Chelmsford’s new station reaches key milestone
Plans to deliver a new station for the Chelmsford area took a major step forward last night with the granting of detailed planning permission by Chelmsford City Council. This will be the first new station on the Great Eastern Main Line in 100 years.
Key part of new Chelmsford Garden Community
The new station is a key transport and economic component of the new Chelmsford Garden Community, which will deliver more than 10,000 new homes, 1 million square feet of new business space, schools, quality open spaces and community facilities.
It will provide Chelmsford with its second station, easing congestion in the city centre, which has the busiest two-platform railway station outside of London. The project will also provide sustainable travel choices for cyclists and pedestrians, with links to existing and new communities.
The partnership delivering the new station
The station is being delivered through a partnership between Network Rail, Essex County Council, Chelmsford City Council, the South East Local Enterprise Partnership and Countryside Zest.
With Government funding from the Housing Infrastructure Fund, developer contributions and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, this is the final stage of the planning process for the new station.
““This new station will enable more sustainable travel choices to residents of the new Garden Community and the wider city. It’s all part of our plan to make Chelmsford a greener, fairer and more-connected community. It’s been a very long time coming but at last it is on the way.”
Cllr Stephen Robinson, Leader, Chelmsford City Council
““Building the first new station on the Great Eastern main line for over 100 years is very exciting, particularly as it will support the development of new communities. Giving these communities the opportunity to use rail, the most sustainable form of mass transportation, is really positive.”
Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s Anglia Route Director
““As a driver of the regional economy, Chelmsford needs a transport network to match if it is to properly facilitate future development and economic growth and I am, therefore, pleased to see plans for the station, which will support some 2,500 additional jobs and generate a near £250m economic boost, progressing.
Cllr Lesley Wagland OBE, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Renewal, Infrastructure and Planning
In addition to people commuting to and within the city, strategic road and rail links are crucial to Chelmsford continuing to be an attractive base for people so this scheme, together with our associated project for a Chelmsford North East bypass, is vital to the future prosperity of the area.”
New station’s key features
- Three platforms with a central loop line and new tracks. This will enable stopping services to call at the station, while allowing fast trains to pass through unimpeded
- Waiting areas and space for retail and catering
- 500 spaces for cycle parking and storage
- A bus interchange and dedicated taxi bays
- Parking for more than 700 cars, including designated Blue Badge bays and motorcycle spaces
Anticipated start date of spring 2023
With both the funding and detailed planning now in place, the station will now move through the final stages of its technical design. Its anticipated start date on site is early spring 2023 and under the current programme, the station is scheduled to be completed in December 2025.
You can find more updates on the station’s development.
Julie writes stories and creates videos for Chelmsford City Council. Contact her at julie.weight@chelmsford.gov.uk or on 01245 606984.