Essex is a home county to the east of London and it includes places as diverse as Southend-on-Sea, Harlow, Epping, Basildon and Colchester (which is Britain's oldest recorded town, dating back to its days as Roman Camulodunum.

The pattern of settlement in the county is diverse. The Metropolitan Green Belt has effectively prevented the further sprawl of London into the county, although it contains the new towns of Basildon and Harlow, originally developed to resettle Londoners following the destruction of London housing in World War II, since which significantly developed and expanded. Epping Forest also acts as a protected barrier to the further spread of London. Because of its proximity to London and the economic magnetism which that city exerts, many of Essex's settlements, particularly those on or within short driving distance of railway stations, function as dormitory towns or villages where London workers raise their families.

Part of the southeast of the county, already containing the major population centres of Basildon, Southend and Thurrock, is within the Thames Gateway and designated for further development. Parts of the southwest of the county such as Buckhurst Hill and Chigwell are contiguous with Greater London neighbourhoods.

To the north of the green belt, with the exception of major towns such as Colchester and Chelmsford, the county is rural, with many small towns, villages and hamlets largely built in the traditional materials of timber and brick, with clay tile or thatched roofs.

There are many new build developments in the county, including in Chelmsford, Stanway, Colchester, Great Dunmow, Great Wakering and Walton-on-the-Naze.

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Properties in Essex which are in close proximity to the major water courses and rivers such as the Thames, the Stort, the Lea, the Chelmer, the Ching, the Brain, the Crouch and the Roding as well as some coastal areas, are subject to flood warnings and alerts from time to time. If you are concerned that a property you are looking to buy is in a flood risk area, you should consider getting a flood risk report (click for more details).	A recent Environmental Search indicated that a property on Clenshaw Path, Basildon, SS14 2FP, is within 50m of an area with potential for natural ground instability. The British Geological Survey has assessed the area of search as having moderate potential for natural ground instability. This does not necessarily mean there is cause for concern in terms of the property's stability. Active subsidence will be dependent on local conditions, such as the proximity of trees or areas where trees have been removed, which require an inspection of the site to identify the nature of the ground on which the property is built. A house buyers survey is advised to look for signs of property damage that may indicate poor natural ground conditions.	When a RICS surveyor carries out either a building survey or homebuyer report in the Essex area, they will switch the lights on and off but not test the whole electrical system. If they suspect that there is an electrical problem, they will recommend that you consult a local electrical contractor. A local electrician within the Essex area is Reactive Electrical, 50 Scratton Rd, Stanford-le-Hope SS17 0PA.

We have local RICS surveyors who specialise in listed building surveys in Essex. To find out more got to - Listed Building Surveys - Building Surveyor and Survey Cost in Essex