13 detached homes at Wellgate Farm Housing Development Collier Row Road, Chadwell Heath

“Site, Situation and relevant background information: The site encompasses an area of approximately 0.6ha at the northern tip of the Borough. The Site comprises 13no. 5-bedroom, three storey homes with rear gardens, car parking and a mix of hard and soft landscaping including an area of undeveloped land primarily used for storage. The site is known as Grover Gardens.”

“The site is located within the Green Belt and falls within Flood Zone 1. There are no heritage assets in immediate proximity to the site however the Grade II listed White House and Furze Farm buildings sit some distance away to the southwest of the site. The Wellgate Community Farm SINC sits to the north of Providence Place and the Furze House Farm SINC sits on the northwestern side of Collier Row Road.”

“The site formed part of an historic planning application to develop 88 5-bedroom homes across a wider application site with planning reference 11/01015/FUL, as amended by 16/01566/NMA. That permission was initially granted in May 2013 with the standard 3-year time limit for implementation attached to the permission thereby expiring on 3 May 2016.”

“Attached to the permission were 20 pre-commencement conditions which were required to be satisfied and discharged prior to any such commencement occurring in order for the development to be lawfully implemented. Some of the conditions were submitted for discharge between a year and six years after the expiry date of the permission and the permission is therefore considered to have lapsed. This was confirmed to the applicant in 2023 at which time 13no.”

“Appendix 4: Neighbour Notification: Date Site Notice Erected: January 2025 Date of Press Advertisement: January 2025 Number of neighbouring properties consulted: 221 neighbouring and nearby properties Number of responses: Address: Summary of response: Wellgate Community Farm We would like to note that, throughout the application this housing has on separate occasions been referred to as both Wellgate Farm Housing Development and Grover Gardens Housing Development.”

“All this is not to overlook the disruption to a major traffic artery which is already a problem without digging the roads up and temporary traffic signals for 2 years at least. Project is just not viable!!! No Address Given In January 2012 I received, by mistake, confidential information sent to [Redacted], regarding a planning application made for Ecogrove for 88 detached five bedroom properties, a copy disc and letter from [Redacted] was sent to me by mistake, the site is…”

“The officer referenced the key issues with the application seen as the principle of the proposed development, the dwelling mix and quality of accommodation, the design, layout and scale (including heritage, crime and fire safety), impacts to neighbouring amenity, public realm, landscape and biodiversity, sustainable transport, waste management and construction impacts, delivering sustainable development (energy/CO2reduction/water efficiency), environmental protection (air…”

“In the light of the presentation and following questions from Members about the status of the current short term leases on the thirteen constructed homes, the PDMO explained the process and timing of the proposed financial contributions should the application be approved, which will be linked to the eventual sale of the homes. The manner and to whom the properties are eventually sold was not a planning consideration and outside the control of the Council.”

“(1) Delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Inclusive Growth and the Head of Planning and Assurance in consultation with the Head of Legal Services to grant planning permission, subject to the completion of a legal agreement under the s106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) based on the Heads of Terms identified in Appendix 7 and the Conditions listed in Appendix 5 of the report, and…”

“(2) That, if by 15 April 2026 the legal agreement has not been completed, the Strategic Director of Inclusive Growth (or authorised Officer) is delegated authority to refuse planning permission or extend the timeframe to grant approval.”