Plans to build 300 new homes and school near popular Essex country park

How the homes could look
-Credit: (Image: Pigeon Investment Management Ltd)


A new 302 housing estate with a primary school and nursery is set to be built beside a country park in a south Essex town - but only if plans are agreed upon. Proposals by Pigeon Investment Management Ltd have been unveiled for the development at land near Cranfield Park Road, Wickford - close to Wick Country Park. Around 120 of the planned will be affordable housing, about 40 per cent of the whole development.

The new homes will comprise a mix of detached and semi-detached dwellings together with apartments, although the final mix and details still need to be reviewed. The main access for vehicles to the site would be from two new junctions off Tresco Way as well as an extension to this road.

Electric vehicle charging points are also included to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles. A mixture of informal recreational spaces; children’s play areas and meadows will provide a landscaped setting for the proposed scheme which developers say would enhance the local area.

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A planning statement said: “The proposal will provide 302 homes, including 40 per cent affordable housing which is in excess of the policy requirement of 36 per cent. This will make a significant positive contribution to the supply of market and affordable housing in Basildon helping to address the acute shortage and very poor housing land supply position, as recognised in recent planning application and appeal decisions.

"The proposed development is acceptable in principle. Despite being the greenbelt the proposed development is located in highly sustainable location and will make positive contributions to economic, social and environmental strands of sustainable development, with limited harm to the immediate and surrounding landscape and greenbelt functions and purposes. The proposals will make a significant contribution to the delivery of both market and affordable housing against the current context of acute shortage and deficit.”