Commute vs Community - Essex offers the best of both worlds

As days spent in the office are becoming more and more the norm, home buyers are looking for homes with quick commuter links into major cities and more value for their money further afield. Since 2020, 36,664 people have moved out of London and into Essex, making it the second most popular destination for London leavers, after Kent.

Nestled in the heart of Essex, City & Country’s new homes at Sanderling Reach in West Mersea and Manningtree Park in Manningtree, offer homebuyers the perfect blend of history, culture and natural beauty spots as well as superb travel links into the capital.

Essex is a smart choice for commuters who want city careers without compromising on countryside living. With quick access to London: 56 minutes into London from Manningtree Station and just 50 minutes from Colchester Station - fast connections are a large pull to London commuters.

Shelley West, Group Sales & Marketing Director at City & Country, said: “Sanderling Reach and Manningtree Park, as well as our upcoming Priory Fields development, have proven popular with a diverse range of buyers, including first-time buyers and downsizers purchasing our two and three-bedroom homes, to families upsizing into larger four and five-bedroom homes and keen to put down roots in these Essex towns.

“Buyers are drawn to this charming corner of Essex, Mersea Island is within an hour’s drive of the M25 and has surprisingly fast train links to London from Colchester, making it possible to commute into the capital, despite the island’s tide.

“Both commuter towns have vibrant communities filled to the brim with activities to get involved with including water sports sessions, holiday courses for the local children, independent high street shopping and not forgetting dog-friendly green spaces and West Mersea Beach open to pets all-year round. With a strong local property market and steady house price growth, buyers can be confident that they are investing wisely in a buoyant county.”

Located a few minutes’ walk from West Mersea beach, residents at Sanderling Reach have access to abundant outdoor space, including green open parkland, leafy woodland and the coast itself. The island has an eclectic mix of bars, restaurants, cafes, boutiques and supermarkets, alongside outdoor activities ranging from sailing and water sports at West Mersea Sailing Club to tennis, bowls, rugby and the 103-acre Cudmore Grove Country Park.

Manningtree Park resident, Kate says, “I’ve always loved Manningtree as an area, in fact, I’d always drive to Manningtree to get into London Liverpool Street when I lived in Suffolk.”

Jo, a Sanderling Reach resident, adds, “Part of the appeal of Mersea Island was that I could get a similar-sized property for less, one that was new and crafted to incredibly high standards, and being only nine miles south of Colchester was well connected to London.”

Both locations are well connected, with regular bus links to neighbouring towns and villages and for Mersea Island, a historic foot ferry across the creek to Brightlingsea and Point Clear. Colchester is less than a 25-minute drive away, while Chelmsford and Braintree can be reached in less than an hour. For commuters, Manningtree and Colchester train station have regular services to London Liverpool Street in approximately 50 minutes, whilst for travel further afield, Stansted Airport is one hour away.

Both Sanderling Reach and Manningtree Park have been designed to reflect their tranquil locations and offers the perfect combination of traditional meeting modern living.

Currently available at Sanderling Reach is a collection of two, four and five-bedroom homes, with prices starting from £375,000 for a two-bedroom semi-detached home and up to £1,100,000 for a five-bedroom detached home.

At Manningtree Park, prices currently start from £285,000 for a one-bedroom detached home and increase to £1,000,000 for a five-bedroom detached home. Manningtree Park’s five-bedroom Danbury show home is open daily from 10am to 5pm. To book an appointment to view the show home or to find out more please visit www.cityandcountry.co.uk or call 01206 598927.

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