Essex County Council
Essex Highways

Tindal Square and Market Road

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Tindal Square

With the construction works to install new paving and access for Shire Hall now complete, Tindal Square is open for the public to use, for events or simply for people to enjoy. Some minor works to install highway signage and connect utilities in the area will take place during the autumn.

 Tindal Square, 1793

Background

Chelmsford City Council and Essex County Council are working together to deliver a new public square at Tindal Square.

Tindal Square and Shire Hall, opposite, are at the historic and civic heart of the city, forming an integral meeting point of five streets at the top of the High Street.

Currently separated from the High Street by a road, this scheme, developed as part of the Chelmsford city growth package, will improve Tindal Square by removing through-traffic and creating a prioritised pedestrian space, whilst also maintaining an uninterrupted east-west cycle link.

Transforming Tindal Square in this way offers an excellent opportunity to create a new public square at the head of the High Street, offering significant benefits to residents, visitors and the local economy.

The project is being funded by developer contributions collected by Chelmsford City Council and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, via the Government’s Getting Building Fund.

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First phase of Tindal Square closure begins and works commence on the High Street element of the scheme, with High Street access maintained North-South via New Street.

January - February 2022

Duke Street closed for works at junction with Market Road. Diversion routes for buses will be in place from Victoria Road and New Street and through Tindal Square, along Market Road and onto Parkway.Tindal Street will become open to two-way traffic for deliveries so please take care when leaving High Chelmer Shopping Centre towards Half Moon Square.

February - March 2022

Tindal Street closed for construction of traffic calming measures at Tindal Square. Tindal Street from the High Chelmer service yard to New London Road will be open to two-way traffic for deliveries only so please take care when leaving the High Chelmer Shopping Centre at Half Moon Square. High Street deliveries continue at new street.

March - April 2022

Market Road closure for Market Road scheme. Bus routes return to Tindal Street. March - October 2022 Remainder of public realm scheme works completed, including the construction of steps and a ramp to Shire Hall, street tree planting and new paving to Tindal Square.

How Tindal Square will be improved 

 
Image showing the Hamburger Roundabout option at the Army and Navy
Tindal Square artists impression
Image showing the separate t-junctions option at the Army and Navy
Tindal Square artists aerial impression

Tindal Square has four delivery stages. At each phase, the project becomes more certain and key elements are fixed. 

  • Concept (complete) – This was developed over the summer of 2019 following a public consultation exercise. It set the scope of the project and the headline objectives. It was agreed that Tindal Square should become a pedestrian focused space through which cycles could pass, that the Square would be closed to through-traffic, the servicing of the High Street would change and every effort be made to better integrate Shire Hall into the project.
  • Preliminary Design (complete) – Options have been identified along with alignment of the cycle route and the required Traffic Regulation Order, Broad locations of seating and tree planting have also been identified. At this stage, details such as materials are not fixed.
  • Detailed Design – A single option is selected from the Preliminary Design. This is worked up with greater precision, enabling the scheme to go out to tender. This is the first point at which market testing of the project costs are known.
  • Implementation – A contractor is selected, and the project is constructed.

The detailed design has now been completed and includes the following elements

  • The creation of a public space where pedestrians will have priority, cyclists will be able to move through the space between identified gateway points giving care to more vulnerable users (by clear messages on signs and symbols on the ground) and taking into consideration the latest government standards for shared use space.
  • Removal of road traffic and street clutter, to enable the transformation of a new public square extending the High Street up to Shire Hall and across to the Judge Tindal Statue and Tindal Terrace.
  • Paving pattern radiating out from Shire Hall with shapes along the centre of the High Street making way to Half Moon Square. 
  • Tindal Square will be comprehensively paved in natural stone paving to respect the character of the historic environment and to connect with Half Moon Square and The Exchange
  • Trees planted to help create a green space.
  • The provision of stylish but robust comfortable street furniture including seven seats for the public, cycle stands at appropriate locations, wayfinding signs and creative lighting to draw people into the city centre in the evening.
  • A flexible space for future events, such as the opportunity for temporary staging at the head of the high street.
  • Areas identified for tables & chairs potential (where requested and as licensed).

Tindal Square General Arrangement Drawing

Market Road General Arrangement Drawing

Market Road General Arrangement Drawing 2

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In order to undertake these changes a ‘Traffic Regulation Order’ (TRO) was required. TROs are legal documents that restrict or prohibit the use of the highway network. As a statutory process, A TRO requires Essex County Council, as the Highways Authority, to undertake a consultation. Details on the TRO can be found on the TRO page (Ref TRAF/6966).

Documents

Tindal Square Traffic Movement Map - PDF(0.8MB)

Tindal Square and Market Road Leaflet - PDF - PDF(6.6MB)

Tindal Square Poster - PDF - PDF(4.8MB)