Designed in partnership with Chelmsford City Council, Essex County Council and Homes England, the new Garden Community will be delivered over the next 25 years paving the way for 6,250 new homes, over 50% of the land designated as green infrastructure and 60,000 sqm of employment space.
Designed around four new villages, the masterplan creates distinct areas of varying character with each village centre offering hubs of activity and local amenities. The Garden Community will feature three primary schools, an all-through school, local employment hubs, two new health centres, a community centre and a village hall which will be home to the newly created Chelmsford Garden Community Council.
With half of CGC dedicated to nature-rich open spaces, proposals boast four ‘destination parks’, including the new 90-hectare Dukes Wood Nature Park and the 22-hectare Channels Discovery Park, alongside woodlands, meadows, wetlands and water bodies – forming a connected green network where both wildlife and people can thrive. A total of 16,000 trees will also be planted – representing three trees for every home – enhancing nature recovery and supporting 20% biodiversity net gain.
The community is designed to enable it to be net zero carbon and resilient to the effects of climate change. Mobility hubs and a network of active travel routes through the green spaces support the sustainable movement of people and reduce private car usage. Homes and spaces have been designed to respect and celebrate the local landscape, character and heritage, providing healthy lifestyle choices for the community.
