Essex County Council has set out a targeted highway package aimed at easing pressure on local roads as the large-scale Chelmsford Garden Community moves into its next phase. The £38 million Beaulieu Access Package will fund works on the A12 Junction 19 (Boreham Interchange) and an enlargement of roundabout 5 on the A131 Beaulieu Parkway.
What the package covers
The programme, to be considered by the county council cabinet, is designed to improve links between several strategic points that will see increased traffic as housing development progresses:
- A12 Junction 19 (Boreham Interchange) — widening of roundabout exits and additional traffic lanes;
- A131 Beaulieu Parkway roundabout 5 — enlargement and reconstruction to handle flows from the Chelmsford Garden Community;
- Improved access to Beaulieu Park railway station and connections for nearby communities including Boreham and Beaulieu.
Timescales and funding
The council says the A12 Junction 19 works are scheduled to complete by March 2029, with the Beaulieu Parkway roundabout improvements expected by March 2030. The funding model combines contributions from national bodies and developers alongside investment by the county council.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Programme name | Beaulieu Access Package |
| Council contribution | Part of £38m package |
| Other funders | Homes England, National Highways and developer contributions |
| Key completions | Junction 19 by Mar 2029; Parkway roundabout by Mar 2030 |
Why the works are being brought forward
Essex County Council has taken a lead on the scheme after national plans to widen the A12 — which would have included an upgrade of Junction 19 — were cancelled. The local authority describes the package as necessary to support the most recent planning permission for the Chelmsford Garden Community, a development phase that totals 10,000 homes and was approved by Chelmsford City Council on 30 June.
The council is already delivering part of the supporting road network: construction of the first section of the Chelmsford North East Bypass is under way and expected to finish at the end of the summer. The authority also notes that earlier negotiations secured around £250 million of funding, largely from Homes England, to assist in delivering housing infrastructure including that bypass.
Officials say the package is a direct response to the cancellation of the Government's A12 widening scheme and aims to ensure local roads can accommodate the Garden Community's traffic.
For Chelmsford residents the works represent both an attempt to mitigate increased congestion and a sign of the long-term changes the area will undergo as substantial new housing comes forward. The project timelines extend across several years, which will mean prolonged construction activity on strategic routes serving the city.
Questions will remain for councillors and transport planners about the detailed design, expected disruption during construction and how capacity increases will be monitored against growth in car travel. The council's decision on the package at the cabinet meeting will set the next formal step in delivering these highway changes.
