Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 41 min4:39 am – 9:20 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 48 min8:02 am – 3:50 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People8,309 residentsin the Writtle & Highwood census areaMedian age 48.43,533 households76% of homes owner-occupied46% owned outright14% social rented, 10% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting4.3% unemployment rate56% of adults are economically active, 3,760 in work, 30% retiredMain industries: retail and wholesale 12%, education 12%, health and social work 12%Getting to work: 40% work from home, 50% go by car, 4% take public transport, 6% walk or cycle55% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages33% of adults hold a degree or higher18% have no qualifications, 5% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 97%Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 23°C, lows 12°CColdest month January: highs 8°C, lows 2°C602 mm of rain a year, 15 days with 10 mm or morewettest month October53 days of air frost, 18 summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid (highs and lows from the 12 km grid)
Nearby landmarksEllis Woodwoodland · under a mileThe Gorewater · 2.2 miHigh Woodswoodland · under a mileBottom Lakelake · 4.3 miBridge Lakelake · 4.3 miBarns Pondpond · 2.3 miSource: Ordnance Survey Open Names
Parks and green spacesHylands Parkpark · 2.2 mi · 207 haWrittle Greenpark · 2.6 miThe Greenpark · 2.7 miSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes17 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19704 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 22 Sep 202047 mi away, Leighton Buzzard, BedsMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 9 Feb 20239 mi away, Bicknacre, EssexSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: no mapped risk within 500 m of the centreSource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 6.9 · PM2.5 6.9 · PM10 12 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband92% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband97% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)2.3% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)3,727 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation76 m249 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 57 to 94 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalChelmsford & Essex Hospital4.4 miGP surgeryThe Writtle Surgery2.7 miPharmacyThe Village Pharmacy2.6 miDentistDental Surgery2.8 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi1 school1 primaryPrimaryHighwood Primary Schoolages 4-11, 66 pupilsunder a mileSecondaryAnglo European Schoolages 11-19, 1,533 pupils2.8 miCollegeWrittle College Limited2.9 miUniversityAnglia Ruskin University4.8 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportLondon Stansted Airport STN13 miRailway stationIngatestone3.2 miBus stationBus StationChelmsford City Centre4.3 miFerryBarking Riverside PierCreekmouth17 miBus stops12 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the CM1 postcode district.
