A FAMILY who have been illegally living on farmland for 25 years are set to be given permission to stay...because of their links to the area.

Two unauthorised traveller pitches at Hollybrook Farm, in Lower Dunton Road, Dunton, have been home to three generations of the same family since 1991 - despite them failing to secure full planning permission.

A planning application for the site was refused in 1992, with the decision being upheld on appeal in 1993.

The applicant - who lives on the pitches with his wife, daughter, son-in-law, great and great-great-grandchildren - has twice been prosecuted by Magistrates and found guilty of failing to comply with the council’s enforcement notices

Basildon Council has classified it as “tolerated” traveller site for more than 25 years, but planning officers are now recommending the pitches are given permission to stay for good.

Neil Costen, planning enforcement manager at Basildon Council, cited the family’s “links to local services” and the borough’s need to find space to house travellers as part of its Local Plan. He said forcing the family to leave the pitches could result in green belt land having to be developed.

He said: “In planning terms the applicant and his family represent existing and immediate unmet need which the council is required to make provision for through the plan led system.

“No further proceedings have been brought against the family since 1993.

“In planning terms the applicant and his family represent existing and immediate unmet need which the council in accordance with national planning policy is required to make provision for through the planning system.

“To refuse planning permission and require the family to leave the site would result in the council having to identify an alternative undeveloped site, potentially in the green belt, to which they could relocate.

Mr Costen added: “Three generations of the same family have been raised on the site, school aged children attend local schools and the family have long established access to local services.

“Personal lifetime planning permission should be granted so that the family can continue to live on the site with the security of a planning permission .”

A final decision will be made at a planning committee meeting at the Basildon Centre, in St Martin’s Square, tonight.