North Thames Region

Chelgate has been providing political engagement and community consultation support to our clients for almost 40 years.

Over the past decade, we have worked on over 100 projects totalling over 50,000 dwellings and, over the last 2.5 years, we have enjoyed a 100% success rate on planning applications and local plan allocations.

To manage our growth, Chelgate Local has been split into three regions: South Thames, North Thames and Midlands. Our North Thames region includes Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Essex.

The Midlands team is led by Michael Hardware, supported by Sophie Coghlan, Chris White and Ian Ward. Michael heads up Chelgate Local and has been a serving district and county councillor for a decade, a current cabinet member for planning. Chris White was a district and county councillor for over 30 years, the former leader of St Albans City District Council and chair of the local plan committee, and Ian Ward has been a councillor in Rochford for over a decade, the former portfolio holder for strategic planning over the same period.

The North Thames team operate from our office in Central London. Our experience in the region is extensive. Over the years, we have worked on projects in every city, district and borough across all three counties. Current and recent projects have been in St Albans, Central Beds, Dacorum, Three Rivers, Welwyn Hatfield, North Herts, East Herts, Uttlesford, Braintree, Epping Forest, Brentwood, Basildon, Rochford, Maldon, Tendring and Thurrock. Some examples of projects include:

Chipping Ongar, Essex

Bellway Homes North Thames acquired a site on Greensted Road, Ongar, which already had a history: although an allocated site, a previous application had attracted 500 objections and had been refused, and a subsequent appeal in 2022 was unsuccessful

Chelgate Local helped with an extensive political and community engagement programme for an application for 85 homes. It was unanimously approved by Epping Forest District Council in February 2025, attracting just 12 objections. Five of the council members, including two ward councillors, unusually congratulated the development team on the early and comprehensive engagement. Comments included: “This is a really good development and it does reflect the cooperation between the parish council and the developer, and also the residents” and “…I think that they should be a lesson to other developers of how to do this”. Another councillor said: “This is one of those wonderfully happy stories where the residents have had great consultation with the developers: that’s really really lovely to see.”

Codicote, Hertfordshire

Taylor Wimpey North Thames was proposing 68 new homes on a former garden centre site in the village of Codicote. Chelgate Local assisted with political and community engagement as the project came forward to North Hertfordshire Council planning. It was approved in December 2022.

Billericay, Basildon, Essex

Chelgate Local has been helping promote this greenbelt site for 480 homes west of Billericay for Redrow Eastern for almost a decade. We have been building and maintaining relationships with politicians, residents, stakeholders and residents’ groups, through several iterations of the local plan, including six changes of council administration. The site was allocated in the local plan which was withdrawn by the council in 2022. An application was submitted in 2019, which was revised in 2023 and approved by Basildon Council in 2025.

Harpenden, St Albans, Hertfordshire

The Crest Nicholson site north east of Harpenden has been allocated in the St Albans local plan submitted in December 2024. The allocation is for 900 homes, with the Crest site around 490 homes plus a primary school, local centre and sports facilities. Chelgate Local has assisted with political and community engagement including events and workshops, liasing with local groups to ensure their voices have been heard. Depending upon the local plan, a planning application is likely to be submitted during 2025.

Heybridge North Garden Suburb, Essex

Chelgate assisted Bellway Thames Gateway with navigating planning at Maldon District council for 262 new homes on three parcels within the Heybridge North Garden Community, masterplanned by Countryside. The committee originally deferred its decision but subsequently consented the application unanimously following political engagement with several members.

West Hemel, Hertfordshire

This development of 1,100 new homes to the west of Hemel was promoted jointly by Barratt DWH and Taylor Wimpey North Thames. We assisted with the political engagement as the planning application came forward for consideration by the committee at Dacorum Council, and approved.

To discuss a project in the South North region, please contact Michael Hardware, Director, on 020 7939 7989 or 07775 925 274 or email.