Over 120 new homes to be built close to Essex market town

More than 100 new homes will be built in the Essex countyside with work to begin early next year. Persimmon Homes has had planning permission granted for 129 new homes in Ongar by Epping Forest District Council's planning committee. The homes will be on land north of Chelmsford Road, and construction work is expected to start in early 2025. The development will include 77 open-market homes, 13 shared-ownership properties, and 39 homes that will be offered, through a housing partner, for "below-market rent" to those on the council’s housing list.

Homes will range in size from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom family homes, each fitted with an electric vehicle charging point and will be adaptable to cater for the changing needs of their future residents. A central area of shared open space sits at the heart of the new development, along with a large area of open space to the east. Persimmon will also use swift bricks, bird boxes, and bee houses throughout the building while establishing wildflower planting areas to encourage wildlife in the area.

New footpaths and cycle routes will run through the development, and a range of highway improvements will also be delivered to the existing highway network around the Four Wantz roundabout, which will create links to the centre of Ongar to encourage sustainable travel and hopefully support the high street.

Read more: TfL to review Elizabeth line timetable with plans for more Essex trains

Read more: Anglian Water pipe fault caused hundreds of fish to die in Essex lake

The housebuilder will contribute £320,000 to improve the local bus service to encourage sustainable travel further. This is part of a £2 million investment that will be made as part of Persimmon’s developer contributions. Plans also include a primary school, sports facility, libraries, and upgrades to existing play facilities within the town.

Richard Hush, Managing Director for Persimmon Homes Essex, said: “We are delighted to be bringing new homes to Ongar and funding the much-needed upgrades to the Four Wantz roundabout. Our planning team worked constructively with Epping Forest District Council to design an architecturally strong scheme that will embrace and enhance the area within which it will sit.”