The face of Chelmsford is set to be dramatically and rapidly transformed with major developments valued up to £500 million, ready to start or being planned.
Projects for the county town could include the demolition of the Market Road multi-storey car park as part of a £150 million modernisation for the High Chelmer shopping centre site.
Owners La Salle Investment Management want to bring in major new stores and provide a new home for the market.
Chelmsford's former gas holders could also be demolished as part of a new £100 million package for homes, entertainment facilities and commerce from owners SecondSite National Grid Transco.
The £120 million development on the Anglia Polytechnic University site in Victoria Road South is scheduled to start soon, with a range of cultural, commercial and housing designed by architect Richard Rogers. It has been delayed by minor highway and planning details.
Within the next 12 weeks work will begin on a £80 million plan for the Duke Street bus station site to replace it with tower block apartments and new shops.
Chelmsford Borough Council leader, Cllr Roy Whitehead is also pressing the Marconi Corporation for permission to use the original New Street Marconi building to house the £8 million Marconi archive collection.
Cllr Whitehead also revealed: "We have ordered a review of all the borough's own property holdings. We have already made some moves to redevelop our disused depot sites and more of that can be expected.''
Published Thursday September 2, 2004
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