Daws Heath residents protest Countryside Partnerships' home plan

Yesterday evening (Tuesday, August 30), Daws Heath residents amassed to protest proposals by developer Countryside Partnerships for new homes at Brook Farm, in Daws Heath Road.

More than 400 residents have lodged objections online – believed to be a record for the borough.

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Plans say 40 per cent of the new homes would be affordable housing, with a mix of affordable rent and affordable home ownership tenures.

Protest - Residents gather to oppose homes plan

The site had been allocated for development in Castle Point Council’s 5,000-home Local Plan before councillors voted to reject the plan at the end of March.

“Not content with sending in objections in their hundreds they are also sending a message to the developers that their plan is unwanted and totally in the wrong location,” Daws heath resident Tim Copsey said.

“Many concerns were expressed including the impact on wildlife, the lack of infrastructure, road congestion and safety and that there are no reasons that adequately justify the destruction of some of the rare remaining green belt land in Castle Point.

“Housing should be built on brownfield not green belt land where horses live and wildlife abounds.”

A spokesman from Countryside said: “Countryside’s planning application complies with the council’s planning policy that was found sound by a Planning Inspector and would provide 40 per cent affordable homes, 10 hectares of public open space including site ecology enhancements to achieve biodiversity net gain, as well as financial contributions towards health, education and bus services to improve local infrastructure.

"The highly sustainable homes planned will also achieve significant improvements in terms of energy efficiency.”