186-space lorry park at Morbec Farm, Nevendon, Wickford

“The proposed truck-stop parking facility will provide overnight parking for 186 vehicles including electric vehicle charging spaces. The proposal would deliver 10% of spaces as active charging and the remainder (90%) as passive. The site will be open for use to lorry drivers both during the day and overnight. The parking facilities will be centrally located within the site, with a surrounding green boundary and an associated building to the north.”

“The proposed site plan shows the indicative position and scale of the proposed rectangular- shaped building providing male and female showers and toilets, a café and a small administration office. The proposed building is approximately 65 metres by 15 metres (975 square metres) in footprint and one storey tall with an additional roof plant space on top.”

“The existing context of the site is rural, with light industrial buildings to the east, fields to the north, kennels and rural cottages to the west and a dual carriage way (the A127) to the south. The south side of the Southern Arterial Road comprises open fields and further light industrial units.”

“The site is relatively flat, grassed and bounded by rows of mature trees. These existing trees are not subject to any Tree Preservation Orders. A residential bungalow (Morbec Bungalow) and associated agricultural buildings occupy the north-eastern corner. In the western part of the site lies a caravan and several shipping containers. There is a small lake in the south- eastern corner and the centre of the site is currently open field.”

“Granted - 30.07.1997. 20/00384/LDCE To establish the lawfulness of the existing use of land for open storage of commercial vehicles and other miscellaneous goods (Use Class B8 storage or distribution).”

“Refused - 29.05.2020. 24/00253/SCREEN EIA - Screening opinion for site at Morbec Farm - The proposed scheme seeks to gain an outline planning permission with all matters reserved except access into / from the site along the A127 to provide up to 200 lorry parking spaces for overnight stay, amenity building, café and a training centre as well as EV charging provision. The on-site facilities would solely be for use by lorry drivers and not for the public.”

“Highway and access safety. The exit to a neighbouring business sat directly adjacent to where the slip road ended on a 50mph dual carriageway. Vehicles leaving these premises already had limited merge distance and restricted visibility.”

“The submitted Needs Assessment had been independently reviewed by Basildon’s consultee and identified that it was reasonable to assume that a significant proportion of HGVs use the A127 as their primary route when accessing key destinations in Essex. • Nearby surveyed sites were found to be unmanaged, particularly overnight, posing significant security risks to drivers and their vehicle contents whilst several also lacked adequate welfare facilities for drivers.”

“The Officer was asked for views on the resident’s points. It was explained that Highways had audited the site and raised no objections. Other issues raised would be considered at reserved matters stage, where they had not already been covered by conditions (in the case of lighting and Secured by Design accreditation).”

“In Members’ view, a distance of 278 ft (82 m) from the merge point was acceptable. It was generally agreed that such a facility was needed in this key location on the A127 corridor as at present many lorries parked on lay- bys and accidents occurred as there was insufficient run time to rejoin the carriageway. With ports seeing an increase in goods flowing in, the demand was likely to increase.”

“That Application No. 24/01181/OUT be granted planning permission, subject to the completion of a S106 agreement to secure financial contributions towards Biodiversity Net Gain monitoring and Employment and Skills and subject to the conditions set out at the end of the report with any amendments that might be necessary up to the issue of the decision notice.”