Policy information sourced from the Chelmsford Local Plan 2013-2036 PDF.
Strategic Growth Site 1A: Chelmer Waterside.
To the east of the City Centre is Chelmsford’s largest previously developed opportunity area in a river landscape setting fronting the River Chelmer and the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation. Development proposals will accord with a masterplan approved by the Council to provide:
Amount and type of development:
Strategic Growth Site Policy 1a comprises six sites (CW1a to CW1f) with a potential total residential capacity of around 1,100 new homes, including affordable housing, along with an element of non-residential development. Sites at Chelmer Waterside have been assessed individually and can come forward independently, as sites become available.
| Site 1A: Chelmer Waterside Allocations | Number of Homes | Main Vehicular Access |
|---|---|---|
| CW1a Former Gas Works | Around 250 | Wharf Road |
| CW1b Peninsula | Around 420 | Wharf Road |
| CW1c Lockside | Around 130 | Navigation Road |
| CW1d Baddow Road Car Park, and Land to the East of the Car Park | Around 190 | Baddow Road |
| CW1e Travis Perkins | Around 75 | Navigation Road |
| CW1f Navigation Road sites | Around 35 | Navigation Road/Sandringham Place |
Supporting on-site development:
- New homes of a mixed size and type, including affordable housing;
- Supporting commercial uses including B1a, the A Use Classes and Use Classes D1 and D2;
- Improvements to Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation waterway infrastructure;
- Site CW1a - Commercial interface with Primary Shopping Area and River Chelmer;
- Site CW1a - Provide new or improved premises for water-based clubs;
- Site CW1d - Re-provision of public car parking.
Site Masterplanning Principles:
Movement and Access
- Development that maximises opportunities for sustainable travel;
- New or improved pedestrian and cycle connections;
- Provide a new vehicular access to serve the site;
- Provide an operational car club for residents and businesses within the site area and beyond.
Historic and Natural Environment
- Preserve and where appropriate enhance the setting of designated and non-designated heritage assets;
- Conserve and enhance biodiversity and avoid adverse effects on the Chelmer Valley Riverside and Chelmsford Watermeadows Local Wildlife Sites;
- Undertake a pre-application Archaeological Assessment;
- Provide suitable SuDS and flood risk management
Design and Layout
- Layout which contributes towards the distinct identity of Chelmer Waterside and encourages use of the waterways and their environs;
- Provide public art which contributes towards place creation;
- Ensure layout maintains a generous waterside margin free of buildings to enable maintenance, waterway function and habitat connectivity, agreed on an individual site basis with the Local Planning Authority;
- Ensure existing sites occupied by water users are incorporated or re-provided within development to support those functions and benefit the development and diversity of City Centre uses;
- Layout to incorporate adequate tree planting and other green infrastructure to include natural flood risk and surface water management measures;
- Maintain, enhance and create new landscaped site edges with a network of dense planting belts and buffers to mitigate the visual impact of the development, safeguard the historic environment, and provide suitable wildlife connections.
Site Infrastructure Requirements
- Appropriate mitigation, compensation and enhancements to the local and strategic road network as required by the Local Highways Authority;
- Sites CW1a – CW1e - Provide a new vehicular access to serve Strategic Growth Site 1a through proportionate contributions. Physical provision of the new vehicular access route shall be delivered through development of sites CW1a and/or CW1d (both currently Council owned sites);
- Site CW1f - Safeguard land for Springfield Road junction improvement Appropriate measures to promote and enhance sustainable modes of transport;
- Provide, or make financial contributions, to facilitate, sustain and enhance car club facilities for residents and businesses within the site;
- Provide, or make financial contributions to, new or enhanced sport, leisure and recreation facilities;
- Financial contributions to early years, primary and secondary education provision, and community facilities including healthcare provision as required by the NHS/CCG;
- Site CW1c - Land (circa 0.13 hectares) for a stand-alone early years and childcare nursery (Use Class D1);
- Where appropriate, contributions from developments will be secured towards mitigation measures identified in the Essex Recreational disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy (RAMS) which will be completed by the time the Local Plan is adopted. Prior to RAMS completion, the authority will seek contributions, where appropriate, from proposed residential development to deliver all measures identified (including strategic measures) through project level HRAs, or otherwise, to mitigate any recreational disturbance impacts in compliance with the Habitats Regulations and Habitats Directive.
For more information, please visit Chelmsford’s Local Plan here.