Essex move

[Adel65]

Hi, need some advice pls! My partner base job is in Basildon, wish he has to get to every morning from Dartford, then back to Kent with work, back to the office later in the eve, back to Home in Dartford. He crosses the tunnel twice and Bridge twice every day. By the time he gets home he’s exausted. We are looking to move to Essex but have no idea where to. I look after my grandson half terms and holidays. Don’t want to be on a build up area, need somewhere nice calm and pretty. Thank you in advance, L

If I could move further out I'd look at Battlesbridge, Rochford, Leigh on Sea, Chalkwell, or the
little villages around Billericay (Little Burstead, Noak Hill etc). Maybe the villages around Chelmsford. Depends a lot on your budget really - what are you looking to spend?

Leigh on Sea has got very expensive recently. A13, A127 and A12 are all very busy roads with regular traffic problems at commuting times so driving in and out of Bssildon can be stressful. There are some lovely areas north and east of Chelmsford which are still within commuter distance but give you more rural locations and better value for money. We live in the Dengie peninsula in a small village, in an amazing house we couldn't begin to afford nearer a town and it is beautiful out here. We both drive, important as public transport options are very limited, and love the peaceful area. Wide range of modern and older properties including plenty of listed houses and several new build estates currently in construction. My husband has a 45 to 60 minute drive daily to Basildon depending on traffic but gets to drive through some lovely countryside instead of a shorter but much slower daily grind on the main road all the way through Southend....avoid this one - it's a horrendous road. Avoiding the A127 was top of my non-negotiable list when house hunting. Sorry for the essay but you may have gathered that I love it here! I can't sign in on the app at all any more so I even went to the web site to share the love.

Might be a bit far away but Burnham on Crouch is nice.

Quite a few period properties like this one, very pretty

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-60351720.html

A very pretty village fairly close to Basildon and the Dartford crossing is Orsett. It almost seems like you're not in Essex at all. You can easily drive to Basildon via back roads and avoid the major roads. However, it is expensive and there could be a big issue in a few years. Discussions are taking place regarding a third crossing and Orsett may be in the firing line. Google street view to have a look.

Thank you

For all of that area I'd do some research into the Lower Thames Crossing. Thurrock Council object to the design and location proposed by the Highways Agency.

My friend lives in colchester on the outskirts but over the Mersea side, she had fields and woods 1 minute away, there are two main routes to Basildon, A12 and back route through Maldon bypass if theres A12 troubles, her dh commutes says it varies from 40mins to 1.15 hr but being near the coast/beach and the country but 10 mins drive to town centre is fab. I do like visiting her, Colchester seems quite nice.

I wouldn’t recommend Orsett, although it’s lovely, mainly due to the lower Thames crossing which will be built shortly which will affect the village.

Maybe look at Horndon on the Hill? There is a railway station for trips to London/Southend, bit nearer to Basildon and still easy distance from the Dartford crossing with the added bonus of the Lower Thames Crossing not blighting the area but being within easy reach.

I live in Horndon on the Hill, can confirm it’s lovely!

Look towards Billericay or Chelmsford. Reasonable commute from these places and there are some quite nice villages around. Ingatestone is nice but expensive because it's on the Trainline. Keep to the Basildon side of Chelmsford though as traffic through the town itself is horrendous.

I have family that live in that area. I would look at Rayleigh. The high street has really improved the past few years. From what I hear the traffic going along the A127 is a nightmare in the mornings though which would affect Rayleigh/ Basildon and right out to Leigh.