ONE of Chelmsford's largest developments could provide more than 600 homes when it is finished, if new plans are given the go ahead.
A revised blueprint for the second phase of the City Park West development on the old Anglia Ruskin site was submitted to Chelmsford City Council last week.
Authority leader Councillor Roy Whitehead said: "Phase two is different from the earlier plans, which included a supermarket, but there are a lot of extra homes being put in.
"We still need to discuss the fact that there is a smaller percentage of affordable housing there than was originally suggested, but it will produce more affordable houses in numbers.
"It's very encouraging to see it going ahead, and the first phase of development has gone very well."
Phase one of the development is well under way, and is expected to be completed in early 2015.
Work on phase two is due to start around March 2015 if the development gets the go-ahead from the council.
It will take around 18 months to complete.
The initial plans for phase two initially included 288 houses, as well as a supermarket, but plans changed after both John Lewis and Waitrose got the green light from the council.
Instead, it will include 386 residential units, as well as more than 57,000 square foot of commercial floor space, which is expected to include cafes, restaurants, and possibly a gym.
If the latest plans are accepted, the development as a whole will include a total of 605 homes.
The development is set to include a range of living options including social and private rent, shared ownership and extra care, and also includes the refurbishment of historic buildings, including the Grade II listed Anne Knight building and the Frederick Chancellor and Law Buildings off Victoria Road South.
Bidwells property consultants, which worked on phase one of the project, has been enlisted by Genesis Housing Association for phase two, to ensure design consistency.
The new proposals will aim to create several distinct areas built around open spaces, while linking the new pedestrian and cycle routes from phase one.
Bidwells project manager Ray Houghton said: "The whole site was submitted for planning a few years ago, and was a hybrid application, so phase one was a full planning application and phase two was an outline.
"We had outline permission for a food retail store in 2012, but since then we have seen Waitrose and John Lewis, so we decided to re-think things and make the development viable.
"We knew that the council desperately needed one and two-bedroom apartments, so that is what we have concentrated on."
Although the completion date of phase 1 has been announced as early 2015, some apartments will be ready before then. Mr Houghton said: "We hope to have the first resident in by New Year's Day."
The submission of the application for phase 2 follows an extensive process of public engagement and meetings with officers of Essex County and Chelmsford City councils.
