Last week we were delighted to welcome the Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, to our vibrant Beaulieu district in Chelmsford, alongside our JV partner, L&Q. 

It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the progress being made here at Beaulieu, a growing and vibrant community that will ultimately deliver up to 3,600 high-quality new homes, with 30% provided as affordable housing.

During the visit, the Secretary of State toured a number of aspects of the development, including some of the 1,989 homes already completed and some of the community facilities that are helping Beaulieu thrive. These included Beaulieu Square Neighbourhood Centre, the new NHS Healthcare Centre and the all-through Beaulieu Park School. The Secretary of State also visited the recently launched Beaulieu Park Station, which marks the first new station on the Great Eastern Mainline in over a century.

Delivering the infrastructure required to create thriving long-term communities is central to our placemaking approach. We are proud to have contributed £22 million towards the new station, alongside delivering the Beaulieu Park relief road and bridge, improving access from the A12 and A130. Combined with the extensive network of well-lit footpaths and cycleways across Beaulieu and the surrounding area, these investments will make a real difference to residents, improving connectivity and supporting more sustainable travel choices.

A huge thank you to Liz Ball at Vistry Strategic Land & Major Projects for organising the visit, and to Andrew Taylor, Vistry Group, for hosting this high-profile tour. It was a pleasure to showcase what has been delivered at Beaulieu so far, and what is still to come, at this landmark development.