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- Chelmsford City Racecourse Secures £100m Residential Village Development Approval
Chelmsford City Racecourse Secures £100m Residential Village Development Approval
Chelmsford City Racecourse has secured outline planning permission for a £100 million residential village development that will allow significant investment in the venue’s future. The approved scheme for 190 new homes represents the first phase of planned improvements to transform Chelmsford City into a year-round entertainment destination.
The development will provide footpaths and cycle routes connecting local communities to Essex’s largest purpose entertainment venue. As it celebrates its tenth anniversary, Chelmsford City Racecourse has evolved from its racing roots to provide 54,000ft² of event and conference space. This summer, the venue launches Chelmsford City Live, bringing major artists including Justin Timberlake, Duran Duran and Olly Murs to its new three-day music festival, welcoming up to 25,000 people daily.
The approval places Chelmsford City Racecourse at the heart of a major local masterplan encompassing 1,200 new homes, a wellness hotel and spa, on-site training yards, and a landmark 250,000ft² entertainment venue designed by HOK.
“This is a significant milestone for Chelmsford City Racecourse,” said Nathan Holmes, Commercial Director. “Racing will always be the heart of the racecourse estate, but with racing taking place on just 40 days per year, we must maximise our venue’s potential across all 365 days. By unlocking the value of our estate through development, we can invest in facilities that serve both racing and entertainment events.”
The development’s proceeds will support investment in future racing facilities, including on-site training yards to provide accessible facilities outside Newmarket. This would address a critical industry need while helping to build a stronger local horse population and improve long term health of the sport.
“This development enables us to continue investing in our quality racing programme and enhance the customer experience to attract new audiences to the sport,” added Holmes. “We’ve already received considerable interest from trainers for our planned on-site yards, which would create a valuable training hub outside Newmarket while supporting our vision of a premier racing and entertainment destination.”
The racecourse has restructured through a strategic partnership with Moulsham Hall Estates, which has acquired portions of the estate to lead its development. This separation of property and operations allows the racecourse to focus entirely on delivering quality racing and events, while Moulsham Hall Estates manages the planning process and development of new infrastructure. The partnership ensures dedicated expertise and resources for both the venue’s daily operations and its long-term development.
“Chelmsford City Racecourse represents one of the South East’s most valuable leisure assets,” said a spokesperson for Moulsham Hall Estates. “Our planned £200 million investment over the next 15 years will transform this estate through new hotel and entertainment facilities, alongside residential development. We’re uniquely positioned to unlock the full potential of this significant land asset, delivering the infrastructure needed to support both the venue’s growing entertainment programme and its racing heritage.”
The residential development approval unlocks significant investment potential for Chelmsford City Racecourse. The improved infrastructure, alongside plans for on-site training facilities, will strengthen British racing’s presence in the South East while supporting the venue’s wider development as a major events destination.
