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

Strategic Growth Site Policy 7A: Great Leighs, Land at Moulsham Hall.

Land to the west of the Key Service Settlement of Great Leighs, 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 750 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;
  • Co-locate the neighbourhood centre and primary school at a location close to existing links across/under A131 to connect to Great Leighs.

Site Masterplanning Principles

Movement and Access

  • Main vehicular access to the site will be from Moulsham Hall Lane;
  • Provide pedestrian and cycle connections;
  • Provide a well-connected internal road layout which allows for bus priority measures.

Historic and Natural Environment

  • Preserve and where appropriate enhance the setting of the listed buildings at Moulsham Hall, Triceratops, Breams Farm, Creeds Twin/Hobby Croft, Chadwicks, Fortune Cottage, Stone Hall Cottage and Hump Cottage;
  • Create an enhanced parkland setting to Moulsham Hall;
  • Protect and enhance the River Ter Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) to the south of the site ensuring any new development provides any required mitigation measures;
  • Ensure appropriate habitat mitigation and creation is provided;
  • Mitigate the visual impact of the development;
  • Create a network of green infrastructure;
  • Provide suitable SuDs and flood risk management;
  • 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.

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;
  • 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 bridleways where appropriate;
  • Provide, or make financial contributions to, new or enhanced sport, leisure and recreation facilities;
  • Ensure appropriate waste water treatment provision and disposal is available in time to serve the site, including any associated sewer connections and any required mitigation within the sewerage network;
  • Financial contributions to delivery of the Chelmsford North East Bypass, early years and childcare, primary and secondary education as required by the Local Education Authority, and 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.