Policy information sourced from the Chelmsford Local Plan 2013-2036 PDF.

Strategic Growth Site Policy 10: North of South Woodham Ferrers.

Land to the north of Burnham Road (B1012) and east and west of the B1418, as shown on the Policies Map, is allocated for a high quality comprehensively-planned sustainable extension to the existing town, that maximises opportunities for sustainable travel, in a landscaped setting. Development proposals will accord with a masterplan approved by the Council to provide:

Amount and Type of Development

  • Around 1,000 new homes of mixed size and type to include affordable housing;
  • Travelling Showpeople site for 5 serviced plots;
  • 1,000sqm of business floorspace;
  • 1,900sqm of convenience retail floorspace.

Supporting on-site Development

  • Potential co-location of a new primary school with an early years and childcare nursery, and one stand-alone early years and childcare nursery; or two new stand-alone early years and childcare nurseries;
  • Neighbourhood Centre incorporating provision for convenience food retail (1,900sqm);
  • Flexible neighbourhood scale business (1,000sqm) and community and healthcare provision Integration of flexible workspace facilities.

Site of Masterplanning Principles

Movement and Access

  • Development that maximises opportunities for sustainable travel;
  • Main vehicular access to the western and central parcels will be from the B1418 with potential for additional access from Burnham Road subject to traffic management measures being agreed by the Local Highways Authority;
  • Vehicular access to the eastern parcel will be from Burnham Road and/or Woodham Road;
  • Provide a well-connected internal road layout which allows good accessibility for bus services and bus priority measures;
  • Provide new public transport routes/services;
  • Provide an effective movement strategy within the site;
  • Provide additional and/or improved pedestrian and cycle connections to the Town Centre and railway station;
  • Provide high quality circular routes or connections to the wider Public Rights of Way network located away from the Crouch estuary;
  • Provide a dedicated car club for residents and businesses on site and available to the rest of South Woodham Ferrers;
  • Improvements to the local and strategic road network as required by the Local Highways Authority.

Historic and Natural Environment

  • Preserve and where appropriate enhance the setting of the listed buildings at Edwins Hall, Shaws Farmhouse, Tabrums, Wellington Farmhouse and Barn and Ilgars and the non-designated asset Hambert’s Farm;
  • An appropriate landscaped setting for development consisting of sufficiently dense planting belts and natural buffers to development edges and Local Wildlife Sites, to provide a network of green infrastructure to mitigate the visual, biodiversity and heritage impacts of the development;
  • Mitigate potential effects due to recreational pressure on nearby designated European sites’
  • Provide areas for natural SuDS and flood risk management;
  • Undertake an Archaeological Assessment.

Design and Layout

  • Development to be planned around a coherent framework of routes, blocks and spaces that deliver areas of distinct character;
  • Development shall predominantly be defined by and seek to retain the existing pattern of historic and landscape features;
  • Layout to be defined by a coherent network of wide green spaces to include formal and informal sport, recreation and community space that is well connected to Public Rights of Way;
  • Where they must remain, the layout should make positive use of utility easements, such as electricity powerlines and gas main.

Site Infrastructure Requirements

  • Potential co-location of a new primary school with an early years and childcare nursery (min 2.1 hectares) and one stand-alone early years and childcare nursery (circa 0.13 hectares); or two new stand-alone early years and childcare nurseries (circa 0.13 hectares each). The developer will be expected to provide the land and total cost of physical scheme provision with delivery through the Local Education Authority;
  • Appropriate improvements, as necessary, to the local and strategic road network as required by the Local Highways Authority;
  • Appropriate measures to promote and enhance sustainable modes of transport;
  • New and enhanced cycle routes, footpaths, Public Rights of Way and bridleways where appropriate;
  • Capacity improvements to the A132 between Rettendon Turnpike and South Woodham Ferrers, including necessary junction improvements Multi-user crossings of the B1012 in South Woodham Ferrers which may include a bridge or underpass;
  • Appropriate flood risk management measures and SuDS;
  • 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;
  • Undertake a project-level Habitats Regulations Assessment to address the impacts other than recreational disturbance;
  • Provision of and financial contribution to facilitate and sustain car club facilities for residents and businesses within the site and for the use of the wider community;
  • Provide, or make financial contributions to, new or enhanced sport, leisure and recreation facilities;
  • Financial contributions to secondary education as required by the Local Education Authority and other community facilities such as healthcare provision as required by the NHS/CCG.

For more information, please visit Chelmsford’s Local Plan here.