Plans for more than 800 new homes on Essex farmland submitted
Plans for more than 800 new homes on Essex farmland have been submitted, with the area facing a “demonstrable unmet need for new housing”.
Developer GS8 is also proposing community and commercial floorspace, open spaces, and infrastructure works as part of the proposed development off Pound Lane, Bowers Gifford, just outside Basildon and Pitsea.
The proposed site is primarily composed of fields that were used for dairy farming, as well as farm buildings. The plans include splitting up the development into three areas, set to be called Little Chalvedon”, “Benfleet Meadows” and “Chalvedon Fields”, reflecting their roles in the area.
The plans are in initial stages and details would be decided on later, but the documents state that if agreed, up to 10 per cent of the development could be one-bedroom homes, up to 40 per cent could be two-bedroom properties, around 45 per cent could be three-bedroom homes, and 25 per cent would be four-bedroom homes. The plans also include 50 per cent affordable housing.
A total of 1,677 parking spaces could be provided, including standard parking, visitor parking, accessible parking and parking for a car club. There would also be a total of 2,483 spaces for cycle parking.
The main access for vehicles would be from Pound Lane, with two priority junctions with so-called “ghost” right turn lanes, which are used to “ensure north/south traffic flows along Pound Lane would be maintained” – according to the developer.
The plans state: “The proposals seek to deliver a carefully designed, landscape-led and sustainable community that prioritises sustainability, local character and connection with the natural environment. The scheme will deliver up to 850 new homes, including 50 per cent affordable housing, helping to address the significant shortfall in delivery within Basildon.
The demonstrable unmet need for new housing is clear and unambiguous. The delivery of up to 850 homes will make a significant contribution to the council’s identified shortfall in housing delivery, particularly in light of its 1.84-year housing land supply and its housing delivery test result of just 35 per cent.
The provision of up to 425 affordable homes, 50 per cent, represents a substantial and urgently needed benefit of the proposed development. There were a total of 44 affordable dwelling completions in the borough in 2022/2358. There is a chronic need for additional affordable housing and this scheme can make a substantial contribution to this need.”