About Birch

Birch is a small settlement located in the county of Essex, in the east of England. It lies within the CO2 postcode area, situated near the border with Suffolk. The village is primarily residential, with a mix of traditional and modern housing. There are a few local amenities, including a village hall and a small shop, which serve the community. The surrounding area is largely rural, with open fields and scattered woodland contributing to a peaceful atmosphere. Birch is well-connected by road, with the A120 providing access to nearby towns and cities. The village has a long history, with records indicating its existence in the medieval period. While not a large settlement, Birch offers a quiet, countryside lifestyle within easy reach of larger centres.

School Ratings in Birch

Birch is served by 56 schools. A further 14 schools hold a Good rating.

House Prices in Birch

Property prices average £269K across the area, and flats are the most common property type, typically selling for £181K.

Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour in Birch

Local crime rates sit higher than national averages. Anti-social behaviour accounts for the highest share in Birch, with 47 incidents logged in January 2026.

Deprivation and Employment in Birch

Based on the 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation, Birch falls within the mid-range nationally for overall deprivation. Working-age employment is around the national average for the area. Income levels locally sit close to the national average.

Broadband and Mobile Internet in Birch

Most properties in Birch can access superfast or ultrafast broadband. 4G coverage is extensive and 5G is increasingly available across the area. For the latest speed predictions, visit Ofcom's broadband checker.

Property Prices 5,868 sales

Average Price £269K
£1K — £4.15M
Detached £414K 881
Semi £287K 1,339
Terraced £257K 1,724
Flat £181K 1,738

Schools & Education 12 nearby View all schools

36 Primary
9 Secondary
11 Other
Birch Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Primary Good 0.3 miles Layer-de-la-Haye Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Primary Good 1.5 miles Copford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Primary Good 2.5 miles Gosbecks Primary School Primary Good 2.8 miles St Michael's Primary School and Nursery, Colchester Primary 2.9 miles Lakelands Primary School Primary Outstanding 2.9 miles Col11 Little Hands Family Hub Delivery Site Requires Improvement 2.9 miles Stanway Fiveways Primary School Primary Good 2.9 miles Paxman Academy Secondary Good 2.9 miles The Stanway School Secondary Good 3.1 miles North East Essex Co-operative Academy Good 3.1 miles Messing Primary School Primary 3.1 miles

Deprivation and Employment in Birch IMD 2025

The 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation places Birch in the mid-range nationally. Employment and income levels are close to the England average, with a mix of opportunities across sectors. Overall living conditions are comparable to similar areas across the country.

Overall Deprivation
5/10
Income
5/10
Employment
5/10
Education
5/10
Health
4/10
Housing
5/10
Living Environment
7/10
12,279 Children (0-15) 20%
39,810 Working Age 66%
10,794 Older (60+) 18%
Average Child Poverty (IDACI) 38.1% of children in income-deprived families
Average Older Person Poverty (IDAOPI) 25.3% of over-60s in income-deprived households
Data from English Indices of Deprivation 2025 · Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Crime in Birch 611 crimes · January 2026

High Crime Area

Reported crime in Birch is above the national average when measured per capita. Violence & sexual offences dominates the figures, a trend mirrored in many urban centres. Local policing teams work actively in the area, and community initiatives continue to address key concerns.

283 Violence & Sexual Offences
47 Anti-Social Behaviour
45 Public Order
42 Shoplifting
39 Criminal Damage & Arson
38 Other Theft
31 Drugs
21 Other Crime
19 Vehicle Crime
17 Burglary
12 Robbery
8 Weapons
7 Theft from Person
2 Bicycle Theft
Local Policing
Essex Colchester Rural South Visit force website →
Data from data.police.uk · Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
Crime figures depend on reporting by individual police forces and may not reflect the full picture in all areas.

Nearest Train Stations 6 stations

Marks Tey Train Station 3.3 miles
Colchester Town Train Station 4.8 miles
Kelvedon Train Station 5.1 miles
Colchester Train Station 5.2 miles
Hythe (Essex) Train Station 5.3 miles
Wivenhoe Train Station 5.8 miles

Location

Nearby Towns & Villages 12 found

Layer Breton 0.6 miles Birch Green 0.6 miles Hardy's Green 0.9 miles Heckfordbridge 1.2 miles Smythe's Green 1.4 miles Layer Marney 1.8 miles Layer de la Haye 2 miles Easthorpe 2.2 miles Copford Green 2.2 miles Stafford's Corner 2.2 miles Stanway Green 2.8 miles Copford 2.8 miles

Local Government

District Colchester
County Essex
Ward Berechurch
Constituency Colchester
Parish Colchester, unparished area
Region East of England

Streets in CO2 30 shown View all streets

Abberton Road 7 Abbey Field View 2 Abbey Gate Street 1 Abbot's Road 8 Adelaide Drive 2 Aggregate Walk 1 Agnes Silverside Close 1 Aisne Road 1 Alamein Road 2 Alanbrooke Road 1 Albany Gardens 2 Albion Grove 1 Alport Avenue 2 Amber Court 2 Anglia Close 2 Anzio Crescent 1 Arakan Close 2 Armidale Walk 1 Arthur Street 1 Ash Grove 2 Aurora Drive 1 Avignon Close 1 Ballantyne Drive 2 Barbour Gardens 1 Bardfield Road 4 Barn Hall Avenue 6 Baronswood Way 4 Barrington Road 3 Battlesbrook Road 2 Bay Tree Close 1

Postcodes in CO2 50 shown View all postcodes

CO2 0AA CO2 0AB CO2 0AD CO2 0AE CO2 0AH CO2 0AJ CO2 0AL CO2 0AN CO2 0AP CO2 0AR CO2 0AS CO2 0AT CO2 0AU CO2 0AW CO2 0AX CO2 0AY CO2 0AZ CO2 0BA CO2 0BB CO2 0BD CO2 0BE CO2 0BG CO2 0BH CO2 0BJ CO2 0BL CO2 0BN CO2 0BP CO2 0BQ CO2 0BR CO2 0BS CO2 0BU CO2 0BW CO2 0BX CO2 0BY CO2 0DB CO2 0DE CO2 0DF CO2 0DG CO2 0DH CO2 0DJ CO2 0DL CO2 0DN CO2 0DP CO2 0DR CO2 0DS CO2 0DT CO2 0DU CO2 0DW CO2 0DX CO2 0DY