25/01451/OUT Laindon Road Phase 2 (420 houses)
A proposal to build 420 houses west of Laindon Road adjacent to Frith Wood and Laindon Common. Will join Billericay with Little Burstead
Link to planning application
planning.basildon.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T4WJK4CQHYS00&activeTab=summary
For help on how to comment please see Planning Application Help
For help on how to comment please see Planning Application Help
Deadline for objections
29 December 2025 NOW CLOSED
Summary of proposed development
These are some points taken from the planning application.
Please note that this is an outline application so the following is indicative. The final design could change at a later date other than the area of the site and the access point, as those are fixed if outline permission is granted.
1. Single access from Laindon Road/Noak Hill Road roundabout.
2. Emergency access from Laindon Road (one-way section)
3. 420 dwellings made up of 1–2-bedroom flats and 2-4+ bedroom houses.
4. Maximum 3 storeys in centre of estate.
5. 500 sq.m. of non-residential floor space below flats for possible use as convenience store, café or office space. It is not for health facilities.
6. 50% affordable housing distributed across the estate including 1- & 2-bedroom flats and 2–4-bedroom houses. No details of the mix between affordable and market priced home types is shown.
7. Site to be developed in two phases, the first being houses closest to Laindon Road (northeast of site), followed by those nearer to Laindon Common (southwest of site).
8. No traveller pitches.
9. 15 hectares of public open space (45% of a total site of 33.1 hectares)
10. 30m buffer around Frith Wood of which 15m next to the existing wood will be planted with new trees.
11. Foot and cycle paths linking to the approved Laindon Road Phase 1 development and new route along Laindon Road.
12. No mention of contributions towards education and health facilities (we assume this will be based on what ECC and the NHS request to fulfil Golden Rules requirements).
13. There are no stated improvements to Laindon Road. It remains partially one-way but the one-way section is slightly shortened to accommodate the estate emergency access point. Essex Highways do not support making the road fully 2-way.
14. Upgrade of Sun Corner by reverting to a crossroads with traffic lights is suggested to improve an over capacity situation, and the development proposes to make a proportional contribution to the cost. The implication that this would be an Essex Highways managed project.
15. Contribution towards enhanced bus services.
16. The application proposes that the mandatory minimum of 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) will be exceeded by creating new habitats on site.
17. Existing hedgerows, pond, and most trees will be kept and enhanced, with some trees being removed to gain access.
18. Environmental features - air source heat pump (no gas), layout to maximise potential solar use, EV charging, bat & bird boxes, hedgehog breaks in fences, buffer zone around known badger sett.
19. The applicant is claiming that the site is grey belt contrary to Basildon councils latest Green Belt Study.
Please note that this is an outline application so the following is indicative. The final design could change at a later date other than the area of the site and the access point, as those are fixed if outline permission is granted.
1. Single access from Laindon Road/Noak Hill Road roundabout.
2. Emergency access from Laindon Road (one-way section)
3. 420 dwellings made up of 1–2-bedroom flats and 2-4+ bedroom houses.
4. Maximum 3 storeys in centre of estate.
5. 500 sq.m. of non-residential floor space below flats for possible use as convenience store, café or office space. It is not for health facilities.
6. 50% affordable housing distributed across the estate including 1- & 2-bedroom flats and 2–4-bedroom houses. No details of the mix between affordable and market priced home types is shown.
7. Site to be developed in two phases, the first being houses closest to Laindon Road (northeast of site), followed by those nearer to Laindon Common (southwest of site).
8. No traveller pitches.
9. 15 hectares of public open space (45% of a total site of 33.1 hectares)
10. 30m buffer around Frith Wood of which 15m next to the existing wood will be planted with new trees.
11. Foot and cycle paths linking to the approved Laindon Road Phase 1 development and new route along Laindon Road.
12. No mention of contributions towards education and health facilities (we assume this will be based on what ECC and the NHS request to fulfil Golden Rules requirements).
13. There are no stated improvements to Laindon Road. It remains partially one-way but the one-way section is slightly shortened to accommodate the estate emergency access point. Essex Highways do not support making the road fully 2-way.
14. Upgrade of Sun Corner by reverting to a crossroads with traffic lights is suggested to improve an over capacity situation, and the development proposes to make a proportional contribution to the cost. The implication that this would be an Essex Highways managed project.
15. Contribution towards enhanced bus services.
16. The application proposes that the mandatory minimum of 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) will be exceeded by creating new habitats on site.
17. Existing hedgerows, pond, and most trees will be kept and enhanced, with some trees being removed to gain access.
18. Environmental features - air source heat pump (no gas), layout to maximise potential solar use, EV charging, bat & bird boxes, hedgehog breaks in fences, buffer zone around known badger sett.
19. The applicant is claiming that the site is grey belt contrary to Basildon councils latest Green Belt Study.
Points to consider when objecting
1. Green Belt. The council’s 2025 Green Belt Study shows that the bulk of this site (parcels BI19 & BI20) contribute strongly to Green Belt purposes a, b & c. Part is in parcel BI21 that contributes to purposes a & c. As such the land should not be considered grey belt under the National Planning Policy Framework as it contributes strongly to purposes a & b. (Note that purposes c is not used to determine grey belt but is still important).
2. Apart from a small farm compound, the site has not been previously developed.
3. Merger of Billericay with Little Burstead, especially when considered together with the already approved adjacent Phase 1 development on Laindon Road.
4. Loss of productive arable land and associated jobs. The applicant states that the site is 67.3% agricultural classification grade 2 and 3a. The NPPF clearly states that such land should be avoided for development.
5. Traffic impacts from over 400 extra cars on the already busy Laindon Road roundabout, Noak Hill Road and Sun Corner, especially when considered with the 250 houses already approved on Laindon Road and the 179 directly opposite at Kennel Lane. That is around 1,000 additional cars in total.
6. High potential for increased rat-running through Little Burstead and Tye Common Road to avoid Sun Corner.
7. An unsustainable edge of town location that will inevitably be car dependent. It is around a 15–20-minute walk to the nearest schools, doctors, dentists and supermarkets, and a 30-minute walk to the rail station. It is on the edge of the distance where people will drive instead of walk if they have access to a car.
8. No bus service runs on Laindon Road or Noak Hill Road. The nearest bus stops are a 15-minute walk away on Southend Road near Weir Wynd, or on Tye Common Road (the assumption is that a new service will operate on Tye Common Road as funded by other already approved developments on Dunton Road and Laindon Road). The lack of close-by bus services adds to potential car usage.
9. Impact on already full or stretched schools, doctors, and dentists. This site will result in over 1,000 new residents, or 1,600 when considered with the already approved 250 houses on Laindon Road.
10. Environmental impacts on open farmland, Laindon Common and Frith Wood. Badgers, bats and red-listed birds are present today. The introduction of buildings, people and pets can have a devastating effect on wildlife.
11. There are no clear details on how Frith Wood will be protected from incursion by new residents, or how it will be managed in the future. It is a recognised ancient wood that needs to be regularly coppiced.
12. The planning application appears to be weak compared to others when it comes to the funding and delivery of key infrastructure such as health facilities and schools. There are no clear details in this regard. No new key services are being proposed within the site.
2. Apart from a small farm compound, the site has not been previously developed.
3. Merger of Billericay with Little Burstead, especially when considered together with the already approved adjacent Phase 1 development on Laindon Road.
4. Loss of productive arable land and associated jobs. The applicant states that the site is 67.3% agricultural classification grade 2 and 3a. The NPPF clearly states that such land should be avoided for development.
5. Traffic impacts from over 400 extra cars on the already busy Laindon Road roundabout, Noak Hill Road and Sun Corner, especially when considered with the 250 houses already approved on Laindon Road and the 179 directly opposite at Kennel Lane. That is around 1,000 additional cars in total.
6. High potential for increased rat-running through Little Burstead and Tye Common Road to avoid Sun Corner.
7. An unsustainable edge of town location that will inevitably be car dependent. It is around a 15–20-minute walk to the nearest schools, doctors, dentists and supermarkets, and a 30-minute walk to the rail station. It is on the edge of the distance where people will drive instead of walk if they have access to a car.
8. No bus service runs on Laindon Road or Noak Hill Road. The nearest bus stops are a 15-minute walk away on Southend Road near Weir Wynd, or on Tye Common Road (the assumption is that a new service will operate on Tye Common Road as funded by other already approved developments on Dunton Road and Laindon Road). The lack of close-by bus services adds to potential car usage.
9. Impact on already full or stretched schools, doctors, and dentists. This site will result in over 1,000 new residents, or 1,600 when considered with the already approved 250 houses on Laindon Road.
10. Environmental impacts on open farmland, Laindon Common and Frith Wood. Badgers, bats and red-listed birds are present today. The introduction of buildings, people and pets can have a devastating effect on wildlife.
11. There are no clear details on how Frith Wood will be protected from incursion by new residents, or how it will be managed in the future. It is a recognised ancient wood that needs to be regularly coppiced.
12. The planning application appears to be weak compared to others when it comes to the funding and delivery of key infrastructure such as health facilities and schools. There are no clear details in this regard. No new key services are being proposed within the site.
