Up to 420 homes at Land West Of Laindon Road, Billericay

“OUTLINE APPLICATION WITH ALL MATTERS RESERVED EXCEPT ACCESS ONTO LAINDON ROAD FOR THE ERECTION OF UP TO 420 HOMES, INCLUDING UP TO 500SQM OF NON-RESIDENTIAL FLOORSPACE, NEW VEHICULAR ACCESS OFF LAINDON ROAD, NEW PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLE LINKS, TOGETHER WITH CAR PARKING, LANDSCAPING, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, SURFACE WATER DRAINAGE BASINS AND ASSOCIATED WORKS”

“The application sought outline planning permission for up to 420 dwellings on land off Laindon Road, Billericay. Officers had recommended approval, subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement, having concluded that the planning benefits, including 50% affordable housing, public open space, biodiversity net gain and financial contributions, outweighed the identified harms.”

“Following debate, Members disagreed with the recommendation to approve planning permission and concluded that the proposal constituted inappropriate development within the Green Belt. Members were not satisfied that the Very Special Circumstances advanced by the applicant clearly outweighed the harm to the Green Belt and other identified harms.”

“That Planning Application No. 25/01451/OUT be refused planning permission on the grounds that –”

“The proposed development constituted inappropriate development within the Green Belt. The development would result in substantial harm to the openness of the Green Belt and conflict with the purposes of including land within the Green Belt. The Local Planning Authority was not satisfied that the benefits of the scheme clearly outweighed the harm to the Green Belt and other harm identified so as to amount to the Very Special Circumstances necessary to justify the development.”