Concerns have been raised about a “significant increase” in the number of new homes planned across Basildon after a plan to build 27,000 of them. Essex County Council said it was also concerned about Basildon Council’s plans for thousands of new homes across Billericay and Wickford as part of its initial local plan. The major proposals included sites for new homes and businesses over the next two decades.
Bosses at the county council insist Basildon Council needs to “accelerate” engagement to “plan and provide the necessary infrastructure and services whilst securing necessary funding.” Basildon Council says it welcomes the county council’s response and will “continue to engage with them as necessary” as the plan is prepared for submission later this year.
The plans have been controversial and been previously dubbed “bonkers” by the opposition leader, Andrew Baggott, who has insisted the plans are “flawed” and that the housing number is “far too high.” The local plan includes up to 4,313 homes in Basildon, up to 4,170 in Billericay, up to 4,220 homes in Wickford and up to 16,928 new homes on green belt sites across the borough.
If agreed, it would see up to 27,111 homes between 2023 to 2043, a minimum of 10,420 affordable homes, a minimum of 235 new Gypsy and Traveller pitches and a minimum of 13 Travelling Show People yard spaces and a minimum of 65 to 82 hectares of new employment land.
In its response, Essex County Council said: “There is a significant increase in the number of new homes to be planned for, an increase of 8,000 compared to the withdrawn Basildon Local Plan. The quantum and location of new potential site allocations introduce new strategic and cross-boundary challenges to be addressed, including potential implications on strategic transport corridors. Essex County Council will seek further collaboration on strategic policy making matters to ensure a consistent approach to planning and delivery of infrastructure covering transport, waste, minerals, education and other social infrastructure as outlined in the national planning policy framework. Basildon Council will need to accelerate this engagement given their local plan timetable and to ensure that this is effective, timely and ongoing under the duty. This will ensure Basildon Council, in consultation with Essex County Council, can plan and provide the necessary infrastructure and services whilst securing necessary funding.
“It is recommended Basildon Council reconsider the approach, to specifically include details of the range and distribution of employment land to align the supply and type of employment land with the range of employment needs. For example, strategic or local need covering office, advanced manufacturing, grow on space, or low density employment uses such as storage and distribution. Further changes include reference to sui generis uses to ensure consistency with policies E2 and E3 and seeking engagement on the emerging employment land review, which may provide context to the above comments, and alignment with the Essex Sector Development Strategy.
“It is also suggested Basildon Council considers the need for a new policy concerning their expectations from new employment areas such as the mix of employment, floorspace, provision of affordable start-up accommodation and growth on space. Other elements to be explored include reference to opportunities to address under-utilised existing employment areas and other opportunities, including Ford Dunton, as well as links to the provision of skills and post-16 infrastructure, as explored with South Essex councils. It is also recommended Essex County Council welcomes the approach to skills and training; however recommend this is extended to include enhancements in relation to skills, training and apprenticeships and specific requirements for provision of Employment and Skills Plans.
“It is also recommended that any large-scale planned growth in and around Billericay and Wickford seek to align housing and economic growth, for example, the provision of a mix of uses, including the provision of appropriately sized new local employment/mixed-use areas, in accordance with revised the national planning policy framework. In respect of town centres, it is recommended Essex County Council supports the creation of a diverse mix of uses, with a wider range of employment opportunities including, for example, the provision of shared office space and opportunities for start-ups/growth on space.”
A Basildon Council spokesman said: “We welcome Essex County Council’s response to the Regulation 18 Consultation on Basildon Borough’s Draft Local Plan, and will continue to engage with them as necessary as the Plan is prepared for submission later this year.”