Chelmsford News
The latest Chelmsford news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
Top story
Chelmsford House Prices Fall 2.3%, Steepest Since Sept 2024
The average Chelmsford home is worth £378,080, down £8,712 in a year. Flats fell 4.7%. Only Castle Point and Brentwood fell further in Essex.
More stories
Chelmsford
Chelmsford Racecourse Loses Two More Racedays to Southwell
The 8 and 15 October evening fixtures move to Southwell, six months after the licence expired. The racecourse's own site still lists eight racedays.
Council
Chelmsford Transport Grant: £1,500 Each, Closes 9 October
Grants of up to £1,500 from a £14,000 pot, for projects that get Chelmsford residents to appointments, work and food. Applications close at noon on 9 October.
Chelmsford
Chelmsford County High Win First State School Cup at Lord's
Chelmsford County High School are the first girls' champions of the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup, beating Penistone Grammar in the final at Lord's.
Bins
Chelmsford Bin Rounds: 7,500 Homes May Change Day
Around 7,500 Chelmsford homes could get a new bin day in early 2027. The council is not posting out a printed recycling calendar while it redraws rounds.
Crime
Chelmsford Night Patrols: 9 Arrests in 248 Hours
Nine arrests, 37 stop searches and one knife seized in the first 248 hours of Chelmsford's joint-funded night patrols. The police data tells a fuller story.
Chelmsford
Diocese of Chelmsford picks ex-ambassador as chief executive
Harriet Mathews, the first female British ambassador to Somalia, takes over in October at a diocese budgeting for an £869,000 deficit this year.
Council
Chelmsford's 2028 Council Merger Withdrawn by Government
The government has withdrawn the plan to merge Chelmsford, Brentwood and Maldon into one council in 2028, and May 2027 elections will use existing boundaries.
Community
South Woodham Ferrers Swim Gala: 40 Awards, Lessons Full
Forty children finished an eight-week Club Links course at South Woodham Ferrers, awards presented by Olympic diver Sarah Barrow. Council lesson lists are full.
What's On
Museum of Chelmsford free weekend: vote on 20 treasures
Free entry to the Museum of Chelmsford on 19 and 20 September, when you can vote on the 20-object shortlist that decides its new Top 10 Treasure Trail.
Food hygiene
Chelmsford food hygiene: 36 out of 36 rated 5 in August
Every Chelmsford premises inspected in August scored 5. But 17 across the district sit below 3, and all ten of the worst were marked down on the same thing.
Planning
Chelmsford Garden Community Road Works Start 1 September
Two footpaths north of Chelmsford close for six months from 1 September so the 1.55km road that unlocks 10,000 homes can be built. The order is the first dated proof it has started.
Chelmsford City Racecourse
Chelmsford racecourse: two more fixtures moved to Southwell
Two September meetings have been moved to Southwell, almost five months after the last race at Great Leighs. July's rescue deal still has no racing licence.
House prices
Chelmsford house prices fall 1.2%, first drop in 21 months
The average Chelmsford home is worth £383,103, down £4,565 on a year ago. Only 62 of 295 English districts fell, and five of them are in Essex.
Jobs
Chelmsford unemployment rate 2.7%: young claims up a third
Chelmsford's claimant count hit 3,160 in July, 2.7% of working-age residents. Claims by 18 to 24-year-olds are up a third in two years, to 625. Ward figures below.
Schools
Chelmsford GCSE results day 2026: times and the 1pm deadline
Results are out on Thursday 20 August. Great Baddow opens its gym at 9am and wants sixth form places accepted by 1pm. The KEGS and CCHS forms exist for one day.
Schools
Chelmsford A level results 2026: CCHS 58% at A* or A
Chelmsford County High reports 58% of grades at A* or A and 84 students with three top grades. New Hall and Great Baddow have published too; KEGS has not.
Planning
Chelmsford crematorium plan: have your say from 21 August
The council wants a 22-acre cemetery and crematorium east of Stock Road, West Hanningfield. The survey runs 21 August to 4 September, with a drop-in on 27 August.
What's On
Heritage Open Days Chelmsford: 30+ free events 11-20 Sept
Chelmsford's Heritage Open Days runs 11 to 20 September: more than 30 free events, from a 1960s day in Tindal Square to a free museum weekend.
Community
Riverside Leisure Centre adds a second Poolpod lift
Poolpod lifts now cover both Riverside pools and South Woodham Ferrers, so disabled swimmers can get into the water independently at any public session.