CHIEF decision-makers at Chelmsford Council have been urged to deliver infrastructure in advance of future housing developments.

Council bosses are currently thrashing out ideas on where in the district 14,000 new homes will be built by 2036, to meet strict Government targets.

Meanwhile, Councillor Stephen Robinson, Chelmsford’s Lib Dem Leader, tabled a motion last night before the Full Council in an attempt to ensure roads, NHS facilities and schools are are in healthy supply.

The Chelmsford North ward councillor also voiced his support for the “garden communities” project. It is collaboration between Braintree, Colchester, Tendring and Essex County Council for three new towns across north Essex.

Mr Robinson said: “It is a shame that Chelmsford is not taking part in this joint project.

“However, there are still lessons and ideas that can be learned from the project and rolled out in Chelmsford. I hope Chelmsford Council will examine these ideas.

“Residents rightly say that infrastructure too often comes after development, if at all. We need to deliver in advance.”

He went on that slowly adding to Chelmsford’s housing stock is putting too much of a strain on services, and that the council has previously tried to “build itself out of a crisis” by adding more homes - at Beaulieu Park, for example.

He said: “A new garden community equipped with the correct infrastructure is a long-term plan, and a sensible one.

“The principle is we need to base it around Chelmsford, with good transport links.

“The Boreham Interchange will be getting a new train station, plus there is land near Wickford and Woodham Ferrers. These are all areas we could look at.”