A 4-week public consultation is being held by Chelmsford City Council and invites the public to have their say on the new Beaulieu Park station proposals
Following Network Rail's submission of an application to Chelmsford City Council on the 4th of March 2022 which seeks to discharge the ‘Reserved Matters' and conditions of the outline planning permission granted in 2013.
The Council has chosen to run a consultation which will go on until the 20th of April 2022 and will see the public able to comment on the Reserved Matters such as:
- Treatment of the public realm
- Station operational buildings
- Passenger facilities and concourse
- Size and distribution of commercial space
- Arboriculture Impact Assessment
- Ecological Management Plan
- Archaeological evaluation
The new Beaulieu Park station is proposed to feature three platforms and would be the first new station built on the Great Eastern Main Line for more than 100 years.
The project comes as part of a £252m regeneration programme that will see both road and rail infrastructure transformed in a bid to support 14,000 new homes within the Chelmsford and Braintree corridor.
The brand new station will bring improvements in connectivity to Essex and the South East whilst providing a sustainable method of transport for the area, cutting car journeys into the city.
The station would also see regular connections to London and other destinations further afield which in turn would support congestion at Chelmsford and Witham stations.
The station is being designed by Network Rail's framework contractor J Murphy & Sons Ltd and will feature:
- Three platforms with a central loop line and new tracks which will enable stopping services to call at the station whilst providing fast trains to pass through unimpeded.
- Step-free access to all platforms via 2 lifts
- Ticketing facilities, with ticket vending machines and a gate line
- Accessible toilets, baby change facilities, waiting area and space for retail/catering
- Parking for more than 700 cars, 5% of which are to be designated Blue Badge bays, and motorcycle spaces, as well as dedicated parking for station staff, emergency services, and a dedicated space for service access.
- Pick up and drop off area with dedicated taxi bays
- A bus interchange including bus stands for local services
- 500 spaces for cycle parking and storage
- Pedestrian and cycle access routes to the station
On receiving a positive determination, building work for the new station could commence later in 2022 meaning that the new station would be open for passenger services as soon as 2026.
Ellie Burrows, Network Rail's route director for Anglia, said: “As this will be the first station to be constructed on the Great Eastern Main line for over 100 years, this application is seeking to put the final pieces of the jigsaw into place so construction of the new station can begin as soon as possible.”
To find out more about the station, please visit: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/beaulieu
The public consultation is being carried out via Chelmsford City Council's website: http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk
Will it ever get built!
As someone who lived in Chelmsford from 1966 to 1981, I have had considerable complaints against the present railway station. Might I correct a few errors in the piece.
a) The 700 cars parking should be 7000.
b) The building, if as shown being of “maple”/oak type of wood would look very pleasant for the first three years. Then all the woodwork would look grey and closely resembling the dour north wall of the Greensted Church.
But will it be built in 2023 or 2024. Perhaps Chelmsford City Council, Essex County Council, Network Rail and Greater Anglia should start on the construction of the new railway station at Beaulieu Park, Chelmsford in Essex.
* Parking for more than 700 cars *
The name of the game!
Electric charging points provided too?
What happens to C’ford town centre station?