Proposals
Great homes for Great Baddow
This site will be proposed to help contribute to Chelmsford City Council’s current and future housing needs. The Council have recently acknowledged that there is a significant and immediate shortfall in market and affordable housing in the area. Accordingly, the City Council are seeking additional sites to come forward.
The Government has set the Council an increased housing target of around 59% against previous targets. Whilst the Council are preparing a new Local Plan to address this new requirement, there is still an immediate housing need to address.
This site is well placed to assist in meeting these increasing needs. Great Baddow is identified in the Chelmsford Urban Area which is identified as a focus area for housing. Martin Grant Homes therefore wishes to submit an outline planning application to assisting in meeting Chelmsford’s housing needs, while providing new green spaces and infrastructure alongside affordable housing for local residents.
Key features
Key features and benefits
The proposals are capable of delivering the following benefits:
- Market Housing: The delivery of approximately 45 new homes capable of meeting local housing needs, at a time when the Council have an acknowledged shortfall in housing supply.
- Affordable housing: 50% provision of affordable homes, to help address the significant under supply of affordable accommodation across the city.
- New public open space: Significant new public open spaces, including amenity spaces, walking routes, landscaping and natural/semi-natural green space.
- Biodiversity: Soft landscaping and planting scheme, subject to an ongoing management and maintenance regime. At least a 10% biodiversity net gain will be delivered through significant ecological enhancements.
- Public Transport: Subject to confirmation from Essex County Council: Highways, during the Council’s future determination of the planning application, a potential financial contribution towards enhancing public transport in the area.
The site
Site location and masterplan
The site is located to the east of Great Baddow, on underutilised scrub land to the west of the A1114. It is located to the south of Baddow Hall Primary School’s playing fields and to the east of the Great Baddow Telephone Exchange. Church Street is to the south of the development site.
Great Baddow forms part of the ‘Chelmsford Urban Area’, which is identified within the adopted Chelmsford Local Plan. The site is in relatively close proximity to a wide range of shops, services and infrastructure capable of meeting the day-to-day needs of residents. The facilities, including local shops, nursery, schools, doctors, sports facilities and bus services are within walking distance of the proposals, which helps demonstrate that the site is in a sustainable location.
The site is currently within the designated Green Belt. However, work undertaken by Martin Grant Homes indicates that the site meets the Government’s definition of ‘Grey Belt’ land as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework. This indicates that the site could be a suitable site for new homes.
Site location
Proposed area for residential development
Proposed public open space
Proposed vehicular access point
Proposed primary street through development
Existing bus stop
Indicative recreational routes through development
Existing Public Rights of Way (PROW)
Proposed location of speed limit
Existing trees to be retained
Existing tree preservation orders (TPO) to be retained
Existing low quality vegetation to be removed
Indicative new trees and hedgerow planting
Potential location of sustainable drainage feature
Great Baddow conservation area
Local infrastructure
A positive contribution to the local area
Should planning permission be granted, the proposals will be subject to the Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy charge. This is a per square metre of floorspace financial charge to be paid by the developer of the site to the Council.
In addition, as part of the Council’s determination of the planning application, the City Council will contact Essex County Council, the NHS and other service providers to ascertain the capacity of local infrastructure and potential need for the proposals to provide proportionate financial contributions towards the ongoing running of this infrastructure. Financial contributions would be agreed and secured via Section 106 Legal Agreement between the Martin Grant Homes and the Council.
Landscape-led designs
Delivering new public open space
These proposals will deliver ecological enhancements and achieve at least 10% biodiversity net gain whilst dedicating over 50% of the site area to public open space. This public open space will be of ecological and landscape value, whilst also providing areas for residents (including children) to play and exercise.
The proposals will retain existing trees and vegetation of significant value. There is a significant opportunity to enhance the existing landscape framework through new native tree and hedgerow planting, particularly along Church Street and the site’s boundaries. The soft landscaping and planting proposals will be subject to ongoing management and maintenance.
The eastern part of the site, which has a parkland character and views from the Grade II Listed Pitt Place, has been kept free from residential development.
Site Access
Promoting active travel across the development
Access to the site will be provided via a new priority junction from Church Street, with the existing footway along the northern edge of the road to connect directly into the development to support safe pedestrian movement. The access design has been subject to positive discussions with Essex County Council Highways.
The scheme incorporates an internal street network alongside indicative pedestrian and recreational routes that sustainably links the new homes with areas of the proposed public open space, Church Street and surrounding local amenities, reducing the need for private vehicles and promoting active travel.
Transport
Promoting active travel across the development
The proposals are currently forecast to generate less than 30 car trips during the morning and evening peak periods. The site’s location is within walking distance of both Baddow Hall School to the north and the High Street, promoting sustainable travel opportunities while reducing car journeys.
Essex County Council has also advised for improvements to local bus stop infrastructure to encourage sustainable travel, which would be secured through a financial contribution.
Timeline
Overview of the proposals process
Timeline is subject to change due to planning and consultation.
3rd November 2025
Community consultation begins.
14th November 2025
Community consultation period ends.
Winter 2025
Application submitted.
Summer 2026
Anticipated determination by Chelmsford City Council.
Spring 2027
Reserved Matters submission providing the full details of design, layout and landscaping.
Winter 2027
Potential construction start on-site.
Spring 2029
Development completed.