A major £38 million road improvement project at Chelmsford is set to unlock one of the most significant housing developments in the UK.
The Chelmsford Garden Community will see 10,000 new homes built in north east Chelmsford, in Essex, along with business spaces, schools, open spaces and community and health facilities.
A new road improvement scheme, the Beaulieu Access Package, will upgrade the A12 and Beaulieu Park Station roundabout.
The road improvements will be partly funded by Essex County Council, however, the majority of the funding will come from Homes England, National Highways and through developer contributions.
It comes as a part of the project’s ‘infrastructure first’ approach.
Councillor Russell Quirk, Deputy Leader of Essex County Council, said: “At the very heart of Chelmsford Garden Community is the County Council’s commitment to making sure everyone can get to wherever they need to be – for work, school, friends, family and leisure – as quickly and easily and possible.
“This is going to happen because we are putting the right roads and infrastructure in place.
“Upgrading the A12 junction and the station access roundabout will help the garden community garden grow and benefit residents old and new.”
The Chelmsford Garden Community will be developed over a 20-year period, built in multiple phases.
The council has recently approved the final outline planning application for the community, giving the go-ahead for three new villages, with 3,500 new homes, building on the approvals for zones 1 and 3 of the scheme.
Councillor Richard Lee, Cabinet Member for Planning and Place-Shaping, said: “This approval is a fantastic step forward for Chelmsford Garden Community and for the people who will eventually live in and around it.
“It means we can move ahead with well-planned neighbourhoods that bring new homes, schools, green spaces, local facilities and better connections together from the very beginning.
“The focus has always been on creating places where residents can put down roots, access everyday services close to home and enjoy a strong sense of community.
“This decision helps secure those long-term benefits for Chelmsford and the surrounding area.”
