Possible move to Colchester... anyone live nearby?

[CrippsCorner]

Hi all.

Currently living in Southend. Own a flat but due to expanding family (little one no.2 on the way) we really want to get out and into a house. Prices round here are crazy, so looking around further afield in Essex it looks like Colchester could be a good candidate.

I do like the place, and on average house prices seem to be around £60k cheaper. Everywhere has it's good places, can anyone shed some light on nice places to look at, and places to avoid as well. Looking to spend somewhere in the region of £250k

Would the commute be a complete killer? I'm currently only 15 minutes drive away from work, and the move would be changing that to 60 minutes... that's a lot of petrol (or more likely diesel) money and time wasted. I would eventually be looking for work nearer too though - I currently work in the NHS and Colchester has it's own hospital, plus Chelmsford & Ipswich within 30 minutes drive (so it says on Google Maps, maybe on a good day)

Any advice or recommendations welcomed!

[DS129]

Hi, good luck with the house hunting, there are lots to choose from as new build developments around Colchester are going up at a crazy rate.
If you commute back to Southend you will be using the A12 and A130 which are ok on a good day but a real bh when there is even a minor accident.
Personally, I would go for one of the out-lying villages as central Colchester does get jammed up.
Beware of future development plans as it seems anyone with a field is looking to build on it.

[philipbrown123]

I moved from Leigh on Sea to Stratford St Mary ( between Colchester and Ipswich ) about a year ago partly as house prices were cheaper.

Still work in Leigh on Sea 9 to 5.30. Usually takes 1 hour 20 minutes in the morning and slightly less in the evening. Not too bad for 45 miles.

[CrippsCorner]

Interesting, thanks for the heads up. We're going to spend a couple of days up there looking around anyway. I might actually leave Southend the time I leave work and see what it's really like... luckily I don't work a 9-5, my hours are 07:30-15:30 which might help with the traffic a bit?

[V8mate]

I'm in Colchester.

Grew up here, moved away when I flew the nest, then moved back about 15 years ago.

Happy to offer nods and headshakes on any areas of interest.

[Eddieslofart]

CrippsCorner said:

Interesting, thanks for the heads up. We're going to spend a couple of days up there looking around anyway. I might actually leave Southend the time I leave work and see what it's really like... luckily I don't work a 9-5, my hours are 07:30-15:30 which might help with the traffic a bit?

It will, a lot. What about near Chemsford ?

[anonymous-user]

Good luck driving anywhere near Southend a127 and a12 in the rush hour.

We're selling up in Leigh on Sea ( retiring) and won't moss the commuting (well my wife won't, I gave up work a year ago)

[Jaguar steve]

Eddieslofart said:

CrippsCorner said:

Interesting, thanks for the heads up. We're going to spend a couple of days up there looking around anyway. I might actually leave Southend the time I leave work and see what it's really like... luckily I don't work a 9-5, my hours are 07:30-15:30 which might help with the traffic a bit?

It will, a lot. What about near Chemsford ?

Nightmare traffic. The A12, A130, A414 and A131 are atrocious at the best of times. All it takes is a breakdown or minor accident to grid lock the whole of the area which takes hours to clear. It's only going to get worse as all the new developments around Springfield and Maldon and Witham become occupied.

I've known it to take nearly two hours to drive the 14 miles from the east side of Danbury to the centre of Chelmsford and back.

Traffic and rampant development around Chelmsford are the two main reasons we gave up and got out of mid Essex a few years ago.

[V8mate]

Jaguar steve said:

Nightmare traffic. The A12, A130, A414 and A131 are atrocious at the best of times. All it takes is a breakdown or minor accident to grid lock the whole of the area which takes hours to clear. It's only going to get worse as all the new developments around Springfield and Maldon and Witham become occupied.

I've known it to take nearly two hours to drive the 14 miles from the east side of Danbury to the centre of Chelmsford and back.

Traffic and rampant development around Chelmsford are the two main reasons we gave up and got out of mid Essex a few years ago.

Roads throughout the UK are brought to a halt by accidents.

I drive from Colchester to Chelmsford each morning. The vast majority of the A12's issues are south of the first Chelmsford exit (Boreham), with the same applying during the homeward journey.

Flicking Waze on before I leave also identifies if one of the alternative routes would be better used, but I reckon I need to take that action about once a year in the morning and a couple of times a year in the evening.

[CrippsCorner]

Eddieslofart said:

CrippsCorner said:

Interesting, thanks for the heads up. We're going to spend a couple of days up there looking around anyway. I might actually leave Southend the time I leave work and see what it's really like... luckily I don't work a 9-5, my hours are 07:30-15:30 which might help with the traffic a bit?

It will, a lot. What about near Chemsford ?

Love Chelmsford, it would actually be my area of choice in Essex... but it tends to be more expensive that Southend

[DS129]

OP, if you are erring towards Chelmsford have a look at Great Leighs or Great Notley or any of the surrounding villages. You might need to check availability of schools etc if needed.
As others have said already commuting traffic can be horrendous and with all the planned developments it won't get any better any time soon.

[baxb]

Pick somewhere near the A12 if you're commuting. I'm in Old Heath area & can sometimes take 30mins or more to even get to the A12 in rush hour. I'm moving soon & reckon i'll save 2hrs + per week just by being 5mins from the A12.