152 homes could be built at beauty spot (From Echo)

152 homes could be built at beauty spot

7:10am Monday 20th September 2010 in News By Jon Austin

A CONTROVERSIAL housing estate could soon be built on a Wickford beauty spot.

Basildon councillors will take the final vote over plans from Gleeson Homes to build 152 homes on the Barn Hall open space, off Station Avenue.

Last year, the council and campaigners lost a High Court battle to overturn outline planning permission for up to 200 homes.

Gleeson has since scaled back its plans to a development of 146 three and four-bedroom houses and six two-bedroom flats, which have yet to be approved.

The new application goes before the development control committee in the Basildon Centre on Tuesday.

The original plans were opposed by hundreds of residents who formed Wickford North Green Action Group.

However, the agenda for the meeting said 281 households in the area were consulted about the new proposals and there had been just 22 letters of objection.

Families complained the development will lead to problems with drainage, car parking, traffic congestion and will put strain on local infrastructure.

They also fear the new homes will overshadow existing homes and lead to the loss of open space and over-development.

However, officers have recommended councillors approve the scheme, saying the Environment Agency has approved a surface water drainage strategy. They claim there is adequate parking, and highway issues were addressed at the outline application stage.

The agenda added: “It is inevitable its development will have an impact on the open views presently enjoyed by the occupiers of neighbouring dwellings. How-ever, in planning terms, no one has a right to a view, and it is the impact of the proposed development on the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers.

“The layout of the site allows for the retention of a significant amount of the existing landscaping and would be further supplemented with additional planting within the scheme.

“The design and layout creates an attractive residential area whilst trying to minimise potential harm to residential amenities.”

Peter Boyns, who set up the action group, said no one wanted the development, but it was felt there had been an achievement by reducing the scale of the estate.