“COMPLETELY ridiculous” plans for about 28,000 homes across an Essex borough must be scaled back, the new Conservative council boss says reports Local Democracy Reporter.
Andy Barnes, leader of Basildon Borough Council, wants to see more protection for Billericay and Bowers Gifford from large scale developments. It comes after plans were drawn up by the last administration of the council, which was Labour, for around 28,000 homes.
Now Reform UK and the Tories, which are in a “confidence” agreement, are calling for the proposals to be scaled back. Councillor Barnes says the plans can’t be scrapped but seems confident in reducing the housing numbers.
He added: “We would be looking to remove the excessive housing numbers and then resubmit it to the Government and say that’s what we can deliver based on what the area can cope with. I think a lot of the larger developments that are not supported by infrastructure are the ones I am particularly concerned about.
“There’s the development area between Billericay and Noak Bridge, which is the very definition of urban sprawl, any plans to develop outside the existing boundaries of these towns and compromise the lines of division between them is something we would take a dim view on.” He also said there is “certainly concerns” around the amount of homes planned for Bowers Gifford. He plans to “bring it back down in line with what residents expected.”
The proposals also cover roads, health services, and other infrastructure through 2043. It also includes a minimum of 10,420 affordable homes, a minimum of 235 new Gypsy and Traveller pitches, a minimum of 13 Travelling Show People yard spaces and between 65 and 82 hectares of new employment land.
Basildon Reform UK leader Sam Journet also raised concerns about the plans. He added: “A commitment was made to slim this local plan down. Residents heard it. Reform UK heard it. We expect that commitment to be honoured. If this plan is not altered, reduced significantly, or kicked back into touch entirely, then Reform UK will be considering all available options. We will not support the managed decline of our borough through overdevelopment, overstretched infrastructure, and the destruction of local identity.”
Categories:
Planning Permission Housing
Authorities:
Essex County Council
