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

Strategic Growth Site Policy 3A: East Chelmsford - Manor Farm.

Land to the north of Great Baddow (Manor Farm) adjacent to Chelmsford’s Urban Area as shown on the Policies Map, is allocated for a landscape-led, high-quality comprehensively-planned new sustainable neighbourhood that maximises opportunities for sustainable travel as well as a new Country Park. Development proposals will accord with a masterplan approved by the Council to provide:

Amount and Type of Development

  • Around 250 new homes of mixed size and type to include affordable housing.

Supporting on-site Development

  • A new Country Park;
  • New vehicular access road from Maldon Road into Sandford Mill.

Site Masterplanning Principles

Movement and Access

  • Main vehicular access to the site will be from a new junction at Maldon Road/Sandford Mill Lane;
  • Provide pedestrian and cycle connections;
  • Provide a well connected internal road layout.

Historic and Natural Environment

  • Preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Chelmer and Blackwater Conservation Area;
  • Protect and where appropriate enhance the nationally significant Bronze Age monument and its setting;
  • Protect important views into and through the site from across the Chelmer Valley;
  • Create a network of green infrastructure;
  • Provide suitable SuDs and flood risk management;
  • Ensure appropriate habitat mitigation and creation is provided;
  • Retain the WWII pillbox in the eastern part of the site and provide interpretation boards;
  • Undertake a Minerals Resource Assessment;
  • 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;
  • Remove low voltage electricity lines from the site allocation and install electricity cables underground.

Site Infrastructure Requirements

  • Provision of a new Country Park and Visitor Centre at Sandford Mill with a landscape strategy and a delivery mechanism to provide for their long-term management and maintenance;
  • Heritage interpretation, including information boards and public art;
  • Provide appropriate improvements, as necessary, to the local and strategic road network as required by the Local Highways Authority;
  • Appropriate measures to promote and sustain travel through sustainable modes of transport;
  • Provide new and enhanced cycle routes, footpaths, Public Rights of Way and where appropriate bridleways within and between the sites and the surrounding area to enable the development to integrate with existing development areas and to provide links into City Centre, and the wider countryside beyond;
  • Financial contributions to early years, primary and secondary education provision as required by the Local Education Authority;
  • Financial contributions towards other community facilities such as healthcare provision as required by the NHS/CCG Provide, or make financial contributions to, new or enhanced sport, leisure and recreation facilities;
  • 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.