Ashurst is advising on a joint-venture between housing developer Countryside Properties and social housing provider London & Quadrant (L&Q) to build a new £1bn neighbourhood in north east Chelmsford. 

The 50/50 venture, called Countryside Zest, was last week granted outline planning consent by Chelmsford City Council for its proposal to build a mixed-use community in Beaulieu, which will include the construction of 3,600 new homes and will create 3,500 new jobs.