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

Strategic Growth Site Policy 2: West Chelmsford.

Land to the west of Chelmsford and north of Roxwell Road, as shown on the Policies Map, is allocated for a high-quality comprehensively-planned new sustainable neighbourhood that maximises opportunities for sustainable travel. Development proposals will accord with a masterplan approved by the Council to provide:

Amount and Type of Development

  • Around 800 new homes of mixed size and type to include affordable housing;
  • Travelling Showpeople site for 5 serviced plots.

Supporting on-site Development

  • Neighbourhood Centre;
  • Provision of a new primary school with co-located early years and childcare nursery;
  • Provision of new stand-alone early years and childcare nursery.

Site Masterplanning Principles

Movement and Access

  • Main vehicular access to the site will be from Roxwell Road (A1060);
  • Provide pedestrian and cycle connections;
  • Provide a well-connected internal road layout which allows for bus priority measures;
  • Provide a new dedicated bus, cycle and pedestrian link into the existing Urban Area.

Historic and Natural Environment

  • Mitigate the visual impact of the development;
  • Create a network of green infrastructure;
  • Provide suitable SuDs and flood risk management;
  • Ensure appropriate habitat mitigation and creation is provided;
  • Undertake an Archaeological Assessment.

Design and Layout

  • Provide a coherent network of public open space, formal and informal sport, recreation and community space within the site.

Site Infrastructure Requirements

  • Land (circa 2.1 hectares) for a co-located primary school and early years and childcare nursery (Use Class D1) and the total cost of physical scheme provision with delivery through the Local Education Authority;
  • Land (circa 0.13 hectares) for a stand-alone early years and childcare nursery (Use Class D1) or contributions towards the cost of physical scheme provision with delivery through the Local Education Authority;
  • Appropriate improvements 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, where appropriate, bridleways;
  • Multi-user crossing of Roxwell Road;
  • 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;
  • 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.