Plans for 179 homes in Billericay revealed for green belt

Housing developer Hill has submitted plans to Basildon Council to build the homes on a swathe of green belt land in Kennel Lane, close to the junction with Noak Hill Road, in Billericay.

Despite the developer promising to build much-needed “high-quality homes” as well maintaining large amounts of green space, major concerns have been raised by Billericay West Tory councillor, Phil Turner.

Plans for 200 homes on the site were previously rejected by Basildon Council but were given the green light at appeal on the basis the council had an “enormous shortfall in delivery of homes over the next five-year period.”

Mr Turner said: “We don’t welcome these plans, the Basildon Conservatives as a group kicked out these plans and the broader local plan because it wasn’t right for Billericay, Wickford and new town areas like Pitsea.

“We are holding back with bated breath now to see what carnage will be done to the green belt now as we still don’t have a plan in place.

“What we were developing for Billericay is a policy for downsizing and using bungalows to encourage people who didn’t want to go to into sheltered accommodation to move from larger houses into smaller homes.

“This hasn’t been ruled out by the new administration but it is unlikely the developer will be offering that for Billericay.

“We are now bracing ourselves for a dump on our green belt and I hope we can convince developers to restrain themselves.”

The design and access statement promises 179 high-quality homes, 21 less homes than were previously envisioned when the plans were fought through appeal in November 2022 on the basis that the council had an “enormous shortfall in delivery of home over the next five-year period.”

Of the 179 new homes, 64 homes will be affordable with a mixture of intermediate and affordable rents accompanied with the creation of a 2.5-acre open space.

Residents have until June 2 to respond to the developer with comments on the planning portal.