Chelmer Valley Park and Ride expansion

Overview

Park and Ride remains a crucial part of our vision and strategy for Chelmsford, as outlined in the Chelmsford Future Transport Network Strategy.

It provides a quick and easy way to travel into the city centre and reduces the number of cars on the city’s road network, helping reduce congestion and carbon emissions.

Although passenger numbers have dropped following the COVID-19 pandemic, use of our Park and Ride sites is increasing again and we expect passenger numbers to recover over time.

There is also significant growth planned, including in the north Chelmsford area and the Braintree district. Therefore, demand for Park and Ride services is forecasted to increase in the future and we need to ensure there is enough capacity to meet this future demand.

The proposed expansion of Chelmer Valley Park and Ride is not about providing for current demand, but providing for the future.

Through the Army and Navy Sustainable Transport Package, we have an opportunity to increase Park and Ride capacity in Chelmsford, as well as redesign the Army and Navy junction and make much-needed walking and cycling improvements, providing better options for people to travel and encouraging safer, greener, and healthier ways of getting around the city.

As part of the package, we are proposing to expand the existing Chelmer Valley Park and Ride site and this public consultation is an opportunity for you to have your say specifically on those plans. To take part, please complete our online consultation survey.

Our proposals

When we consulted on the Army and Navy Sustainable Transport Package in 2021, we were proposing a new Park and Ride site to the west of Chelmsford, in Widford. However, in March 2022, we announced we would not be taking those plans forward as part of the package because of the significant construction costs and greater financial risks with operating a new Park and Ride site.

We are now proposing to include the expansion of the existing Chelmer Valley Park and Ride, as well as continuing with the proposed expansion of the existing Sandon Park and Ride site.

This would increase overall Park and Ride capacity in Chelmsford to meet the predicted increase in future demand because of planned growth and help reduce traffic heading into the city.

Expansion of the Chelmer Valley Park and Ride site, which is located off the A130 Essex Regiment Way, would be made to the east and slightly to the north of the existing site.

The expanded site would have approximately 1,500 total parking spaces, including designated electric vehicle, disabled and parent and child spaces.

The clockwise one-way system in the car park would be maintained and expanded, and there would be various pedestrian and cyclist improvements throughout the site.

Based on the modelling carried out for the Army and Navy Sustainable Transport Package, the expanded Chelmer Valley Park and Ride site would be expected to run at about 90% occupancy in 2041.

Find out more and have your say

More information about the proposed expansion of Chelmer Valley Park and Ride is available in our public consultation brochure.

Printed copies of the brochure are available from the following locations:

• Chelmer Valley Park and Ride site, Pratts Farm Lane, Little Waltham, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 3PR
• Main reception at County Hall, Market Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1QH
• Chelmsford Library, Market Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1QH
• Braintree Library, Fairfield Road, Braintree, Essex, CM7 3YL

We will also be holding two drop-in consultation events at High Chelmer Shopping Centre in Chelmsford (outside Next) on the following dates:

• Thursday 9 February 2023 (10am - 4pm)
• Saturday 25 February 2023 (10am - 3pm)

Members of our project team will be available to talk through the proposals and help answer any questions you may have.

The quickest and easiest way to tell us what you think of our proposals to expand Chelmer Valley Park and Ride is by completing our short online consultation survey using the link below.

Alternatively, you can complete the survey at the back of our consultation brochure and return it by email to armyandnavy@essexhighways.org or by freepost to the following address (please note the address is case sensitive): FREEPOST ESSEX HIGHWAYS ENGAGEMENT TEAM