New Beaulieu Train Station in Chelmsford will be built by Government

A long-awaited new train station for Chelmsford will be built by a government body following an agreement with the council – and is eyeing an opening date in two years’ time. Beaulieu Park Station, along with a new bypass to the northeast of Chelmsford, is aiming to massively reduce congestion around the city and ease pressure on the central Chelmsford train station.

An earlier contract was agreed in late 2022 which allowed advanced construction works to start, but now this final agreement will ensure the station is completed in 2025 as planned, the council said. Homes England has also issued an updated plan to build the Chelmsford North-East Bypass in phases.

The enormous Beaulieu Park Station project costs around £158m and will be the first new station added to the Great Eastern mainline for more than a century. Further funding has been put towards a “regeneration programme to transform road and rail infrastructure” supporting new homes between Chelmsford and Braintree.

When complete, the Chelmsford North-East Bypass will provide a new 4.6km route between the Beaulieu Park development and a new roundabout on the A131 at Chatham Green. The southern section of the bypass will be delivered first, using the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

This will connect with Beaulieu Parkway in the south and also link to the A12 at Boreham Interchange when Generals Lane Bridge opens later this year. To the north, the road will join with a new east-west link which is due to be delivered as part of the planned Chelmsford Garden Community and will connect through to the Wheelers Hill roundabout on the A130 Essex Regiment Way.

Artistic impression of the main station building

Work on the bypass is already underway, including the construction of a new bridge on a site north of Beaulieu Parkway. The bridge will allow the existing mineral quarry at Bulls Lodge to continue to operate during construction. Once the quarrying is complete, the bridge will provide a new east-west route for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.

So far, there have been groundworks for the Beaulieu Station building, piling for the new platforms and preparing for the new railway track works, which will be carried out over the Christmas 2023 period.

Essex County Council Leader Kevin Bentley said: “Beaulieu Park Railway Station and the Chelmsford North-East Bypass present an opportunity for the economy of Chelmsford and greater Essex like no other. These projects, once they are both complete, will not only improve connections to London and elsewhere in the east of England, but greatly reduce pressure on Chelmsford Station and ease congestion on the surrounding roads.

How the station will be laid out

“These developments enable the growth of this county for generations to come. They will encourage a more sustainable approach to travelling, as well as ensuring the transport network in Chelmsford and the surrounding areas is fit for the future.”

Kemi Badenoch, MP for Saffron Walden, said: “I welcome the approach Essex County Council has taken to ensure the delivery of Beaulieu station and the Chelmsford North-East Bypass. These are vital infrastructure projects and will make a huge difference to my Chelmsford constituents and the wider area.

“I recently visited the station site to see the progress, as well as the work to complete Generals Lane Bridge. The teams are working really hard to deliver these projects and I will continue to work closely with them as they progress.”

Vicky Ford, MP for Chelmsford, said: “I am delighted that a decision has been made to ensure that Beaulieu Park Station remains on track.

“These projects will reduce congestion in our city, particularly for residents in the North of Chelmsford, improve our transport links to London and surrounding areas and support the delivery of the thousands of new homes that local people need. I will continue to push for these projects to be completed as soon as possible.”

References

1. ^{^} Concerns over former offices in Chelmsford being used to house 300 asylum seekers (www.essexlive.news)