Countryside, now part of Vistry Group, and L&Q, the developers of Beaulieu in Chelmsford, yesterday celebrated the progress on site at Beaulieu Zone T, the latest phase of mixed-use homes at Chelmsford’s vibrant Beaulieu development. The JV partners were joined by Eastlight Community Homes, the resident-led housing association for the East of England and the JV’s housing association partner for Beaulieu Zone T.
Work at Beaulieu Zone T started on site in June 2023 and, once complete, will deliver 66 much-needed new homes, comprising 48 private homes and 18 affordable homes. Work on the affordable homes, in partnership with affordable housing provider Eastlight Community Homes, is progressing at pace and will be ready for new residents to move in in Autumn 2024. The remaining private homes are scheduled for completion in Autumn 2025.
Located north of New Hall School, the new mixed-tenure homes at Beaulieu Zone T will offer a mix of 1-5-bedroom homes, from 1 and 2-bed apartments to 2-bed maisonettes and 2-5-bedroom houses. The new homes will form part of the popular Beaulieu Heath character area, providing a range of styles to suit different requirements and preferences. The traditionally styled homes feature a mixture of elevation treatments including brick and boarding.
The wider Beaulieu development is a collaborative partnership between the JV partners Countryside and L&Q, as well as key stakeholders Chelmsford City Council, Highways England and Homes England. The landmark 610-acre development will eventually deliver 3,600 homes, of which 30% are affordable. Successfully meeting local demand for high-quality, affordable homes, 87% of shared ownership buyers at Beaulieu are from the surrounding area, with approximately 70% previously living in Chelmsford and 18% coming from elsewhere in Essex.
This impressive new neighbourhood is a vibrant, integrated community to the northeast of Chelmsford. Since its launch in 2015 approximately 1,400 new homes have been delivered and occupied, together with new community, health, recreational and retail amenities.
These include Essex’s first all-through primary and secondary school, a day nursery and education centre, Beaulieu Community Centre, parks and play areas – all of which are well-used by the residents and the wider local community. The scheme will also incorporate a second primary school – one of the first Net Zero school buildings in Essex - which started construction in September, a hotel and business park.
Most recently, the JV partners announced the opening of the new £14m bridge connecting Chelmsford’s new relief road with the re-aligned Boreham Interchange. This marks the final stage of the developers’ £35 million infrastructure programme to provide a new radial distributor road (relief road) between the A12 and A130.
Funded and delivered by Countryside and L&Q, the new relief road will reduce congestion in and around Springfield, as well as providing access to the planned new Beaulieu railway station which is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2025.
Speaking on behalf of the JV partners Countryside and L&Q, Peter Willis, Managing Director, Countryside said: ‘It’s great to see the mixed tenure homes at Beaulieu Zone T progressing at pace in line with our partnerships business model, delivering a mix of housing tenures to meet a diversity of needs. Beaulieu is a vibrant neighbourhood which offers a mix of high-quality new homes as well as the extensive infrastructure required to create thriving, long term communities. The latest affordable homes underway at Beaulieu Zone T, being delivered in collaboration with our JV partner L&Q, and with Eastlight Community Homes, are a great addition to this impressive Chelmsford neighbourhood.”
Dan Jones, Executive Director of Development & Asset Management, Eastlight Community Homes said: “Great progress is being made at Beaulieu, where Eastlight will soon be managing 18 much-needed affordable homes. We look forward to the day our new residents move into this newly created neighbourhood, and we hope they will be very proud to live here.”
