Tindal Square, Chelmsford

Background

Tindal Square, 1793

Chelmsford City Council and Essex County Council are working together to deliver a new public square, at the top of the High Street outside Shire Hall.

Tindal Square and Shire Hall are at the historic and civic heart of the city but are currently separated from the High Street by a road.  As part of the plans, road traffic and street clutter will be removed, and a new paved public square will be created to extend pedestrian space from the High Street up to Shire Hall.

In 2017 we proposed closing Tindal Square to motorised traffic as part of the Chelmsford City Growth Package.

The plans - public realm

The main public realm elements of the scheme are:

• Creation of a high-quality public square that provides a destination space for arts, events and celebrations outside Shire Hall
• Replacement of all existing surfacing with new paving, including a radial design pattern extending from Shire Hall
• Existing street clutter to be removed and replaced with other co-ordinated street furniture, wayfinding signage and tree planting
• Improved pedestrian access for all to Shire Hall
• Two-way cycle lane between New Street and Market Road, with contrasting paving, to distinguish it from the pedestrian area
• Public seating within the new square outside Shire Hall
• Co-ordinated and well-managed seating area along the High Street (location to be determined as the design develops)
  

The plans - movement (including access to businesses)

As part of the scheme, we are planning to change access arrangements to businesses along the High Street to improve safety and protect the bridge structures and paving.

The main changes to movement are:

• Remove motorised vehicle movements from New Street through to Market Road to create a prioritised pedestrian space outside Shire Hall
• Maintain a two-way cycle route between New Street and Market Road, with contrasting paving to distinguish it from the pedestrian area
• Review the existing one-way delivery traffic regulation orders, reversing the current direction along the High Street from Baddow Road (entrance - south) to New Street (exit - north), controlled by rising bollards seven days a week
• Introduce a 7.5 tonne weight limit to improve safety, protect paving and existing bridge infrastructure

Business event

We held an event for busineeses on Wednesday, 12 June 2019, between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.

We encourage businesses to provide their feedback via the short consultation survey.