THE first bricks of the largest homes development project in Chelmsford's history are being laid.
Temporary traffic lights have been placed in front of the billion-pound Beaulieu Park extension as contractors build the junction that will link White Hart Lane to the 3,600-home neighbourhood.
The project – which will include a surgery, a 150-bed hotel, two primary schools, a secondary school, 220 acres of parkland, a 620,000sq ft business park, and a railway station – was first mooted by the late Countryside magnate Alan Cherry 26 years ago.
After decades of legal wrangling, work is finally under way on the development, which will create 9,000 jobs mainly in construction and at the business park.
City council leader Roy Whitehead said: "It has been a long wait given that we put together a document seven or eight years ago and had many public consultations, all of which went relatively smoothly. Now at last we are seeing development in Chelmsford.
"I am assured by colleagues that this is the biggest development Chelmsford has ever had.
"The roadworks will have to be completed before the main work begins, otherwise it will cause chaos. It is a very positive sign and one we've been waiting for.
"There will be disruption at White Hart Lane when work officially begins, but that is to be expected."
The junction will be completed by the end of August, so as not to clash with the new school term.
Construction of the homes is then set to begin early next year after all the "enabling" works are complete.
Countryside Properties director Anil Bungar, whose company is working alongside housing association L&Q, has been involved in the Beaulieu Park development for the past 13 years.
He said: "It is very exciting but it is a big project, which is why it has taken time to get to this stage.
"We were keen to ensure that disruption was minimised so we've carried out the work on the junction during the school holidays.
"We conferred with Essex County Council and Chelmsford City Council to make sure it is done as quickly and efficiently as possible."
Permission was granted to extend Beaulieu Park, near Springfield, at a city council planning meeting in November.
More than a quarter of the new homes will be classed as affordable housing.
Mr Bungar added: "I think a site like this does bring a lot of benefits, not just to Chelmsford but regionally as well: it creates an infrastructure for the community.
"It brings other benefits for Chelmsford; economically jobs are created.
"Development is very important. It brings much-needed new homes and affordable housing and other facilities, but also the boost that it gives to the economy.
"A spin-off for the area is all the jobs that are created, which improves the success of local businesses as a result."
Negotiations are currently under way between Countryside, the Highways Agency, Chelmsford City Council and Essex County Council to finalise the details before the main construction begins.
But the long-awaited £45 million Beaulieu Park rail station is unlikely to be running before 2020.
Although Countryside has permission to build the station, the obligation upon the developer does not extend to the necessary upgrades for signalling, passing loops and tracks in order for the additional service to ease congestion and improve services. Funding still needs to be found.