Possible family move to Southend area 2016?

Essexmove23

Hi all,
First post on here.. Looking for old or new residents of Southend for honest tips and advice please in particular any Londoner families having recently made the switch.
My wife and I looking at making move out from our London Essex borders...this year. So far few recomndations from just a few friends for Southchurch, parts of westcliff, Leigh ..looking for family life by sea but ideally GOOD Schools, close to parks..shops and CTC line for my work commute but open to other mainline stations for the right move...Chalkwell and Old Leigh look lovely but may b beyong price range from few I've seen...any views on surroundings such as Rochford, prittlewell, great wakering?
Ta very much in advance!:)

duchy

Check the flight paths especially for Rochford.

Essexmove23

I heard parts Rochford badly affected...will need to properly research flight paths! Thanks...

Essexmove23

Any Southend locals or new arrivals ....all views appreciated!? Thanks

pimento

I live in Hockley and love it. The only down side is Abellio Greater Anglia.

Essexmove23

Not first person to say about GT Anglia trains! Such shame as like some areas that way but need good trains...CTC is cheaper too bizarrely! New development called folly green planned near Hockley I saw...Hockley looks lovely, schools good that way too?

hazyjo

I've been following the Leigh market for over 3 years and still have alerts set. Did consider moving there after Brentwood, but decided on Chingford. Am still planning to move to Leigh - but won't be for a few years. Actually took a drive up there yesterday for another nose round lol. Parked up by Chalkwell beach and took a couple of pics but it was so damn windy!

My friend has just moved to Rayleigh as her son got into a good Southend grammar school. I think Rayleigh's quite nice - my ex moved there, and my aunt has lived there for decades.

Also some good schools in and around Leigh but I can't name them I'm afraid (I've not got kids so it all goes over my head).

Southend has been a bit of a hotspot, but I do think it'll grow even more. Nicer restaurants are popping up, house prices have increased, the train is great - fast to Liv St (I used to get off at Shenfield and go back a stop sometimes - was a million times better than the Brentwood line!). Would definitely consider it. Was even fantasising about a house I saw there the other day - huge, could make it a B&B or just put on AirB&B - only around £260k-280k from memory. Oh the plans I have for that lol...

Westcliff doesn't have the best of reputations generally, but, again, it has some lovely houses and some bargains! Nice houses seem to be selling fairly quickly. Who knows if the ripple effect will reach it. It's not cheap, but you can get a LOVELY house for much less than at Leigh-on-Sea.

Leigh has just been named in The Times top ten something or other (best places to live in UK I think) so the whole area may shoot up even more.

Let us know where you end up. Will subscribe to thread.

Good luck.

Jx

pimento

Essexmove23 wrote: »

Not first person to say about GT Anglia trains! Such shame as like some areas that way but need good trains...CTC is cheaper too bizarrely! New development called folly green planned near Hockley I saw...Hockley looks lovely, schools good that way too?

I haven't hard of the new development but I wouldn't want to live on an estate anyway.

We moved out of London in 2001 because I didn't like the look of the secondary schools in Mile End where we used to live. My mum and dad had moved out in 1985 and it was pure luck that Hockley had a really good secondary school (Greensward Academy) and three good feeder primaries. There's a council run leisure centre (Clements Hall) that is really well used and cheap. They have a pool as well.

I love the fact that we're only a seven minute drive from Southend Airport but not under the flight path and only 50 mins from London Liverpool Street. (The nearly £5K fares are a bit of a cheek, though.)

There's a good community spirit here if you want it and I'm not sorry that we left London. I wouldn't go back (barring a lottery jackpot win which meant I could live in Mayfair).

Essexmove23

Hayzo - thanks for this! bet the market in Leigh has risen in those 3 years!

I will have to check Rayleigh must admit so far not really checked that part out yet. I did notice it in the Times list yes!

i think we will start visits to the areas soon, start with Southchurch, Leigh, Eastwood, Westcliff...try suss out the nicer bits....really wanted to be near CTC station if possible...as better line and commute.

Essexmove23

Pimento,

thanks again.... I don't think its estate sized plans....v small development from what i heard, not even sure its given go ahead.

Nice to hear there are few options out that way....the fare on Anglia are quite a bit more than CTC which is better line for commute for me...although open to other line for right family move....who knows thanks for all this though good start

pimento

Essexmove23 wrote: »

Pimento,

thanks again.... I don't think its estate sized plans....v small development from what i heard, not even sure its given go ahead.

Nice to hear there are few options out that way....the fare on Anglia are quite a bit more than CTC which is better line for commute for me...although open to other line for right family move....who knows thanks for all this though good start

In GAs defence, the price I pay does include all Zones (1-6) in London. It would be a lot cheaper without them.