A guide to living in Essex

Excellent

70.1%

Very Good

23.9%

Average

3.8%

Disappointing

1.1%

Very poor

1.1%

Best places to live in Essex

How is ranking calculated?

Viewing 1-5 out of 52

Rental Only

Spinning Fields, CM7

By Allsop Single Family Housing

4.75

(15 reviews)

Spinning Fields is a Packaged Living development, managed by Allsop Single Family Housing. Set in the heart of the Essex countryside, and just a few minutes from the historic town of Braintree. Spinning Fields offers all the benefits of a rural lifestyle along with superb local amenities and commuting links into central London.

1st

Ranked 1st out of 20 in Essex

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Rental Only

City Park West, CM1

By Notting Hill Genesis, Folio London

4.03

(64 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.

2nd

Ranked 2nd out of 20 in Essex

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Rental Only

Leaf Living at Coggeshall Mill, CO6

By Leaf Living

4.68

(8 reviews)

Sitting beside the scenic River Blackwater and with a town history dating back to Roman times, Coggeshall Mill provides a welcoming and vibrant lifestyle, with weekly markets and plenty of local pubs, shops and restaurants making it the perfect place to call home.The development features a primary school on site for children aged 5 to 11, with other excellent schools nearby. This thriving new community is well-connected, with Colchester and Braintree a stone throw away. Kelvedon Station, located 3 miles away offers train services to Liverpool Street in under an hour and London Stansted Airport is only a 30 minute drive away.

3rd

Ranked 3rd out of 20 in Essex

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St Luke's Park, SS11

By Countryside

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 20 in Essex

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Rental Only

Award Winner 2024

One Canalside, CM2

By Legal & General, VervLife

Award winner 2024

4.29

(134 reviews)

One Canalside is a residential development by Legal & General and managed by VervLife. It features 189 apartments with a mix of 1, 2 and 3 beds. Facilities include a Residents Lounge, Work Zone, Meeting Room and Private Dining Room. In addition, on-site parking is available by request as well as a free cycle storage. With a waterside location, the development is only a 10-minute walk away from Chelmsford city centre including access to the station with links to Greater Anglia trains (40-minutes to London Liverpool Street).

5th

Ranked 5th out of 20 in Essex

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Page 1 of 11

Featured developments in Essex

Latest Reviews in Essex

472 total reviews

Write a review

Viewing 1-5 out of 472

Janet S (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Spinning Fields, CM7

Jan 2026

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Conor and Ben were so helpful!!!

Janet S (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Spinning Fields, CM7

Jan 2026

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

The area is great with close links to Braintree town and other useful places. Train station not too far too.

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

The management Allsop are great and especially Ben and Conor

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

None, it’s all great and as expected from the ads we saw.

Manager response

Thank you, Janet, for your kind review. We’re really pleased to hear you’re enjoying the development and that it’s been a positive move for you and your son. It’s great to know the location, parking, and surroundings are working well for you, and I’ll be sure to pass on your lovely comments to Ben and Conor. Wishing you both every happiness in your new home.

Posted by

Maryam Bham, Senior Operations

Jan 2026

・・

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Tom S (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Spinning Fields, CM7

Jan 2026

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

The development is great

Tom S (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Spinning Fields, CM7

Jan 2026

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

The development is in a great location, just outside the main town but not too far with plenty of easy shops etc to get too.

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

Very good so far. They have been attentive to all of our needs. Ben and Conor have been really really good all the way through the process!

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

I wish I would have known how good the location was!

Manager response

Thank you very much for taking the time to share such positive feedback. We’re delighted to hear you’re enjoying the development, the location, and the facilities, and it’s especially great to know the team have supported you well throughout your move-in journey. I’ll be sure to pass your kind comments on to Ben and Conor. We hope you continue to enjoy your home and wish you many happy years there.

Posted by

Maryam Bham, Senior Operations

Jan 2026

・・

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Anonymous (Tenant)

Unverified

One Canalside, CM2

Jan 2026

This is rated 2.00 out of 5.00.

Dreadful property management and poor quality of the building

Anonymous (Tenant)

Unverified

One Canalside, CM2

Jan 2026

Property management team is terribly awful. It takes weeks or months to get even a simple repair done, so usually you just bother. The worst part is that most demanding issues get disregarded. When VervLife says they will fix something, you can never trust them. The quality of the building is really poor. Pipes get blocked and burst regularly. Thin walls especially between floors mean a lot of noise from neighbors walking and dogs barking.

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

Expensive overground parking with constantly broken gates. The area is noisy due to gas pipes works in the last 9 months.

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

They tried to ignore the issues first till we chased them a few times. Even when they promised that they will fix/send an engineer, they kept silent afterwards till you chase them again. Issues could have been fixed in days often get unresolved for months.

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

Awful property management and poor building quality

・・

HomeViews

Carolyn (Tenant)

Unverified

Spinning Fields, CM7

Jan 2026

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

This is rated 4.00 out of 5.00.

Peaceful

Carolyn (Tenant)

Unverified

Spinning Fields, CM7

Jan 2026

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

Quiet residential area, play parks and dogs walks on your doorstep. Other amenities are a short journey.

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

With empathy and a can do attitude. I’ve been very happy with the team.

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

Happy the keys were available before 9am on move in day

Manager response

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re pleased to hear you’re enjoying the design of the property, the peaceful surroundings, and the nearby green spaces. It’s also great to know the team have been supportive and responsive, particularly during your move-in. We hope you continue to enjoy your home as the development grows.

Posted by

Maryam Bham, Senior Operations

Jan 2026

・・

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Lee a (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Leaf Living at Westcombe Park, CM9

Jan 2026

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Highly recommend the development . 5 stars

Lee a (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Leaf Living at Westcombe Park, CM9

Jan 2026

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

Heybridge is lovely. All local shops nearby you would need. Nice dog walks and walking paths. Development spaced out and not over crowded

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

Haven't raised any problmes as of yet but im sure they will be fine

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

Flooring really cheap and is already damaged from chairs. Vinyl flooring shouldnt be used is kitchen and hallways in my opinion

・・

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Page 1 of 95

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

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