All aboard at last!

New station 30 years in the making set to open its doors

When the first spades hit the ground for the Beaulieu development back in the 1990s, one rumour was on everybody’s lips: a second railway station was coming to Chelmsford.

This month, three decades later, that promise finally comes good.

“I first came to the project when it was part of Chelmsford’s Local Plan in 2003,” says Jeremy Potter, Chelmsford City Council’s head of planning policy. “But it was around as a concept long before that. When I was at secondary school in Chelmsford in the 80s, there was a human geography class where the teacher talked to us about the idea of a station in North East Chelmsford, so it was being discussed even back then.”

A developer’s gamble

The idea was first tabled by Alan Cherry, Chairman and founder of Countryside Properties, the developer behind Beaulieu Park, the first phase of the wider Beaulieu development being delivered now. His early 2000s masterplan for Beaulieu formed the basis of a planning application for a new station, submitted in 2010.

Alan sadly died that year. His son Graham, himself group chief executive of Countryside for nearly twenty years remembers: “In the late 70s or early 80s, he became aware that Chelmsford was approaching major housing need. He carried out an analysis of where new homes could go, and North East Chelmsford emerged as the most realistic area.

“It had to be a fairly big development, because it needed to support infrastructure improvements for the area. Boreham Interchange was already getting over capacity, and even then, it was recognised that Chelmsford railway station was too busy.

“He’d be so proud that the station, which really crowns his vision, is opening to the public. My two sons, in their 20s and 30s and who live in Beaulieu, are hoping to ride the first train.”

Construction started on Beaulieu Park in 1998

Unexpected obstacles on the track

The project hit a setback in 2003, when Chelmsford’s Local Plan was withdrawn and the station didn’t re-enter the planning process again until 2008.

Securing access to the right spot also required patience, as Chelmsford City Council’s chief executive, Nick Eveleigh, explains. “It needed land to be built on, "says Nick. "I took on the city council’s property work in 2007 and a couple of years in, we provided the land for a suitable site where the station and transport hub could go. Negotiating access took some time - particularly around Grade I-listed New Hall. Seeing the station finally open for residents in 2025 is fantastic.”

Cross-party support

Councillor Roy Whitehead, who was Chelmsford City Council's leader when the development was first approved, describes the station as “marvellous.”

“In 2003, we were whisked off to see Alan Cherry’s masterplan, which was the first I heard of the station,” he said. “It was a story of segments, really – to create a new station, you need investment, but you also need somebody with a reason to do it. Countryside, now part of Vistry, were those people, and we have been very fortunate to have officers in Chelmsford and Essex with the vision to make all the other stuff happen that you need apart from the station itself – the bridge, the bypass, the bus interchange and so on.”

Councillor Stephen Robinson, who became leader seven years ago, credits cross-party co-operation.

“For a project like this to stay on track over such a long period of time, and to overcome all the challenges of funding in today’s climate, is very unusual,” he says.

“It’s a testament to the commitment of all the partners – including the city and county councils, Countryside, L&Q, Network Rail and local enterprise – that the new station has been achieved. I think Chelmsford is a particularly good environment for partnership working like this. Everyone’s approaching it from a slightly different angle, but we’re a well-connected community which comes together to get things done for local people.”

Partners visiting the site throughout its construction

A crucial funding breakthrough

In 2015, Essex County Council, Chelmsford City Council, Network Rail and Countryside signed an agreement to work together to find a way to deliver the new station. The initial funding for the project came from developers Countryside and L&Q to the tune of £22 million, supplemented by another £12 million from SELEP, a business-led organisation which no longer exists.

That still wasn’t enough to make it happen. A turning point came in 2019, when Essex County Council, in partnership with Chelmsford City Council, secured Housing Infrastructure Funding from Homes England.

Gary MacDonnell, the county council manager responsible for the project says this backing turned a dream into reality.

“The new homes planned for this area unlocked the funding for this project. Traditionally, if you wanted a new railway station, you’d have to create a financial case based on fairly narrow economic indicators of productivity, which were very reliant on commuters.

“The bid we put together and the support we received from Homes England really helped to recognise the wider economic benefits brought by new housing and growth. This shift in mindset is what has allowed this project to happen.”

Councillor Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader of Essex County Council, says this investment is transformational. “In Essex, we are leading the way by making sure new developments are built in the right way, by providing the infrastructure that residents, visitors and businesses need. We are being bold and ambitious to future-proof the county and put investment where it's most needed.

"Beaulieu Park station will both unlock economic development in the surrounding areas, as well as transform travel in and around Chelmsford. This made it all the more important to secure funding to turn the initial idea into a reality.”

With the funding secured, a detailed application for the technical aspects of the new station could begin.

The station site has been carefully planned as a transport hub

Careful planning vital

Beaulieu Park station serves the growing neighbourhoods of Beaulieu and Channels, part of the Chelmsford Garden Community, as well as older nearby areas like north Springfield. Integrating this project within different phases and decades of residential development has required meticulous planning.

As Chelmsford City Council's lead planning officer Karen Short explains, attention to detail is needed at every level.

“The station is a proper station, not a branch line stopping point. When you see the building, you’ll notice that it’s smart and well-built, but it’s designed to blend into the landscape and not disrupt the views from historic New Hall School.

The smaller things matter too - the bus interchange, has attractive, permeable brick paving that allows surface water to drain easily. We’ve also been able to make sure this quality extends beyond the immediate vicinity of the station - the paths are well-lit and made of resin-bound material which will be long-lasting and easy to walk or wheel on.”

Part of the planning challenge was to work with Countryside and L&Q, the developers of Beaulieu, to make sure there were routes for people to get to the new station without driving. The two councils and developers negotiated and planned cycle routes and shelters, a bus link road and interchange, paths, plentiful parking, and taxi pickup areas.

These extra features make Beaulieu Park more than just a railway station, says Stuart Graham, Chelmsford City Council’s project lead.

“To make a real difference to people’s lives you have to think about everything that leads up to their train journey. Alongside the planning, funding and construction, you have to get the operational design right.

“If a transport hub is to work as well as it possibly can for residents and customers, you need to think of everything from having up-to-date bus service information displayed, right through to how often our street care teams will empty the bins.”

Residents’ hopes and dreams

For 26-year-old Amy, who has lived on the older Flowers Estate in Springfield all her life, the station will open up convenient travel around the UK. “I’m looking forward to it,” she said. “It will be a great way to visit family all around the country, or for an easy trip to London.”

Newer residents see it as a transformational amenity that will make their lives and commutes easier. Beaulieu resident Paul says, “It’s easier for local families to get to rather than getting the bus to go to Chelmsford station. My children use the train quite a bit and they’ll use Beaulieu Park to commute. Being brand-new, with less hustle and bustle, it’s more appealing. I’m looking forward to trying it out to get to London.”

The station will serve many neighbourhoods, including Beaulieu Park, Beaulieu and Channels

A journey that’s been worth the wait

When the first train pulls in, it will be a special moment – the culmination of decades of hard work.

As Martin Leach, representing Countryside (part of Vistry Group) and L&Q, puts it: “The new station is the result of over three decades of planning, partnership, and belief in what’s possible when housing and infrastructure are developed hand in hand. Reaching this milestone has been a huge collaborative effort that’s set to have a profound impact on daily life for local residents. It’s a very proud moment for everyone involved.”

Jeremy Potter agrees. “Throughout my working life, so many people told me the station would never happen. It’s really satisfying to see it open, to know what a community can do together with the right co-operation and persistence.

“This isn’t just a station. It represents 30 years of partnership, setbacks, luck and determination. But above all, it’s for the residents who have waited so patiently. I hope this new station makes their lives easier.”

The station has been built to serve communities of the present and the future

Get ready for your trip

Planning to be one of the first to travel from or to the new station? Read our practical guide to parking, timetabling, facilities and more.