Part of the land to the east of Greens Farm Lane, Billericay has previously been identified by Basildon Borough Council (in the withdrawn Local Plan) as a suitable and appropriate location for housing development.
The remainder of the land would be retained as greenspace, such as biodiversity, recreational opportunities or agriculture.
The proposals by CEG seek to bring forward the land for the uses which were previously envisaged by the Council.
Following the consultation undertaken regarding the site in 2013/4, CEG has engaged with the local community and its representatives about the potential of the site coming forward for development in some form.
The proposals now being presented incorporate some of the feedback which has already been provided.
Housing Need
As with the situation across the country, within Basildon Borough there is a very pressing need for new homes to tackle affordability and to house future generations.
The Council’s latest Five-Year Housing Land Supply Report, published in June 2023, details the number of homes required to meet housing needs in the Borough over the next five years, and beyond.
Using the “standard method” set out in national planning policy and guidance, the Council’s own calculation identifies that some 1,043 new are required each year. However, this is a minimum starting point. In reality, the Council calculates that some 6,258 new homes need to be constructed between 2023 to 2028.
At the time the Report was published, the Council could only identify sites capable of delivering some 2,322 new homes. This equates to only 1.85 years supply rather than the five-years sought by national policy and guidance.
Partially because of the need to bring forward new homes and the need for an up-to-date plan to be in place, Government has already written to the Council to produce the Local Plan on a faster timescale than normal because of the pressing need to have an up-to-date plan in place. Although the Council is working on preparing a Local Plan, it will not be adopted until at least 2027.
However, with limited brownfield sites, lack of development and demonstrable need for more homes to meet the housing need, developing part of this site now could help provide high quality homes for growing families, downsizing and affordable homes for local people alongside newly accessible green spaces.
Greenspace
As part of the proposals, CEG is seeking to bring forward an extensive area of greenspace which could fulfil several different functions, including biodiversity improvements, recreation, play space and dog walking areas accessible to the wider community.
CEG has obtained advice from Natural England about mitigating any potential adverse effects on the Mill Meadows Site of Special Scientific Interest. This is in addition to the discussions with the Council and Mill Meadows Society. Some of the biodiversity improvements would reflect the habitat of the Mill Meadows Nature Reserve.
