Any areas to avoid in Chelmsford?

[Biggieplus]

Hi people, looking to move from London to Chelmsford for want of space and looking at school. Any advice or suggestions to take on board please? Ideally, I want to be able to commute to London for work as well as good school for DC - primary and secondary school. Also good tutor to recommend for 11+ exams prep? All suggestions welcome. Thanks

Melbourne is probably the least desirable area of Chelmsford.

The train station is just to the west of the town centre and in a fairly built up edge of town location, which means it could be a fair walk from your potential house to the station for commuting to London, though there are plenty of buses.

Beaulieu Park is a newish estate with some established parts and some parts still being built. There is supposed to be a new train station built here which will ease congestion at the main Chelmsford station, but I think it's due to be built around 2024/5.

Can't help with the 11+ exam prep, but presume you know that there is the separate girls and boys grammar schools in Chelmsford. Plenty of other good schools to choose from.

Avoid Melbourne as the PP said. Other than that I guess it’s personal preference. Do you like older houses or new builds? Are you set on the grammar schools and are your children guaranteed to get in? There’s plenty of good secondary schools in and around Chelmsford.

Thanks for your responses. Much appreciated. Was wondering which postcode Melbourne falls under. Yes, I am aware of the separate girls/boys GS. Ideally, I would prefer grammar school as first choice. Regarding old or new builds, I am not fussed. As long as it is good structurally I am fine. Budget is £350k max

I’m also doing the move from London to Chelmsford with a similar but slightly higher budget of £400k max. I’ve found that there are very few spaces in the good primary schools. What ages are your DC? Beaulieu Park might not be suitable because it’s a fairly new school and doesn’t have a Juniors yet.

I’ve found that house prices went up a fair bit this year but are starting to drop now so you might find more houses coming within your budget.

Chelmer village - newish development as in 20-30 years old. Tend to be smaller side with small gardens. Good primary schools, area is well kept with nice parks. Further from the train station but good bus route.

Moulsham area is nice for your budget. Lots of 1930s 3 beds.

I’ve done lots of looking around in the last couple of months and also have family there. Feel free to PM me.

BiggiePlus how many beds etc are you looking for? What age are your children?

Thanks guys. DC is 8. We are looking for a 3 bed. Checked the Beaulieu Park, nothing within budget. Started the search last night and I have come across a number of properties within budget but until I view it physically, i can't say about the quality of home. Just after a nice environment and a very good school for DC. We will need to match or exceed the standard of current school in Hackney. School is outstanding in all areas and ticks all the boxes for us.

Thanks @BuffyFairy. Will take you up on pm

Avoid the parts near to kings Road (Melbourn)
Good tutors are the tutor site at the Beaulieu estate but I cant remember what its called!
For 350k look at springfield, chelmer village or maybe boreham. Great baddow potential too! You may also want to look further out like Bicknacre or maldon to get more for your money.

Be aware the grammar schools in Essex are super selectives, so only take a tiny number, unlike counties such as Kent where a much greater proportion of children get a place. Best to find a house in catchment for a good non-grammar school as a back up.

Thanks everyone. Useful advice/suggestions

Used to live in North springfield, can definitely recommend. The house prices are slightly cheaper, and the Boswells school is a good one. 5 mind drive from a massive sainsbury, near Beaulieu Park. The "horse related" streets are reasonable as are "flowers" and "poets". Most secondaries are good, apart from Hylands, and even that isn't so bad. My kids went to Moulsham took the bus across town everyday, lots of kids cross catchments,. It has also got a thriving arts scene with lots of musical theatre type weekend schools for kids and lots of amateur theatre groups who are extremely good. Recommend visiting the old Court theatre on Springfield Road for some exciting plays.

Also worth noting that if your child takes the eleven plus and pass they are also able to go to the grammar schools in Southend from Chelmsford, or at least they used to be. There were buses direct from Chelmsford for them. However, the grammars in Chelmsford changed their intake rules a couple of years ago to local only (they used to take kids from london) so that setup may no longer be necessary.

There's a nice area just north of Melbourne called Newlands Spring, it feels very different and you'd get a good sized house for 350k. Countryside beyond with new builds going up towards Broomfield.

Otherwise I'd look at Moulsham Lodge (you won't get a 3 bed for your budget in Moulsham itself) or south Springfield (the flowers estate would be a bit far for me, and the houses feel very crammed in). Beaulieu is too expensive and feels quite soulless wherever I've walked round there, it's an odd one.