Chelmer Waterside Update

October 2022

Welcome

Welcome to the latest edition of the Chelmer Waterside e-bulletin. The bulletin provides you with up-to-date news about the Chelmer Waterside project. During the last few months, we have been gearing up to begin the relocation of the Gas Pressure Reduction System from the former Gas Works site. We have also been carrying out the first phase of land remediation on the land and making progress with the detailed design of the new bridge.

Access Road and Bridge

Following the granting of planning permission for the new bridge, we are continuing to work with our contractor (John Graham Construction Ltd) to prepare the detailed technical design of the bridge ready for it to be built. This design work stage will be completed in June 2023.

Land Remediation 

As much of the land in Chelmer Waterside was a former Gas Works site there are some materials below the surface that need to be removed before it can be developed for new housing. Over the past 6 months we have begun the first phase of some land remediation. This has removed about 200 litres of what are known as non-aqueous phase liquids (tars, creosotes and oils).

Relocation of Gas Pressure Reduction System

Planning permission was granted in May for the relocation of the Gas Pressure Reduction System (application number 22/00239/FUL). This is required to enable the delivery of new homes on the former Gas Works site. The works will be carried out on behalf of Cadent by Morrisons Energy Services. We expect these works will begin in the middle of November and will take up to 18 months to complete. Regular updates will be provided on our website. Inevitably there will be some disruption and we will do all we can to keep this a minimum.  

You may have seen some works to the gas main that crosses the automatic weir structure by the Essex Record Office. This is a separate project to repair a leaking main that crosses the river at this point.

If you have any questions relating to the project, please submit these using the online form. 

Why are we doing all of this?

There is a housing crisis in Chelmsford, like many other parts of the country. More housing is needed, including affordable housing and the most sustainable location to do this is on brownfield land. Chelmer Waterside is one such location, but new housing can’t be built until the infrastructure is in place. Our vison for Chelmer Waterside is set out in our adopted Chelmer Waterside Development Framework.

The Framework and further information about the project is available here.