in Essex
With its close proximity to London, it’s no surprise that Essex is popular with commuters. Trains run regularly into London Liverpool Street from Chelmsford, Southend, Colchester, and many other Essex towns. The stations at Shenfield and Brentwood now have the added bonus of being on the Elizabeth Line, which can take you all the way to Paddington directly and will also run to Heathrow airport in the future.
Essex is also well connected by road, with the A12, M24, A127, A414 and A120 making driving around the county easy to navigate. Bus services also provide a cost-effective way of getting around and many of the larger towns and cities in Essex also offer park and ride options.
For those planning to travel further afield, Southend and Stanstead airports are within easy reach, with flights to Europe and beyond.
Shopping in Essex
There’s no shortage of shopping options in Essex. The intu Lakeside shopping centre in West Thurrock contains more than 200 shops and restaurants and is also close to several retail parks. For Designer bargains head to Braintree Village, where you’ll find a variety of outlet stores. Both Chelmsford and Colchester also offer bustling shopping centres. Many of the more rural towns in Essex still hold regular markets where you can stock up on everything from fresh produce to charming antiques.
Entertainment in Essex
There’s plenty to of things to keep you occupied in Essex, ranging from days out to Colchester Zoo or Southend’s Adventure Island amusement park to touring around the stately Audley End in Saffron Waldon.
While the bright lights of London are still accessible you won’t have to head to the West End for a great show, as there are theatres in Colchester, Chelmsford, Southend, Basildon and Clacton.
Essex also offers a wide range of culinary options, ranging from seaside fish and chips all the way through to Michelin recommended restaurants such as the Galvin Green Man just outside Chelmsford, Church Street Tavern in Colchester, and Rubino Kitchen in Inworth.
Exploring the outdoors in Essex
Essex is packed with opportunities for outdoors adventures, with an impressive 87 Essex Wildlife Trust nature reserved spread around the county. Adventure through the ancient woodlands of Epping Forest, pick up your binoculars for wildlife-watching at Tollesbury Wick marshes or take a trip to Walton-on-the-Naze to learn all about coastal change.
Base 2 is the exciting new release of homes by Countryside, a fantastic range of 1-2 bedroom apartments and 3-4 bedroom houses in this urban neighbourhood, which boasts a traditional community feel and promises you a wonderful quality of life.
1-4 bedrooms
£245,000-£650,000
Chelmsford
A range of 1 - 3 bedroom apartments and 2 - 4 bedroom houses, designed with contemporary lifestyles in mind, from first-time buyers to large families, and everyone in between.
1-4 bedrooms
£249,995-£554,995
Chelmsford
Now selling a superb choice of traditional style 1-4 bedroom properties at Beaulieu Heath.
2-4 bedrooms
£392,495-£549,995
Coming soon
Flagstaff Road, Colchester
Flagstaff Road is located within the historic town of Colchester, in Essex. The individually designed homes are designed to meet the needs of various lifestyles, available with a mix of spacious layouts offering one to four-bedrooms.
1-4
TBC
Braintree
A collection of traditional 4 bedroom homes with sweeping countryside views and a high specification come as standard
4 bedrooms
£424,995-£429,995
Runwell, Nr Wickford
4-5 bedroom homes set within an existing parkland landscape
4-5 bedrooms
£589,995-£879,995
Tye Green, Cressing, Braintree
The Paddocks is an outstanding collection of 2, 3, 4, and 5 bedroom homes nestled on the outskirts of a pretty Essex village whilst benefiting from excellent transport connections
4 bedrooms
£462,995-£569,995
Heybridge, Maldon, Chelmsford
Westcombe Park is an exciting new garden village on the outskirts of Maldon. Offering a range of 1-5 bedroom homes.
2-4 bedrooms
£311,250-£549,995
Rayleigh
A collection of stylish 2-5 bedroom family homes only two miles from Rayleigh train station
3-5 bedrooms
£499,995-£729,995