Countryside Properties and its development partner, L&Q, have revised their outline planning application for a new railway station in North East Chelmsford.
The proposals represent a major addition to the sustainable transport infrastructure of both the town and the county.
The application complements proposals for a new neighbourhood at Beaulieu Park, with up to 3,600 new homes and a total of 620,000 sq. ft. of commercial space incorporating a business park.
The station will include four platforms with passing loops that will bring efficiency and capacity benefits to the operation of the Great Eastern main line and therefore both to the county and region.
It will be a ‘new transport hub’ where passengers can complete journeys using sustainable modes of transport.
The proposals incorporate a bus interchange and substantial cycle parking.
It is expected that 60% of passengers will travel to the station by non-car means.
This improved facility is expected to reduce congestion at the existing Chelmsford station and the reduced numbers of car trips will therefore assist in also reducing congestion in the town centre and on radial routes.
John Oldham, Group Chief Town Planner, Countryside Properties commented:
“This revised planning application is a major step forward in making the new railway station in North East Chelmsford a reality. It highlights our very robust commitment to its delivery. All the foundations are in place for its delivery.”
Mike Johnson, Land Director, L&Q, said:
“New infrastructure to support sustainable transport options on this scale offers huge benefits to North East Chelmsford and the surrounding area.
“Alongside a whole range of high quality homes designed to meet people’s needs and aspirations the new neighbourhood will offer work, leisure and community facilities. This new station is at the heart of this vision.
“We are committed to delivering this as a key part of our mission to create vibrant communities where people want to live, work and bring up children.”
A draft timetable has been developed with Network Rail which shows an approximate ten minute frequency service at the new station in the peak periods with certain trains which are currently 8 carriages increased to 12.
The timetable shows that the new station can be provided without any reduction in the frequency of services at the other stations on the line, including the Braintree branch.
The design of the new station has ‘evolved through dialogue with Network Rail and includes more facilities to enable a quality customer experience’.
It meets Network Rail’s 2030 design standards for railway stations and will reduce its environmental impact through a number of sustainability features.
It has been ‘specifically designed as a low profile building set behind a landscape setting to minimise any intrusion on New Hall’.
The new railway station at North East Chelmsford is a third party funded enhancement which will be provided at no cost to the rail industry.
The planning application is supported as part of Essex County Council’s Local Transport Plan and is a key component of Chelmsford Borough Council’s adopted development strategy for the period up to 2021.
Chelmsford desperately needs a new station, and as a local resident and commuter I fully support this application. The town centre station is unable to handle the number of passengers and can be dangerous when it’s really busy. After years of delays hopefully things can start moving forwards now
Even though this article is 4 years old. I do think that Beaulieu Park or Beaulieu railway station could be opened in February 2020 or November 2020 or March 2021.