Kemi Badenoch, MP for North West Essex, visited the site of the new Beaulieu Park train station in Chelmsford to meet with representatives from Essex County Council, Murphy Group, and Essex cabinet member Cllr Louise McKinlay to discuss progress on the landmark project.
Beaulieu Park Station, the first station to be built on the Great Eastern Main Line in over a century, is on track for completion by the end of 2025. The station will feature three platforms, parking for approximately 700 cars, 500 bicycle spaces, and a pickup/drop-off area, enabling commuters to reach Liverpool Street in just 40 minutes.
The station is part of a transformative infrastructure initiative supported by £218 million in Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) funding secured by Essex County Council (ECC) from Homes England in 2019. This funding not only supports the station but also the development of Section 1A of the Chelmsford North-East Bypass, which together are enabling the delivery of up to 14,000 new homes in the area.
Plans for a station in the Beaulieu Park area date back to 1947, making its construction a historic milestone for the region. Once complete, the new station will alleviate pressure on Chelmsford Station, reduce congestion, and support sustainable growth in the area.
During her visit to the Beaulieu Park station, Kemi Badenoch toured the site and discussed the project’s progress, discussing the positive impact the station will have on local connectivity and the surrounding community.
Commenting on the visit, Mrs. Badenoch said:
“It is great to see the progress being made on the station site and discuss the benefits it will bring to North West Essex and the wider region.
“This is a project I have continued to champion throughout my time as the local MP and I look forward to seeing its completion.”
Commenting, councillor Louise McKinlay said,
“We were pleased to show Kemi the latest progress on the station construction up close, on which much progress has been made by Network Rail and their contractors over the past twelve months.
“Essex County Council, together with its partners including Chelmsford City Council, is looking forward to the many benefits that the new station will bring when it opens, together with other infrastructure that is being delivered in the area such as the Chelmsford North East Bypass, which together will support thousands of new homes.
“2025 promises to be a big year for the station project and we are grateful to the continued support from Kemi, our partners and those living and working locally whilst the works are underway.”
