Area image of Essex

A guide to living in Essex

4.59

Average location score

Average location score

Excellent

69%

Very Good

25%

Average

4%

Disappointing

1%

Very poor

1%

Best places to live in Essex

How is ranking calculated?

HomeViews Top Rated Development ranking takes into account the Star Rating and the amount of verified reviews over the past 12 months.

Viewing 1-5 out of 50

Development image of Leaf Living at Chesterwell, CO4
Rental Only
Award Winner 2024

Leaf Living at Chesterwell, CO4

By Leaf Living

Award Winner 2024
4.25

4.25

(21 reviews)

Chesterwell is a new community located in Colchester, a picturesque city offering a unique blend of historical woodland and scenic parks. Colchester high street, just a short walk away, offers a flurry of various shops, restaurants and bars. This new development also has excellent travel connections to London and other major cities from Colchester station as well as easy access to the A134 and A12. For family days out, Chesterwell is close to Colchester Zoo, the well-preserved Colchester Castle and is a short drive from the coast.
1st

Ranked 1st out of 18 in Essex

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Development image of Ewing House, CM14
Rental Only

Ewing House, CM14

By Heimstaden

3.97

3.97

(16 reviews)

2nd

Ranked 2nd out of 18 in Essex

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Development image of City Park West, CM1
Rental Only

City Park West, CM1

By Notting Hill Genesis, Folio London

3.91

3.91

(41 reviews)

City Park West offers a contemporary collection of 391 one and two-bedroom apartments in the heart of Chelmsford, developed by Notting Hill Genesis and Folio London. Located adjacent to Chelmsford Station, the development provides exceptional transport links and is just a short walk from High Chelmer Shopping Centre. With its strategic positioning and modern design, City Park West delivers a dynamic living experience in one of Essex's most vibrant city centres.
3rd

Ranked 3rd out of 18 in Essex

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Development image of St Luke's Park, SS11

St Luke's Park, SS11

By Countryside

4.43

4.43

(10 reviews)

Set within an existing parkland with easy access to neighbouring towns and transport, St Luke’s Park is an ideal place to call home.
4th

Ranked 4th out of 18 in Essex

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Development image of Arboretum, CM16

Arboretum, CM16

By Higgins Homes PLC

4.27

4.27

(10 reviews)

Arboretum is a Higgins Homes development situated in Epping, Essex. This development provided 149 mixed tenure homes on the grounds of Epping St John’s School’s former school site and a new replacement secondary school. The development was designed by Architect Melville Dunbar Associates, and comprises predominantly two-storey houses, as well as some three-storey flats, in an enviable location on the edge of green fields and open public spaces.
5th

Ranked 5th out of 18 in Essex

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Page 1 of 10

Featured developments in Essex

Latest Reviews in Essex

417 total reviews

Viewing 1-5 out of 417

Dinesh (Tenant)

Verified Resident

City Park West, CM1

Mar 2025

4
4
This is rated 4.00 out of 5.00.
4

Design is good, generally spacious rooms with balcony

Dinesh (Tenant)

Verified Resident

City Park West, CM1

Mar 2025

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Very well connected with all transportation services like bus and rail. It's only a five minutes walk to the bus stand as well as the Chelmsford railway station. There is Tesco, Co op and other grocery , butchery nearby.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Generally response is good. Feedback received by mail.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

1. Central hot water system is expensive compared to individual electric water heaters. 2. Council tax is high in this locality.

4

Facilities

Facilities

4

Design

Design

5

Location

Location

4

Value

Value

4

Management

Management


HomeViews

Leo R (Tenant)

Verified Resident

City Park West, CM1

Mar 2025

4
4
This is rated 4.00 out of 5.00.
4

Good stuff

Leo R (Tenant)

Verified Resident

City Park West, CM1

Mar 2025

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

The location is great, we’re near the train station, lots of shops and bars, and there’s loads of food options and night life. We’re also near Central Park which is lovely for a day out. Overall the location is perfect.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

They usually respond fairly quickly, but I’ve not really had much interaction yet.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish I had known how slow the process is moving in and out of the building. I’ve seen lots of people complain about how slow it is to move out. I also wish I had know how much service charge is raised and that tenants are constantly trying to battle it.

4

Facilities

Facilities

5

Design

Design

5

Location

Location

2

Value

Value

3

Management

Management

Manager response

Dear Leo, Thank you so much for leaving a great review. We are happy to hear you are enjoying living at City Park West. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we will be sure to share it with the wider team. Warm regards, NHG Places Marketing Team

Posted by

NHG Places Marketing Team, Digital Marketing Executive

Mar 2025


HomeViews

David J (Tenant)

Leaf Living at Coggeshall Mill, CO6

Mar 2025

5
5
This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.
5

A great experience

David J (Tenant)

Leaf Living at Coggeshall Mill, CO6

Mar 2025

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Nothing to report everything seems great the development is nice the village is great as well, plenty of shops parks etc

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

We have not had any issues so far but anything we have needed to know has been explained perfectly

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Nothing all is perfect the development the property is great

5

Facilities

Facilities

5

Design

Design

5

Location

Location

5

Value

Value

5

Management

Management

Manager response

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, we really appreciate it and are happy to hear you’re enjoying your new home.

Posted by

Carys, Account Manager

Mar 2025


HomeViews

A.Z (Tenant)

Verified Resident

City Park West, CM1

Mar 2025

4
4
This is rated 4.00 out of 5.00.
4

Excellent location but confusing layout

A.Z (Tenant)

Verified Resident

City Park West, CM1

Mar 2025

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Central location, all necessary amenities nearby, access to nice green space within complex, shop on site

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

I had an issue with a broken lock soon after moving in and it was addressed swiftly

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish the billing for utilities was clearer ans it took me a while to understand that my energy provider does not provide hot water

5

Facilities

Facilities

4

Design

Design

5

Location

Location

4

Value

Value

4

Management

Management


HomeViews

Kate (Tenant)

Verified Resident

City Park West, CM1

Mar 2025

4
4
This is rated 4.00 out of 5.00.
4

Fab location - needs a little TLC

Kate (Tenant)

Verified Resident

City Park West, CM1

Mar 2025

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Very convenient for city centre and commuting into London. Good access to local amenities. Personally don’t experience anti social behaviour. No negatives

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Proactive on Facebook group to concerns raised and portal always had a response

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Service charges. Lots of hidden costs and poor repairs that require repeat visits which are charged to residents. Doesn’t feel like development use reliable contractors or challenge repeated maintenance issues

4

Facilities

Facilities

5

Design

Design

5

Location

Location

3

Value

Value

3

Management

Management


HomeViews

Page 1 of 84

These reviews are the subjective opinion of a HomeViews user and not of HomeViews

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