Formerly a small agricultural village with relatively few inhabitants, Wickford was one of the places picked for expansion after the Second World War, with the construction of the Wick Estate to house an overflow in the London population.
But the house-building didn't stop there and the town is now home to over 30,000 residents, many of whom commute to other Essex towns or to the Capital.
And now Wickford has been earmarked for some regeneration schemes courtesy of Basildon District Council, as well as the ongoing private projects which never seem to cease.
An upmarket housing development by the banks of the River Crouch is already underway, and will also involve several bars and restaurants, new riverside walkways and cycle paths, and the creation of a public square and green space.
Further ambitious plans include re-vamping the area around the station, and building a state-of-the-art leisure centre in place of the current swimming pool.
More controversial and nowhere near as popular, however, are the plans to build a host of houses on an area known as Barn Hall which lies to the north of Wickford.
An administration error led to this beautiful stretch of countryside – home to copious amounts of wildlife – failing to be declared as green-belt, and therefore eligible to be developed for house-building.
Last October, Basildon District Council revealed plans to construct a 250-strong housing development on the site, with the view, should planning permission be granted for this amount, to construct a total of up to 1,500 homes, shops and facilities at Barn Hall.
A local petition has been launched to fight the proposals, but the outcome remains to be seen.
The majority of properties are post-war family homes, mainly in the form of the semi-detached house.
But Wickford also has a good choice of modern housing including chalets, bungalows, terraced and detached houses, and a growing number of apartments.
Development keeps on coming such as the ongoing £34 million Riverside Living project by Bradgate which will include luxury homes and a piazza style area with bars and restaurants.
Buyers: Wickford attracts a lot of families due to its plethora of three and four bedroom homes and nearby schools.
The town's transport links also make it a great place for commuters.
Transport
- Road: the A130 (Chelmsford) and A127 (Southend) are both just five minutes drive away.
- Rail: there is a frequent rail service between Wickford and London Liverpool Street with a journey time of 35 minutes..
- Bus: Bus routes run frequently from Wickford to Basildon and Southend.
- Air: Stansted Airport is approximately 50 minutes drive via the A130.
Shopping
- Wickford High Street has some local stores and a few well-known names such as Dorothy Perkins, Woolworth and Iceland. Ladygate and Willowdale Shopping Centres are at located at either end of the street.
- A Saturday market sells an eclectic range of goods including food, toiletries, plants and clothes.
- Basildon, around ten minutes away, has a much bigger choice of stores and is and the large Lakeside Shopping Centre is a 30 minute drive.
Eating and drinking
- There are several restaurants and takeaways in Wickford.
- A number of pubs are situated in and around The High Street such as the child friendly Quart Pot with its large beer garden.
- Plasma Bar & Lounge is open until 2am on a Friday and Saturday night and has an extensive wine and cocktail menu.
- Billericay is 10 minutes away for some traditional country pubs and popular restaurants, and Basildon Festival Leisure Park has restaurants, bars and clubs.
Sports and leisure
- Wickford Memorial Park has a vast 80 acres of parkland as well as cricket and football pitches, tennis and basketball courts, novelty golf, bowling green, children’s playground, riverside walk and rose gardens.
- Bromford Sports Centre, which despite its name is actually in Wickford, has a range of activities including bowling and badminton.
- Wickford has a swimming pool with a programme of water-related activities.
Facilities: Runwell is a very small countryside area directly north of Wickford. There are a couple of pubs but all other needs have to be met in Wickford which is a mere five minutes away.
Property: Most properties here are considerably larger and have prettier surroundings than in Wickford.
They vary in age from period to brand new, and prices can easily top a million pounds especially is they come with a lot of land.
Buyers: Runwell appeals to older families with a healthy budget who are looking for a tranquil lifestyle.
Transport: There is a bus service between adjoining Wickford and Basildon, and bothe of these towns have a train station and further bus routes.
Facilities: Battlesbridge, between Wickford and South Woodham Ferrers, is a quiet little hamlet situated by a creek. It has a few basic shops, and is home to some of the country’s leading antiques dealers.
Property: Battlesbridge has a high proportion of attractive listed buildings making the hamlet a very quaint place to live.
Property types range from period cottages to shiny new bungalows, and with many charming listed buildings, this quaint hamlet is a most attractive place to call home.
Buyers: Battlesbridge is ideal for would-be retirees or anyone seeking a peaceful way of life in attractive surroundings.
Transport: It is close to the A130, and nearby Wickford has rail and bus links.
Facilities: No shops or pubs but Wickford and Basildon are very close by.
Property: There are quite a few character properties here such as quaint cottages. Generally-speaking, homes are older and more expensive than in Wickford.
Buyers: Those who want to live somewhere quiet and attractive, and who don't mind having to travel to a neighbouring town for basic needs.
Transport: North Benfleet is a short distance from Wickford's rail and bus links.