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Highwoods

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About

Highwoods ward lies in the northeast of Colchester, primarily a residential suburb developed significantly from the 1960s onwards. The area is centred around the large Highwoods Country Park, a former Victorian estate that provides extensive woodland, meadows, and a lake for local recreation. Housing consists mainly of detached and semi-detached homes, with some modern apartment developments, serving a mix of families and commuters.

The ward contains the Highwoods Square shopping precinct, which offers essential retail and services for the community. Public transport links, including regular bus routes, connect the area to Colchester town centre and the railway station. The presence of several schools and the country park as a green corridor are key features of this suburban neighbourhood.

Area overview

On average Highwoods has moderate deprivation and moderate crime levels, with around 81 crimes per 1,000 residents per year. Approximately 12.0% of homes in this area are social housing provided by a local council or housing association. The average income per household in Highwoods is £66,533 per year. There are 3 schools in Highwoods: 2 primary (0 Outstanding and 2 Good) and 1 secondary (1 Outstanding and 0 Good). Highwoods is home to around 10,502 people, with a population density of about 2,925.4 per km2.

Crime rate
5/10
Crimes per 1k residents
81
Deprivation level
4/10
Income level
7/10
Social housing
12%
Connectivity
N/A

Area Profile

Highwoods Population
10,502
Population density
2,925.4 per km²

Crime

Crime per 1,000 population

Violence and sexual offences
44.37(+41%)
Criminal damage and arson
10.66(+68%)
Shoplifting
10.19(+49%)
Anti-social behaviour
10.09(-13%)
Public order
6.95(+36%)
East of England average

Demographics

Ethnic groups

British
8,129
77.36%
Other White
649
6.18%
African
317
3.02%
Indian
249
2.37%
Other Asian
220
2.09%
Total population: 10,508

Economics

Education (age 16+)

Level 4 qualifications or above
2,828
34.4%
Level 3 (A level)
1,520
18.49%
Level 2 (GCSEs 9-4)
1,284
15.62%
No qualifications
1,068
12.99%
Level 1 (GCSEs 3-1)
952
11.58%
Total 16+ residents: 8,220

Housing

Housing tenure

Owns with a mortgage
1,529
34.65%
Private landlord or letting agency
1,127
25.54%
Owns outright
1,043
23.63%
Other social rented
492
11.15%
Social rents from council
119
2.7%
Total households: 4,413

Property prices in Highwoods

Based on 141 recent sales, the median property price is £284,000 in Highwoods area, with individual transactions ranging from £110,000 up to £755,000.

Price distribution per property type (last year)

Price distribution by property type for Highwoods in the last year.

Median sale price and percentiles per property type (last year)

Median sale price, sales count, and percentile information for each property type in Highwoods over the last year.
TypeSalesMedian
Detached32£450,000
Semi-Detached37£302,500
Flats19£160,000
Terraced53£263,500

10 years median price trend in Highwoods

Ten year median sale price trend for each property type in Highwoods.

All postcodes in Highwoods

CO49RH

Albrighton Croft

CO49AE

Brunel Way

CO49RU

Derwent Road

CO45FZ

Mill Road

CO49YJ

Gordian Walk

CO45FL

Arrowsmith Walk

CO49WH

Titus Way

CO49SH

Yale Mews

CO40SA

Friars Close

CO49GD

Alverton Way

CO45FJ

Freeman Close

CO49TY

Bignell Croft

CO45AN

Matchett Drive

CO49TW

The Jays

Data Sources

All data is sourced from official UK government agencies and public datasets. Last updated: 16/05/2026.