STAGE TWO MASTERPLAN FRAMEWORK SUBMISSION MARCH 2020 SUBMISSION REPORT This document sets out initial proposals for land to the north of South Woodham Ferrers, which is proposed for allocation for a new neighbourhood in the new Chelmsford Local Plan. This document has been prepared by the site owners/promoters, in consultation with Chelmsford City Council, as the basis for consultation with stakeholders and the local community. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PG. 04 CONTEXT ANALYSIS PG. 08 SITE ANALYSIS PG. 24 CREATING THE GREEN GRID PG. 42 CREATING THE FRAMEWORK MASTERPLAN PG. 54 SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION This section introduces the site, outlines the emerging Chelmsford Local Plan policy for the site and describes the structure of this document. 4 5 INTRODUCTION | STAGE TWO MASTERPLAN Land to the north of South Woodham Ferrers The emerging Local Plan policy for the site (including • Provide high quality circular routes or connections is allocated for development in the emerging Main Modifications) requires it to achieve: to the wider Public Rights of Way network Chelmsford Local Plan, within which it is referred located away from the Crouch Estuary • Around 1,000 new homes of mixed size and to as Strategic Growth Site (SGS) 7 (known from type to include affordable housing • Provide a dedicated car club for residents and businesses here on as ‘the site’). The Local Plan is expected on site and available to the rest of South Woodham Ferrers to be adopted shortly, and the site will be referred • Travelling Showpeople site for 5 serviced plots to as Strategic Growth Site (SGS) 10. • An appropriate landscaped setting for development • 1,000 sqm of business floorspace consisting of suitably dense planting belts and natural The Local Plan policy requires a Masterplan to be • 1,900 sqm of convenience retail floorspace buffers to development edges and Local Wildlife Sites prepared to guide the future development of the site. Chelmsford City Council has adopted a procedure for • Potential co-location of a new primary school with an • Provide areas for natural SUDS and flood risk management early years and childcare nursery (min 2.1 hectares) preparing masterplans. • Capacity improvements to the A132 between and one stand-alone early years and childcare nursery Rettendon Turnpike and South Woodham Ferrers, This document forms the ‘Stage 2’ masterplan, giving (circa 0.13ha); or two new stand-alone early years including necessary junction improvements the public an opportunity to view and comment on the and childcare nurseries (circa 0.13 ha each) proposals. This masterplan has been updated following • Multi-user crossings of the B1012 in South Woodham • Neighbourhood Centre incorporating provision extensive engagement (‘Stage 0’) and technical Ferrers which may include a bridge or underpass stakeholder workshops (‘Stage 1’). Following public for convenience food retail (1,900sqm), flexible neighbourhood scale business (1,000sqm) The site consultation (‘Stage 2’) the masterplan will be formally and community and healthcare provision considered by Chelmsford City Council (‘Stage 3’). The site (outlined in red on the opposite page) • Integration of flexible workspace facilities covers an area of 121.28 ha and is located to the north This document has been prepared jointly by Broadway of the town of South Woodham Ferrers. It stretches Malyan and David Lock Associates on behalf of • Development that maximises opportunities from Willow Grove in the west to land around Bushy Countryside Properties (CP), Catesby Estates (CE) and for sustainable travel Hill in the east. The southern edge is largely formed by Essex County Council (ECC). • Main vehicular access to the western and central parcels Burnham Road. The B1418 runs up through the site and will be from the B1418 with potential for additional access Structure of this document northwards towards the settlement of Woodham Ferrers. from Burnham Road subject to traffic management This document is structured as follows: measures being agreed by the Local Highway Authority The site largely composes agricultural fields and the majority of the western half of the site is relatively flat • Provide new public transport routes / services • Section 2: Context analysis with the land form rising to the north, beyond the site • Section 3: Site analysis • Provide an effective movement strategy within the site boundary. The eastern part of the site lies on gently sloping land, again, rising towards the north. • Section 4: Creating the green grid • Provide new and enhanced cycle routes, footpaths, Public Rights of Way and bridleways where appropriate A detailed description of the site and its features • Section 5: Creating the framework masterplan • Provide addional and / or improved pedestrian and cycle is contained later in this report. connections to the Town Centre and railway station 6 Site Boundary Plan Edwin’s Hall Road B1418 Willow Grove B1012 / Burnham Road Woodham Road Train Hullbridge station Road A132 7 SECTION 2 CONTEXT ANALYSIS This section outlines the strategic and local context of the site, including its relationship with the existing town and its wider landscape setting, including assessment of wider transport links, landscape designations, character and facilities within the town. 8 9 CONTEXT ANALYSIS | STRATEGIC CONTEXT Strategic Site Location Plan Chelmsford The site is situated to the north of the Maldon town of South Woodham Ferrers which was developed from the mid 1970’s onwards A414 as a riverside country town by Essex County South Woodham Council. Today it is the second largest A12 Ferrers town in the Borough with a population of A130 over 16,000 people. It lies within the City M11 Brentwood Billericay of Chelmsford administrative area and Wickford is located approximately 17 km to the south-east of the city itself. Romford Ilford In terms of road connections, the A132 Battlesbridge connects the town to the A130 and in turn Shenfield A12 Stratford to the A127 and the A12 - both of which are Basildon A127 key radial routes into London and connect to the M25 motorway. Southend-on-Sea South Woodham Ferrers railway station is on the line that connects to Wickford and via M25 Stratford to London Liverpool Street. London A13 (Stratford) is a 40 minute journey. From R.Thames Wickford there is also a 15 minute journey Grays to Southend Airport. The setting of South Woodham Ferrers is rural in character and includes a number of smaller villages such as Stow Maries, Woodham Ferrers, Rettendon KEY and Battlesbridge. The River Crouch, immediately to the south of the town, is a Site Airport key element of its setting. South Woodham Urban Area A Road (Primary) Ferrers town centre is within the eastern Train Station A Road (Secondary) or B Road part of the town. This contains around 100 business units and is anchored by Railway an Asda Supermarket. 10 KEY Site Local Context Plan Urban Area Woodham Ferrers Stow Town Centre Maries Train Station Cold Norton Railway A Road B1418 B Road Rettendon Road B1012 South A130 Woodham Ferrers R.Crouch A132 Fenn Creek Runwell Annotation Battlesbridge Hullbridge Wickford A1245 Hockley 11 CONTEXT ANALYSIS | EXISTING PEDESTRIAN Pedestrian and Cycle Routes AND CYCLE NETWORK Public footpath 24 A comprehensive network of walking and cycle routes exist throughout the town, Bridleway no. 25 providing convenient links to key destinations B1418 and open spaces within South Woodham Ferrers (a more detailed analysis of these connections will be provided later in this Bridleway document). no. 46 These routes link into the wider network B1012 of Public Rights of Way and Bridleways surrounding the town. Routes of a more recreational nature run through Marsh Farm Country Park to the south of the town, Fenn Creek to the west and to the north through Saltcoats Park. KEY Saltcoats Park Links to the north of the town through the site A132 also exist. Bridleway no. 46 runs from the Site Clementsgreen north of the town through the site, connecting Urban Area Creek into Bridleway 25. This provides a key link Key Open Space to the east of this site into the surrounding countryside and villages. Public footpath 24 Town Centre runs across the site providing a pedestrian Station Hub connection from the edge of the existing town Train Station to Woodham Ferrers and Edwin’s Hall. Railway Marsh Farm Existing footpath and bridleways to the Country Park PROW west of the site provide access into the Fenn Creek countryside towards Hyde Hall and the village Bridleway R.Crouch of Rettendon. There are currently no public On road cycle / rights of access across the western part of pedestrian link the site itself. Cycle link Key unmarked pedestrian link 12 | PUBLIC TRANSPORT Bus and Rail Connections Woodham South Woodham Ferrers is well catered Ferrers Stow for in terms of its sustainable transport KEY Maries Site links with the surrounding area. Train Station Bus Services: Railway B1418 B1012 / Bus links provide a regular public 94/94A/94B - Burnham Road transport service to key local destinations. Wickford / Basildon Bus service 36 to Chelmsford / Maldon 36 - Chelmsford / runs every 20-30 minutes while services Maldon (transfer) to Wickford and Basildon (94/94A/94B) Trains to Bus Stop run approximately every hour. Southminster Services within the town typically run from Ferrers Rd the train station and along key spine roads and arterial routes such as Hullbridge Hullbridge Road Road, Ferrers Road and the B1012. The site is highly accessible in terms of public transport. Its is well located in relation to strategic bus links with both services running to the south of the site along the B1012. A130 Rail Services: There are regular train connections through to London (Liverpool Street) via Hullbridge Wickford. These services run every 40-45 Annotation Battlesbridge minutes with an approximate journey time A132 of 50 minutes. Direct services also run to Burnham-on-Crouch and Southminster, these run every 40-45 minutes with a journey duration of 20 minutes.