Park home search in Chelmsford

• Monday, 26 January 2009
• Kathleen Retourne
• 0 Comments

Find park homes, mobile homes and static caravans for sale in Chelmsford

As owners of a holiday caravan, this couple found that they liked the park lifestyle and wanted it all year round.

They hail from a tight-knit Cockney community so the idea of living on a park home with a strong sense of identity and common purpose appealed.

The Jones’ interest grew when they started reading PH&HC. Then, earlier this year, they retired; John after 44 years in the fire protection industry. For the last 19 he had been self employed, with Maureen doing the accounts. It looked like the right time to take things further.

We want...
‘We would like a twin-unit with at least two bedrooms because we want the family to be able to come and stay. As well as three children, we have 11 grandchildren, so it’s important that they are welcome. We want a decent sized garden and there must be easy access to shops, buses and the local pub.’

We can afford...
‘We live in a 1950s three bedroom semi in Rayleigh, Essex, which we hope to sell for £225,000. We then plan to spend around £150,000 on a park home, leaving £50,000 to £75,000 to subsidise our new retirement lifestyle.’

What’s so great about the area?
    * There are good transport links, with easy access to London and the rest of the UK, plus     Stansted Airport is close
    * The open countryside of rural Essex and the east coast, with its winding rivers and busy yachting centres, is very close
    * This part of the east of England boasts a better climate – less rainfall, more sunshine – than most of the rest of the country

Location 1

Templeton Park
This park was opened more than 40 years ago, on the site of an old caravan park, and is still owned by the same family.

Located four miles south of Chelmsford, Templeton lies in a country setting just off the A12, only a short distance from its junction with the B1007 Billericay road. Although the address is West Hanningfield, it is in fact closer to Galleywood.

The site, which is a member of the British Home and Holiday Parks Association (BH&HPA), has a licence for 116 park homes. However, only 112 of the plots are used.

There are fields on three sides, the outlook only slightly marred on one side by an adjacent tyre depot. Mature trees are dotted here and there around the perimeter, with plenty of smaller, ornamental trees and shrubs decorating the well-tended gardens.

A U-shaped tarmac road, with a couple of cul-de-sacs, provides access to the homes, which are predominantly single units.

Although the minimum age is only 40, the large majority of residents are of retirement age. There is no residents’ association or clubhouse. A resident manager provides help and support whenever needed.

Contact details
Templeton Park, Bakers Lane, West Hanningfield,
Chelmsford, Essex CM2 8LF
Park manager: Peter Hewitt
Tel: 07721 763036

What did John & Maureen think?
Our concerns...
‘There was background traffic noise from the A12.’
‘We found that some of the gardens were rather small, with little privacy.’
‘None of the homes available was quite what we want.’

But we love...
‘It’s handy for the shops and the bus, so that would be great when we are older and not keen to travel so far.’
‘The park is kept nice and neat and tidy, showing that residents take pride in the look of it. This is one of the things we always like to see in a park.’
‘It’s away from the main road, with no traffic passing close by, just the background road noise.’

Location 2

Riverview Park
Part of the large Berkeleyparks network, Riverview Park looks out over the River Crouch, towards Southend-on-Sea.

Located on a gently sloping hillside, Riverview is reached via the B1010 near the village of Althorne, midway between Burnham on Crouch (three miles away) and South Woodham Ferrers. There are open fields on three sides.

The site licence is for 109 homes but there are in fact 106 split more or less equally between singles and twins ranging in age from brand new to 35 years old.  

Gardens are a mixture of enclosed and open plan. In order to make the park more open, a new policy means that existing fences cannot be replaced once they have reached the end of their life.

Most of the residents are retired people aged from 60 to 70, with a 50:50 split between singles and couples. Newcomers can bring their pets with them but otherwise pets are not allowed.
 
There is no residents’ association or clubhouse, but the manager organises a street party each year in the summer and a Christmas party which is held in the nearby village hall.

Contact details
Riverview Park, Fambridge Road,
Althorne, Essex CM3 6DE
Park manager: Pat Seymour
Tel: 01621 741272

What did John & Maureen think?
Our concerns...
‘A hospital with A&E was an awful long way away – 26 miles from the park.’
‘The lines of park homes were rather too regimented.’
‘It’s not very near Chelms- ford.’

But we love...
‘The views across to the River Crouch and beyond were lovely.’
‘We liked the atmosphere – it was quite lively and everyone seemed to be happy.’
‘The park manager obviously had a good relationship with all the residents.’
‘It had the type and size of park home for sale which we are really looking for.’

And now for our favourite...
Riverview Park
‘Templeton Park had its plus points, being away from the main road, near some shops and nice and tidy, but Riverview was our choice because of the setting and its lively atmosphere.’

Our favourite bits
    * The outlook across the Crouch river valley to Southend was eye catching.
    * There was a friendly atmosphere and the manager was obviously well liked.
    * Buses which call at the park and a railway station within a mile are advantages.

You can read the full article in the December 2008 issue of Park Home and Holiday Caravan which you can buy online or call 01733 385170 to order.