FOCUS ON: COLCHESTER, ESSEX
HAWKINS WHARF
Price: From £116,500 for a one-bed flat, from £220,000 for a three-bed town house
This development is situated on the banks of the River Colne and many of the properties have views over the river. There will be 221 homes, all with luxury interiors and appliances.
Contact: Weston Homes on 01279 873300 or visit www.weston-homes.com/hawkinswharf
KING CROATS, BIRCH
Price: £445,000
This period farmhouse with exposed beams set in the heart of the Essex countryside is excellent value. It has four bedrooms, of which one has an en suite. The property also comes with various outbuildings, including an indoor heated swimming pool and changing room.
Contact: Strutt & Parker on 01245 245600, www.struttandparker.com
LANE FARM, WAKES COLNE
Price: £950,000
Set in about 6.3 acres of land, this pretty country house is about 10 miles outside of Colchester. It has four bedrooms, a separate dining room, a study and even a snug. Outside, there is an orchard, a vegetable garden, and a pond and pasture/paddocks as well as a range of outbuildings.
Contact: Savills on 01245 293233, www.savills.co.uk
NEED TO KNOW | AREA INSIGHT
Commuting: Five National Rail services are provided every hour from Colchester Station to Liverpool Street, taking 55 minutes.
Education: Colchester Royal Grammar School has consistently been ranked in the top five schools nationally at both A-level and GCSE. Boxted St Peter’s CofE is a good primary.
Crime: Figures are significantly lower than the national average.
Restaurants and Pubs: The Peldon Rose is a restaurant situated in a fifteenth century inn. It serves a selection of different cuisines made from local produce and has a lengthy wine list. The Albion is a local pub with a good collection of ales and has friendly staff.
Leisure: As the oldest recorded Roman town in Britain, Colchester has a substantial collection of Roman artefacts. Colchester Zoo has some of the best cat and primate collections in Europe.
Riva Sutanto