HOUSE sales in Colchester have more than doubled compared with the same period last year, new analysis has revealed.

According to the latest figures from Savills there were 5,627 agreed house sales recorded in Essex in the four weeks to mid August - up 82 per cent on 2019.

Colchester saw the second highest jump in sale across Essex, with the amount of sales jumping by a whopping 103 per cent from 286 to 580 over this period.

Harlow was the only place in Essex which saw a higher jump, of 117 per cent.

Tendring saw a rise of 84 per cent compared with last year, Braintree 100 per cent and Maldon 92 per cent.

Savills believes the property market boom is partly driven by people's lockdown experiences and the recently announced stamp duty holiday fuelling the market.

Stephen White, who leads the residential team at Savills Chelmsford, said: “Since the housing market reopened we have seen a surge in the number of sales being agreed.

"The prime regional and country house markets in particular have been especially busy.

“Many predicted that the immediate shift in priorities seen in April was just a response to lockdown, and would be short-lived, but there now appears longer term commitment from buyers.

“Those with the financial security to be able to move are acting on their changing priorities, their requirement for more space and, in many cases, a reassessment of their work-life balance.

"The stamp duty holiday is also providing additional impetus, and when combined with the experience of lockdown, is bringing forward purchases that may otherwise have happened in two or more years’ time.

“Chelmsford is a classic London relocation market that combines commutability, good schools and high-quality housing stock.

"But numbers of agreed sales have also been substantially boosted by activity in surrounding villages, with particularly strong demand from those who want the benefit of countryside living within striking distance of a bigger, well-serviced town or city.

"These drivers have supported demand in locations such as Braintree, Maldon and Tendring.

"Colchester and Harlow meanwhile are comparatively lower cost alternatives, providing more affordable family housing for those with lower budgets.”

The Savills data takes into account activity across all of the main property portals and compares sales agreed in the four weeks to August 16 2019 with the same period in 2020.

Here is the full table for Essex with figures for sales last year, this year and the per cent increase:

  • Basildon - 290 - 452 - 56%
  • Braintree - 237 - 474 - 100%
  • Brentwood - 114 - 221 - 94%
  • Castle Point - 168 - 296 - 76%
  • Chelmsford - 281 - 495 - 76%
  • Colchester - 286 - 580 - 103%
  • Epping Forest - 208 - 404 - 94%
  • Harlow - 99 - 215 - 117%
  • Maldon - 112 - 215 - 92%
  • Rochford - 133 - 251 - 89%
  • Southend-on-Sea - 337 - 534 - 59%
  • Tendring - 322 - 592 - 84%
  • Three Rivers - 122 - 234 - 92%
  • Thurrock - 226 - 402 - 78%
  • Uttlesford - 161 - 262 - 63

Total - 3,096 - 5,627 - 82%