Chelmsford is one of the UK’s youngest cities. Located in the heart of Essex, close to international airports and surrounded by national road networks, it is home to a population of over 180,000 people and more than 9,000 businesses.

Chelmsford has a strong economy, which is driven by a range of sectors including advanced manufacturing, engineering, IT, retail and professional services. In 2022 the economy of Chelmsford as a whole contributed over £5.6billion in GVA to the national economy.

Chelmsford has ambitious plans for growth and is delivering the infrastructure required to ensure that those plans become a reality. Work on constructing the first new railway station on the Great Eastern Main Line in 100 years has begun, which will provide a second station for Chelmsford. A new North East bypass is also to be created, providing a stronger connection between Chelmsford, London Stansted Airport and the wider area. Various housing projects are currently underway, with a new community of around 10,000 new homes forming the Chelmsford Garden Community; a development which has already been recognised as a design exemplar in the National Design Guide.

The Chelmsford Garden Community plays a key role in shaping the future growth of Chelmsford, and alongside new homes, will provide around 100,000m2 of employment space. This employment space will help to support the growth opportunities found across a range of sectors in Chelmsford including health and life sciences, logistics, low carbon and digital services.