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Guide Price£550,000

Woodhall Hill, Chignal Smealy, Chelmsford, CM1

Land size
0.35 acres
Bedrooms
4
Bathrooms
4

Key Features

  • Exceptional semi-rural building plot with planning permission granted for a substantial detached executive residence extending to just under 3,000 sq.ft
  • Prime Chignal Smealy location surrounded by open countryside whilst remaining within easy reach of Chelmsford City Centre and mainline station
  • Full architectural package already completed including planning consent, building regulation drawings, ecological reports, surveys and supporting documentation
  • Impressive farmhouse-style design with detached double garage, extensive driveway parking and generous landscaped gardens
  • Water and electricity available for connection together with approved highways access and visibility splays already in place
  • Rare turnkey self-build opportunity offering purchasers the ability to immediately progress construction with significant time and cost savings already achieved

Description

Land Adjacent to Woodhall Farm, Woodhall Hill, Chignal Smealy, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 4SU

Exceptional Building Plot with Planning Permission Granted

Guide Price £550,000

A rare and exciting opportunity to acquire a prime residential building plot with full planning permission granted for the construction of a stunning executive country residence extending to just under 3,000 sq.ft, positioned within one of Chelmsford’s most desirable semi-rural locations.

Occupying an attractive established infill position between substantial detached homes, this exceptional plot enjoys a mature landscaped setting surrounded by open countryside within the highly sought-after hamlet of Chignal Smealy.

The approved scheme offers the opportunity to create an impressive four-bedroom farmhouse-style family home with detached double garage, extensive driveway parking, landscaped gardens and significant biodiversity enhancements already incorporated within the planning consent.

Importantly, all associated architectural drawings, planning documentation, ecological reports, supporting surveys and building regulation drawings have already been completed and are in place, presenting purchasers with an outstanding turnkey self-build opportunity ready for progression.

A Magnificent Proposed Family Home

Just Under 3,000 sq.ft of Luxury Accommodation

This is not a standard self-build plot.

The approved design delivers a substantial, high-specification country home designed for modern family living, offering expansive internal accommodation with large open-plan entertaining spaces, generous bedroom suites and impressive proportions throughout.

The proposed accommodation includes:

• Grand entrance hall

• Stunning open-plan kitchen / dining / family room

• Large separate living room

• Utility room

• Four substantial double bedrooms

• Luxury principal suite

• Extensive glazing overlooking the gardens

• Detached double garage/outbuilding

• Extensive driveway parking and turning area

The detached garage measures approximately 7.3m x 6.4m internally with additional cycle storage provision.

The approved architectural style has been carefully designed to reflect a classic Essex farmhouse aesthetic with:

• Soft red brick elevations

• White rendered detailing

• Clay tiled roof

• Feature chimney

• Brick plinths and bespoke detailing

• Traditional rural proportions

• Timber-style windows and heritage styling

Outstanding Plot & Setting

The site extends to approximately:

1,423 sq.m (0.35 acres)

Enjoying a mature and private setting with established trees and hedgerows, the plot offers the perfect balance of countryside living whilst remaining within easy reach of Chelmsford City Centre.

The proposed layout has been thoughtfully designed around the existing landscaping and root protection areas to preserve the rural character and maximise privacy.

Planning Permission Granted

Full planning permission has been secured for:

• A substantial detached executive residence

• Detached double garage

• New access driveway

• Parking and turning areas

• Extensive landscaping

• Biodiversity enhancements

The approved planning documents describe the proposal as a high-quality infill development within an established ribbon of detached homes.

In addition, the following have already been completed and are included:

• Full architectural drawing package

• Site plans and elevations

• Building regulation drawings

• Topographical survey

• Arboricultural reports

• Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment

• Great Crested Newt Assessment

• Precautionary Ecology Method Statement

• Highways and visibility reports

• Landscaping strategy

• Supporting planning documentation

This significantly reduces timescales, cost, and risk for any incoming purchaser.

Utilities & Infrastructure

The site benefits from:

• Water available for connection

• Electricity available for connection

• Approved highways access

• Visibility splays approved to Essex Highways standards

• EV charging provision included within the approved plans

Ecology & Biodiversity Already Addressed

Extensive supporting reports and ecological assessments have already been undertaken in support of the consent, providing buyers with confidence and clarity moving forward.

The Biodiversity Net Gain report confirms measurable biodiversity enhancements for the site.

Location

Chignal Smealy is a highly regarded rural hamlet situated on the north-western outskirts of Chelmsford, surrounded by attractive countryside whilst remaining highly accessible for the city, schooling and transport links.

The nearby area provides:

• Village pub

• Village hall

• Open countryside walks

• Excellent schooling

• Access to Broomfield, Great Waltham and Chelmsford amenities

• Mainline rail services from Chelmsford to London Liverpool Street

Key Features

• Exceptional building plot

• Planning permission granted

• Proposed residence extending to just under 3,000 sq.ft

• Detached double garage

• Approx. 0.35 acre plot

• Executive farmhouse-style design

• Prime semi-rural Chelmsford location

• Water & electricity available for connection

• Building regulation drawings completed

• Full supporting surveys and reports included

• Extensive planning and ecology work completed

• Mature landscaped setting

• Approved highways access

• Rare turnkey self-build opportunity

•

Planning and architectural information sourced from approved plans and supporting documentation for Land Adjacent to Woodhall Farm, Woodhall Hill, CM1 4SU.

Map Location

Property details

Tenure
Freehold
Council Tax Band
TBC
Date Posted
2026-05-15

Utilities & Restrictions

Utilities

Electricity
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Water
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Heating
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Broadband
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Sewerage
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Rights & Restrictions

Public Rights of Way
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Private Rights of Way
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Listed Property
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Restrictions
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Listed status, conservation areas and planning constraints for this location are in the full report.

Property Features

Accessibility
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Parking
Parking Available
Garden
Garden

Beyond the particulars: planning activity, flood history, heritage and ground risks, checked for this exact spot.

Connectivity

Broadband

Fastest speed available at this postcode

1.8 Gbps

Gigabit full fibre · available to 92% of premises

Suitable for

  • 4K streaming on every screen
  • Full-time home working
  • Online gaming & big downloads

Mobile signal

OutdoorsIndoorsEE Good NoneO2 Good LimitedThree Good NoneVodafone Good None

Predicted 4G and 5G signal; indoor signal depends on building materials.

Ofcom Connected Nations postcode-level predictions. Speeds and signal are modelled, not measured, and vary between addresses and providers.

Signal is the easy part. Planning activity, flood history and protected designations here are in the full report.

Nearest Schools

Primary

  • Newlands Spring Primary and Nursery School1.1 milesOfsted: Good
    Ages
    2 to 11
    Pupils
    479
    Type
    Academy converter
  • Broomfield Primary School1.5 milesNo Ofsted rating
    Ages
    4 to 11
    Pupils
    417
    Type
    Foundation school
  • Parkwood Academy1.6 milesOfsted: Requires improvement
    Ages
    3 to 11
    Pupils
    196
    Type
    Academy sponsor led
  • Lawford Mead Primary & Nursery1.7 milesOfsted: Good
    Ages
    3 to 11
    Pupils
    413
    Type
    Academy converter
  • Great Waltham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School1.7 milesNo Ofsted rating
    Ages
    5 to 11
    Pupils
    191
    Type
    Voluntary controlled school
    Faith
    Church of England

Secondary

  • Chelmer Valley High School1.3 milesOfsted: Good
    Ages
    11 to 18
    Pupils
    1,200
    Type
    Academy converter
  • St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford1.7 milesNo Ofsted rating
    Ages
    11 to 18
    Pupils
    1,241
    Type
    Voluntary aided school
    Faith
    Roman Catholic
  • Chelmsford County High School for Girls2.3 milesOfsted: Outstanding
    Ages
    11 to 18
    Pupils
    1,275
    Type
    Academy converter
    Gender
    Girls
  • King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford2.4 milesOfsted report card · Feb 2026
    Ages
    11 to 18
    Pupils
    1,153
    Type
    Academy converter
  • The Beaulieu Park School2.7 milesOfsted: Outstanding
    Ages
    4 to 19
    Pupils
    1,763
    Type
    Free schools

Distances are straight-line from the advertised location. Source: the national school registers (DfE, Welsh Government, Scottish Government) and Ofsted.

Schools are just the start: sold prices nearby, planning activity and any flood history are in the full report.

Amenities

Supermarket

Morrisons Melbourne Farm Chelmsford, Chelmsford1.1 miles
M&S Broomfield Hospital, Broomfield, Essex1.2 miles
Co-op Trent Road, Chelmsford1.6 miles

GP surgery

Chelmer Medical Partnership1.7 miles

Pharmacy

Morrisons Pharmacy1.1 miles

Hospital

Broomfield Hospital1.2 miles

Straight-line distances from the advertised location. Sources: NHS records, Geolytix supermarket locations, OS Open Greenspace and the national trails registers.

The area stacks up? Now check the location itself: planning nearby, protected designations and past flooding.

Getting Around

Nearest station

Chelmsford Rail Station2.7 miles

Nearest bus stop

The Pig and Whistle508 metres

Typical drive times

Witham20 min · 12 miles
Braintree18 min · 11 miles
Great Dunmow16 min · 11 miles
Chelmsford (city)9 min · 3.7 miles

Straight-line distances from the advertised location; drive times are typical free-flow times over OpenStreetMap road data, so allow more at peak. Public transport locations from DfT NaPTAN.

Easy to reach matters. So do planning activity, flood history and ground risks: all in the full report.

Flood Risk

Environment Agency open data, checked around the advertised map pin for the listed acreage. Long-term risk counts flood defences; the planning map's flood zones do not. Provided by LandSale, not the listing agent, and not part of the agent's particulars. Risk varies across a holding, so verify before committing.

Rivers and the sea

Very low risk

Planning map: Flood Zone 1.

Surface water

High risk (1 in 30)

Not at the pin: mapped about 20 metres away.

These bandings are the summary. Where this location sits on the flood maps, plus planning activity, heritage and ground risks, is in the full report.

Important notice: Information, maps and tags on this page are drawn from the advertising agent's marketing materials or generated automatically. LandSale has not verified them. Relying on these details is at your own risk, always carry out independent checks before committing to a purchase.

Contact McCartney Sales & Lettings, Chelmsford

74 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, CM2 0JA

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