Consultations

We hold consultations on important issues in the Chelmsford area, so that local people can shape where they live and the services they receive.

Our Consultation and Engagement Strategy outlines our long-term approach to:

  • involving residents in a consistent and coordinated way
  • using corporate standards
  • adopting innovative approaches
  • following best practice

Our strategy ensures that our consultations are inclusive, accessible and a worthwhile experience for everyone involved.

New conservation area

We are currently considering the creation of a new conservation area for North Hill in Little Baddow. You can share your views on this proposal before the closing date of 10 June 2025.

Chelmer Waterside

We consulted on the Chelmer Waterside planning framework in early 2021. You can keep up to date with the Chelmer Waterside project.

Dovedale Sports Centre

We consulted with users and non-users of Dovedale Sports Centre in early 2022, regarding improvement works. You can download the results of the Dovedale consultation and read the Dovedale press release.

We are now planning Dovedale refurbishment works for June 2025, which are set to finish in early 2026.

Homelessness

Many of us are fortunate not to have a direct experience of homelessness, but sadly, there are growing numbers of families in the district who do. The more of us who are aware of the challenges faced by some in our community, the better chance we have of preventing homelessness.

We ran consultation on our new Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Strategy, which closed on 21 November 2024. We will now analyse the results and revise the strategy accordingly.

Local Plan Review

We need to review our Local Plan every five years. Consultation on the Chelmsford Local Plan: Pre-Submission (Regulation 19) Document has now closed. Find out more about the Local Plan Review.

PSPO for city centre car parks

We consulted on the extension of the City Centre Car Parks PSPO.

We proposed to reinstate the PSPO for a further three years from August 2024, so we can continue to control the prohibited activities outlined in the PSPO. These help to ensure the quality of life of those who live, visit, and work in the city centre.

The consultation closed in August 2024, but you can view the proposed order.

PSPO for fly posting and roadside adverts

We consulted on the extension of the Fly Posting and Roadside Advertisements PSPO.

We proposed to reinstate the PSPO for a further three years from 1 August 2024, so we can continue to control the prohibited activities outlined in the PSPO. These help to ensure the quality of life of those who live, visit, and work in the city centre.

The consultation closed in July 2024, but you can still view the proposed order.

Taxi Rank Permit Scheme

The Regulatory Committee agreed that a consultation should be carried out into a proposed Taxi Rank Permit Scheme at the new Beaulieu Park Railway Station.

We completed a consultation on the proposal. The proposal included:

  • an initial batch of permits available to Chelmsford licensed hackney carriage drivers to be 15 to 35, out of a possible annual 50 permits
  • permits could be within the range of £500 to £1,500 for a year
  • we would review applications with possible priority given to those vehicles with disabled access, and also to electric vehicles
  • we will issue physical permits to taxis permitted to use the rank

Full details of the proposal are in the report given to the Regulatory Committee.

The consultation closed on Friday 7 March 2025. The responses are being reviewed and information collated to present to members of the Regulatory Committee for consideration.

Greater Essex devolution

This is a government-run consultation, seeking views on a proposal to form a Mayoral Combined County Authority for the local government areas of Essex County Council, Thurrock Council and Southend-on-Sea City Council (referred to as Greater Essex in this consultation).

The consultation closed on 13 April 2025.The Secretary of State will now consider all responses and decide whether to establish a Mayoral Combined County Authority.

If the Secretary of State decides to proceed, the government will confirm funding (subject to Spending Review) and provided the constituent councils consent, the necessary secondary legislation will be laid in Parliament. If approved by Parliament, the Combined County Authority would be established in time for the first mayoral election to take place in May 2026.

 

New electricity power lines (East Anglia GREEN project)

In April 2022, National Grid launched a consultation on a project to build a 180km, 400kV electricity power line in East Anglia from Norwich to Tilbury. There will also be a new substation in Tendring. 

Part of the proposed new transmission line is planned to go through the rural north and west of Chelmsford.

You can view more information on the East Anglia GREEN project page or on our new power lines page.

Bradwell B Nuclear Power Station

China Generation Nuclear Power (CGN) and EDF Energy are developing proposals to build a new nuclear power station (Bradwell B) at Bradwell-on-Sea. Some parts of the development are off-site, which will support construction, are within the Chelmsford Council area.

You can read more about the power station development. 

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