Tindal Square, Chelmsford

The project will create a new civic public square of over 3,000 sqm that provides a destination space for arts, events and celebrations outside Shire Hall in Chelmsford city centre.

The scheme will create a public space where pedestrians will have priority, cyclists will be able to move through the space between identified gateway points giving care to more vulnerable users.

All existing surfacing will be replaced with quality/robust new paving, including a radial design pattern extending from Shire Hall. Existing street clutter will be removed and replaced with other co-ordinated street furniture, wayfinding signage and tree planting. Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant and improved pedestrian access for all to Shire Hall.

Provision of comfortable public seating and co-ordinated and well-managed area for tables and chairs enabling food and beverage businesses to expand their offer on the High Street.

The project removes motorised traffic from this part of the City Centre (except for High Street service vehicles), reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality, whilst introducing a shared pedestrian space with a key cycle connection route through the space.

Award of additional GBF funding

A new GBF prioritised pipeline was established to support projects experiencing cost increases due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit or due to high inflation levels, or seeking to extend the original project to support further phases of an existing project was agreed by the Strategic Board in October 2022.

The project was included on the new GBF projects pipeline and the award of an additional £331,819 GBF was approved by the Accountability Board on 25 November 2022. 

At the Accountability Board meeting on 27 January 2023 the project was awarded a further £118,181 GBF. Further, at the 13 April 2023 Accountability Board meeting it was agreed that GBF can be retained against the project until 30 June 2023.

£85m of investment to East Sussex, Essex, Kent, Medway, Southend and Thurrock

The Getting Building Fund focuses on projects that can progress quickly and that will stimulate and better integrate economies in some of the most economically impacted and COVID-affected parts of the South East.

£85m of Getting Building Fund investment has been secured, enabling delivery of 34 projects across East Sussex, Essex, Kent, Medway, Southend and Thurrock.

Find out more here