Standish, Ivy Lane, Colchester, CO5 8US

** guide price £800,000 - £850,000 ** We are delighted to present this impressive four-bedroom family home offering approximately 2,335 sq ft of beautifully arranged accommodation, set within a large garden enjoying river views.

The property provides versatile living space ideally suited to modern family life, with multiple reception rooms.

Combining generous proportions with an adaptable layout, this is a home perfectly designed for both everyday living and entertaining.

Overview ** guide price £800,000 - £850,000 ** We are delighted to present this impressive four-bedroom family home offering approximately 2,335 sq ft of beautifully arranged accommodation, set within a large garden enjoying river views.

The property provides versatile living space ideally suited to modern family life, with multiple reception rooms.

Combining generous proportions with an adaptable layout, this is a home perfectly designed for both everyday living and entertaining.

Seller's insight Standish is a neat, freestanding new build in the traditional Essex country style. It is extremely easy to maintain.

It has solar panels, an EV charger, underfloor heating, as well as a traditional wood-burning stove for the occasional cosy treat.

The builder lives very close by and is always on hand should any problems arise. So far, there have been none. It is a very well-built house.

It stands in a delightful country lane with nicely spaced neighbours, all of whom are very friendly without being intrusive. There is a WhatsApp group for the street.

Ivy Lane is at the very end of the nicest part of Mersea Island. From here there are some really lovely walks, taking in both the surrounding farmland and the river and sea.

It can be astonishingly beautiful, with a range of colours found almost nowhere else.

The abundance of seabirds is a draw for birdwatchers and photographers, and a delight to observe from the house windows. The surrounding area is farmland, shared with horses, donkeys, sheep, and cows.

There are several horse-riding centres within easy reach. The view from the back of the house is breathtaking - open land down to the sea wall and then the River Colne.

From the upstairs rear window, the view stretches to the Blackwater Estuary.

You can watch the comings and goings of racing yachts, work boats from the wind farms, and the start and finish of the great Thames barge races. The house is potentially a yachtsman's paradise.

By negotiation with the farmer, boats can be stored in his yard during winter, and small boats can be launched from his private slipway. There is space for boat storage in the front garden.

Five minutes away, there is a moorings run by the Oysterage which can accommodate deep-keel boats.

A ten-minute drive takes you to East Mersea, an important yachting centre with excellent yard facilities and two yacht clubs, one of which can boast a history of major successes in national competitions.

You approach Mersea Island across a causeway, which justifies its designation as an island.

The causeway, called the Strood, is impassable for a couple of hours either side of the highest tides, which occur a few days each month.

People are often deterred by this, but if you live there it never really seems a problem - the movements of the tides become predictable, and you adjust very quickly.

By contrast, many visitors are discouraged by the complications of the causeway, which serves to reduce visitor numbers and adds to the comfort and exclusivity of the island.

So far, Standish has been kept as a second home.

It has provided us with splendid summers (the climate in Essex is among the best in Britain), extensive health-giving walks, charming traditional Christmases under brilliant star-filled dark skies, and has proved very popular as a place for family and friends to visit.

The large garden has been kept mainly as open grass, apart from areas of rewilding which encourage animals and birds, and a very attractive pond which has yet to be fully developed.

There is real opportunity to make something very special here. There is also a newly well-appointed greenhouse, a small shed, and a capacious garage. The real joy of this house is the view.

Once seen, never forgotten.

Step inside A substantial and well-balanced family home offering approximately 2,335 sq ft of versatile accommodation arranged over two floors, ideal for modern family living, home working and entertaining.

The ground floor is centred around a generous sitting room with fireplace and direct access through to the heart of the home, a modern, well-equipped kitchen, thoughtfully designed with a central breakfast bar to create a sociable hub for everyday living.

The kitchen flows seamlessly into the adjoining dining room, where bi-fold doors open directly onto the garden, allowing for effortless indoor/outdoor living and an ideal setting for entertaining and family gatherings.

Also on the ground floor is a dedicated music room, offering excellent flexibility as a snug, playroom or additional reception space, alongside a home office, ideal for remote working or study.

A ground floor cloakroom completes the accommodation at this level. The property also benefits from an integral garage, providing secure parking or additional storage.

To the first floor, the accommodation continues to impress with four well-proportioned bedrooms.

The principal bedroom enjoys the advantage of an en suite shower room, while the remaining bedrooms are served by a contemporary family bathroom With generous proportions, excellent flexibility and a strong connection to the garden and river views beyond, this property offers an exceptional opportunity for those seeking space, comfort and lifestyle appeal.

Step outside To the rear of the property lies a substantial garden, offering an excellent sense of space and privacy and enjoying stunning views over the river.

The garden provides an ideal setting for both relaxation and entertaining, with ample room for outdoor dining, children's play and the enjoyment of the surrounding outlook, while forming a natural extension of the living accommodation during the warmer months.

To the front of the property, a generous driveway provides parking for multiple vehicles and leads to the integral garage, offering further parking or storage.

The frontage creates a practical and welcoming approach to the home, well suited to family living and visiting guests.

Location East Mersea offers a peaceful coastal setting on Mersea Island, just 10 miles from Colchester.

The village has a small convenience store, with a larger Co op supermarket only a mile away in West Mersea.

Families benefit from good local schooling, including Mersea Island School (rated Good by Ofsted) for primary-aged children.

For older students, Colchester provides excellent options such as Colchester High School and Colchester Prep & High School, along with highly regarded grammar schools like Colchester Royal Grammar and Colchester County High School for Girls.

Commuters will appreciate Colchester's mainline stations, offering regular services to London Liverpool Street, Ipswich, and Norwich.

There's also a seasonal pedestrian and cycle ferry from East Mersea to Brightlingsea.