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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Anyone live in Chelmsford or Basildon?

21 replies

gallicgirl · 03/09/2013 23:30

We currently live in south Essex and are looking to move to a larger property but we're struggling to find suitable affordable houses where we live.

Chelmsford and Basildon are possibilities but I know they can vary greatly. Can anyone tell me which areas are safe/good/populated by naice ham eaters? Equally which areas should be avoided?

We have a toddler so would be looking for a decent primary school in the area but we're not pushy about grammar schools.

I've seen a few properties in Laindon,Kingswood and Writtle-any advice welcomed.

Thanks.

OP posts:

MrsCakesPremonition · 03/09/2013 23:51

How about Wickford, Rayleigh, Benfleet?

Have you got any commuting restrictions you need to think about?
If you are looking for true blue naice ham eaters then you need to look further north and the prices will reflect that. Do you have a budget in mind?

nocarsgo · 03/09/2013 23:59

Basildon born and bred here (although I moved out many years ago and am about to move to Billericay).

Um, Basildon isn't a naice ham kind of town, really. Laindon is equally grim in the main apart from the Langdon Hills area. Great Berry school is rated outstanding by Ofsted (I was researching Billericay schools and started looking further afield).

I'm afraid I don't know Chelmsford at all.

Shame south Essex has such a bad rap compared to the north of the county. We chose Billericay due to the proximity to my Basildon family and the presence of a Waitrose, now if that isn't a marker of a naice town I don't know what is

MrsCakesPremonition · 04/09/2013 00:01

We moved out of Billericay because we couldn't afford a family home there. We moved one stop further away from London on the train line and we are very happy.

nocarsgo · 04/09/2013 00:03

Yes, meant to mention that the prices in Billericay are much higher than Basildon, for obvious reasons.

Original poster

gallicgirl · 04/09/2013 00:10

We need to be between Southend and Brentwood. We currently live with a view of the Thames but we're struggling to find something locally that isn't a flat, bungalow or retirement property. Happy to stay here but think we may have to look slightly further afield.

I was joking about the naice ham really - north Essex not on the radar!

Benfleet and Rayleigh are close but not many suitable properties come up. I don't know Basildon and Chelmsford other than for shopping.

Is Wickford ok? Never been there.

OP posts:

beaglesaresweet · 04/09/2013 00:25

MrsCakes, I'd love to know what are these towns in the north (of Essex, I assume?) that you mention?

beaglesaresweet · 04/09/2013 00:26

OP, what about Brentwood then? quite nice, though it's a bungalow land, from what I've heard.

MrsCakesPremonition · 04/09/2013 00:42

I meant North Essex (Chelmsford upwards roughly) rather than north of Essex (although Suffolk is lovely).
Coggeshall and Manningtree are pretty places. Sible Hedingham seems lovely and there are some gorgeous villages in the Rodings. Places like Burnham are great if you want the coast - but are a bit hard to get to and from.

gallicgirl - I like Wickford, but it is very small town, you could look at the villages between Billericay and Wickford like Ramsden Heath or Downham - it really does depend how much you are planning to spend and how big a house you want. I'd be tempted to take the car to Brentwood and then spend some time exploring the towns and villages north of the A127.

At the moment there are 300 properties on Rightmove in Rayleigh alone - priced from £1.75million to £90k - what sort of thing are you looking for?

Original poster

gallicgirl · 04/09/2013 06:54

Preferably 3 beds or at least 2 good sized rooms. Budget around £200k. Got to have a garden.

Been looking on rightmove and although I know Rayleigh and Benfleet well, I have no idea about Basildon and Chelmsford which is where properties were coming up.
I can go drive around but it's no substitute for the mumsnet knowledge on the ground.

OP posts:

beaglesaresweet · 04/09/2013 19:27

MrsCakes, thank you! do you actually include Chelmsford in that? spoke to someone who lived there and he's not over the moon with it, in fact hge said people now try to sell there as the house prices gone up in last 5 yrs, so that they can move out! Is Manningtree very small?

OP, so would younot consider Brentwood? Imo it's still good value, and prices will still rise.

derektheladyhamster · 04/09/2013 19:30

Springfield in Chelmsford is a nice area. Perryfields are good infant and junior schools and Boswells is a good secondary

fussychica · 04/09/2013 19:47

Mmm spent a number of years living in Basildon and def glad to leave. Don't live in the south east at all now but when I left Basildon I moved to Thundersley which was soooo much nicer.

In those days the best area of Basildon was Kingswood - not sure whether that's still the case.

nocarsgo · 04/09/2013 19:57

I think Kingswood is still considered the nicest bit of Basildon, yep.

Original poster

gallicgirl · 04/09/2013 19:59

Thanks all.

Fussy, Thundersley is nice, isn't it? . We have seen some decent houses in Kingswood so I'm hoping its nice.

Beagles, would certainly consider Brentwood but that would mean DP is on doorstep to work while I would double my commute but if that's what we have to do for a decent house....

OP posts:

LaceyLee · 04/09/2013 20:22

Would definitely avoid Basildon, its pretty down to earth etc but the secondary schools are not good and students can't do enough GCSEs to qualify for A-level courses in many cases. Don't know about primary schools, but Benfleet, hadleigh and Leigh on sea all have good primaries. Leigh on sea is probably the trendiest and most exciting area but most expensive. Billericay is nice but pricey also, rayleigh quite expensive and nice, but difficult traffic in the mornings if you have a long commute. With Brentwood there are a LOT of TOWIE types around, not sure if that puts you off or not! Also westcliff worth considering, a bit cheaper than Leigh with good reason, but some nice roads and lovely, cheap properties.

Essexgirlupnorth · 04/09/2013 20:24

Writtle is nice my friend went to Writtle college and lived there after for a bit. It is a bit more rural but neat enough to Chelmsford.

nocarsgo · 04/09/2013 21:29

Basildon schools don't offer enough GCSEs to qualify for A level? Really? How many GCSEs do you need for sixth form colleges these days?

LaceyLee · 04/09/2013 21:34

Depends on where you go but normally you need at least 5 GCSEs and in my experience many schools in basildon are putting their students in for lots of btecs not many gcses. Might be different for the most academic kids but it can be a problem if they don't do enough traditional GCSEs.

WireCat · 04/09/2013 21:39

I've just moved to Rayleigh. Is nice here.

nocarsgo · 04/09/2013 21:45

Wasn't aware of that! In my day (ahem, late 90s) secondary schools didn't offer BTECs. Sixth forms did. Presumably if a student wanted to do A levels, they wouldn't opt for a BTEC in the first place?

mychildrenarebarmy · 01/10/2013 08:51

Some bits of Basildon aren't too bad. As a whole it has got better over the last 10 years or so. It's never going to be a "desirable area" but it isn't all scummy. I have come to realise that unless you have a small fortune to spend on a house then you will always be near less desirable parts of a town, as there aren't many places that don't un-naice areas. The schools aren't all that good and quite a lot of children seem to travel out of the area for school.

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