The Sunday Times has just named Chelmsford, Essex, as the best place to live in the East of England in 2025 – and has flagged up Beaulieu by Countryside Homes and L&Q as one of the increasingly vibrant city’s attractions. Home to 3,600 energy efficient properties, Beaulieu is opening up Chelmsford to property buyers seeking affordable homes like never before.
Chelmsford’s new best city status recognises the vast influx of funding, businesses and residents that the city has witnessed in recent years. The bustling city centre is now packed with cafes and appealing eateries, with Gail’s bakery being both the latest and one of the best (be sure to try the honey cake). Fête is also hugely popular with the locals, while Queenies has a loyal brunchtime following. Beaulieu has added to the café culture with a collection of independent retailers at its community hub, Beaulieu Square. Local resident Laura comments: “There are so many great shops and a community centre nearby in Beaulieu Square, including lots of local businesses and small cafes, which is perfect for me as I love that community feel!”
Beaulieu has also added an impressive 176 acres of public open green space (including multiple playparks), adding to Chelmsford’s already impressive access to nature. The 574-acre Hylands Park provides plenty of space for thorough immersion in greenery, while RHS Garden Hyde Hall and the Chelmer Valley Local Nature Reserve further amp up the city’s nature-based credentials. Beaulieu resident Hayleigh, observes: “The location is also absolutely perfect. Beaulieu is a fantastic area for dog owners, with plenty of open spaces, well-maintained walking paths with lighting, and convenient dog bins. As a single woman, I really appreciate how safe and welcoming it feels here. I love the parks. It’s wonderful to have somewhere to walk my Border Terrier Ted and spend time outside.”
Chelmsford’s active social and cultural scene was another crucial point flagged up by The Sunday Times, which highlighted locals’ enjoyment of the Chelmsford Craft Beer Festival, Chelmsford Market on Fridays and Saturdays, street art festivals, music venues such as Hot Box Live and Radio City Social, and West End hits at the city’s recently refurbished theatre. Hayleigh continues: “Chelmsford has everything you could need, and I love meeting up with friends there. It’s a fantastic spot for socialising, and it’s so close to where I live. I love it here and plan to stay. The community is great.”
For Beaulieu residents, the addition of Beaulieu Park railway station later in 2025, further enhances Chelmsford’s convenience. The city is already well connected, with trains into London taking half an hour. Beaulieu Park – the first station to be added to the Great Eastern Main Line in a century (at a cost of £195 million) – will connect the northeast of the city to the capital in 40 minutes. Hayleigh is already looking forward to the added connectivity, commenting: “My current commute to London takes less than an hour from Chelmsford Train Station, which is accessible by the bus service that operates through the Beaulieu development. This will be even better when Beaulieu Park Station opens, as it will considerably streamline and reduce my journey.”
The Sunday Times is not the first to recognise Beaulieu’s outstanding neighbourhood vibes. The development was named Best Large Development in the Evening Standard New Homes Awards 2024 and Great Neighbourhood 2024 in the Academy of Urbanism Awards. Part of Beaulieu’s success can be attributed to the scope of the vision behind the development. It has been created to provide homes for everyone, with properties ranging from one-bedroom apartments to six-bedroom houses. Homes are available to rent, for private sale and through shared ownership, with 30% of the 3,600 properties classed as affordable homes. Stylish neighbourhoods feature their own distinctive designs and characteristics, creating an exciting sense of place in each area of the community. The impressive property selection is backed by a wealth of new facilities, community services and social spaces, including a health centre, a dental practice, a veterinary surgery and numerous food shops, including a Sainsbury’s Local. There’s also the 11-acre Community Gardens – a lovely community allotment and fruit orchard with meandering pathways, where the Land Trust regularly hosts events. Further additions are planned, including football and cricket pitches.
Beaulieu is home to Essex’s first all-through primary and secondary school, a day nursery and an education centre, with a second new primary school on track to open this September. The city’s wider school offering is equally attractive, with several of its primaries appearing in the Sunday Times Parent Power guide. Chelmsford is also home to two of Essex’s 11 grammar schools – King Edward VI Grammar School and Chelmsford County High School for Girls – providing excellent choice for parents of secondary age children. Anyone tempted to move to the East of England’s best place to live still has time to join those in the know at Beaulieu. Homes with one to four bedrooms are currently available in the Beaulieu Gate neighbourhood, where features such as subtle red brick detailing and feature bay windows speak to the signature Tudor architecture of the surrounding area. Properties are also available at Beaulieu Heath, with apartments and houses offering one to five bedrooms to suit a wide range of buyers’ need.
Homes at Beaulieu Gate are priced from £249,995, while properties at Beaulieu Heath start from £324,995. For more information, visit our Beaulieu page
