“In Kensington and Chelsea, it is highly unlikely anyone will be given permission to privatise a road and gate it, taking away a public benefit for private use.”British developers do not favour the South African-style slavering-Rottweilers-and-barbed-wire approach, but many believe the planning process has gone awry. The current advice issued by planners is that unless a site is already established as a gated environment, there is little prospect of these gated developments receiving consent in the future.”Councillor Barry Phelps, Kensington and Chelsea’s cabinet member for planning, concurs with this view. This concern, however, is not reflected in planning laws that are in the process of change. Recommendations in the 2000 urban task force report that are now seeping into planning strategy encourage “mixed and inclusive” housing that is “physically as well as visually integrated into the surroundings”.If you approve of social engineering, this might sound laudable, but those who are frightened by the prospect of walking even the short distance from the car to the front doorstep late at night might think this is a bad time to talk about government controlled integration.John Hunter of Northacre, a developer of high-end schemes like Kings Chelsea in the Kings Road, points out: “Against this backdrop, Kings could well be the last of a rare breed of secure gated developments in London. A high level of security was one of my top considerations when buying.”Although Hickman admits living in the likes of Fortress Belgravia is “undesirable”, like many these days, she has real concerns about personal safety.

One of the key reasons she chose her apartment was its secure environment with an entrance manned round the clock and a key-card access system.
“We all know someone who has been the victim of crime,” she says, “and you feel particularly vulnerable in basement or ground-floor flats. Banker Amanda Hickman bought an apartment at Northacre’s gated development The Bromptons in South Kensington two years ago, where prices start from £1 million. Internal space runs to more than 6,000 square feet, with a 500sq ft kitchen/dining room and a 600sq ft triple garage; £2.3 million, through Cheffins.Estate agentsCheffins, 01799 523656; Hetheringtons, 01799 516480; Mullucks Wells, 01799 520520.. In Ickleton, a three-bed Grade II-listed timber-framed cottage with thatched roof is £295,000; and a four-bed barn conversion is £595,000; all through Cheffins.New GeorgianHinxton House is a new three-storey pile with large paddock and outbuildings four miles from Saffron Walden. It has one front door but three staircases; £599,950 at Hetheringtons. In Clavering, the birthplace of television’s “naked” chef Jamie Oliver, Clatterbury House is a half-timbered house with tiled roof and a thatched extension; £645,000 at Mullucks Wells.AgalandIn Castlecamps, a two-bed end terrace with thatched roof and exposed beams is £179,995. A similarly imposing property on the same road is £650,000 at Cheffins.Three staircasesPudgell, a five-bed home in Great Chishill, eight miles from Saffron Waldon, is Grade II-listed and large, having previously been four separate cottages.

A two-bed stone cottage near Saffron Walden Common is £175,000, and a Grade II-listed two-bed cottage with open fireplace near Bridge End Gardens is £186,950.Family homesA new three-bed house with double garage in a private development near the town centre, £285,000; a four-bed three-reception two-conservatory house with guest bedroom, annexe and double garage near the Friends School, £550,000, at Mullucks Wells. Mullucks Wells is selling a two-bed first-floor period conversion in Saffron Walden, £135,000, and a one-bed first-floor flat in a former vicarage in Finchingfield, £97,000. Nearby are the 16th-century Audley End House and Gardens (and miniature railway); Mole Hall park in Widdington; Linton Zoo and Gardens; and Mountfitchet Castle and Norman Village.PricesThe few flats in the area start from £100,000. Great Dunmow also has a sports and fitness centre.Museums and galleriesSaffron Walden has an archaeology and ethnography museum that sells saffron crocus for autumn flowering. The Fry Art Gallery has paintings, prints, books and ceramics by artists from Great Bardfield and Saffron Walden.AttractionsBridge End Gardens and Hedge Maze, and the Turf Maze are in the town. Market days are Tuesday and Saturday.EntertainmentThe nearest cinemas are in Haverhill and Cambridge.