Beaulieu Park station has been named winner of the Infrastructure Planning category at The Planning Awards, with judges praising the project's "long-term social value".

The scheme was led by Chelmsford City Council in partnership with Essex County Council and Network Rail to support future growth and improve connectivity across the city.

The Planning Awards celebrate excellence in planning, including placemaking, economic development and regeneration. Entries were assessed by a panel of industry leaders and public sector representatives, including figures from Homes England, the Planning Inspectorate, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Home Builders Federation.

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Judges commended the station for "bridging the gap between complex infrastructure requirements and the needs of both new and established neighbourhoods" and highlighted the benefits of linking pedestrian, cycle and bus routes to the station, making it not only a transport interchange but a place of social value.

The delivery of Beaulieu Park was also recognised as an example of effective cross-party working, reflecting the ambitions of the exemplar Chelmsford Garden Community in north-east Chelmsford.

The project was submitted by Arcadis, which worked alongside partners including Network Rail, Greater Anglia, Murphy, Jacobs, Chelmsford City Council and Essex County Council to deliver the new station.

The station opened ahead of schedule in October 2025 and has been designed to be fully inclusive, featuring step-free access and tactile wayfinding.

Beaulieu Park is a major new travel hub for Chelmsford and the first station built on the Great Eastern Main Line in over a century.

It was created to support the growing Chelmsford Garden Community, relieve pressure on the existing city-centre station and help cut car journeys into the centre.