Chelmsford's Beaulieu Park railway station contract agreed

The new railway station would be built on the northern edge of the city, between the existing city centre station and Hatfield Peverel's station

Building a city's second railway station is due to begin in the new year after a council signed a contract with Network Rail.

Beaulieu Park station in Chelmsford will be the first new station on the Great Eastern mainline, between London and Norwich, for more than 100 years.

Essex County Council said it would be funded by £218m from government, and the remaining £34m from an enterprise partnership and the developer.

It is expected to open in late 2025.

The council said its contract with Network Rail was signed this week, meaning the rail firm was expected to "announce a delivery contractor by end of January 2023".

The funding comes from the government's Housing and Infrastructure Fund, the South East Local Enterprise Partnership and developer Countryside Zest.

The decision is subject to a call-in period, which ends on Monday, the council said.

There will be parking for 700 cars as well as cycle spaces and a bus interchange

The new station would have three platforms, lifts, toilet and ticket facilities, parking for more than 700 cars, spaces for 500 bicycles and a bus interchange.

Network Rail said the new station would "help to relieve pressure for the busy, Chelmsford station and help reduce car journeys into the city tackling congestion on local roads and reducing pollution."

Chelmsford's Conservative MP Vicky Ford said: "I am over the moon that the contract has now been signed and that building work is going to start imminently.

"Chelmsford residents have been promised this station for the last 40 years.

"It has been my top priority since becoming Chelmsford's MP and now it is being delivered."