25/01517/OUT Outwood Common Road (300 houses)
A proposal to build 300 houses between Outwood Common Road and Outwood Farm Road.
Link to planning application
planning.basildon.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T5VPO8CQI6U00&activeTab=summary
For help on how to comment see Planning Application Help
For help on how to comment see Planning Application Help
Deadline for objections
9 January 2026 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. 300 houses in total
2. 150 affordable houses/150 market price houses
3. 1-4 bedrooms
4. Maximum 3 storeys
5. 12.5 hectares of public open space (total site 20 hectares)
6. Play areas
7. Access from Outwood Common Road
8. Emergency access on Outwood Farm Road
9. Greater than 10% Biodiversity Net Gain
10. Existing trees & hedgerow retained
11. Exist public right of way retained
12. No on-site services – shops, community centre, health facilities, schools
13. Proposed contributions towards education & health (unspecified amounts)
14. No proposed highways improvements other than access
15. Claiming grey belt.
16. No dormice or badger setts are recorded on site.
17. Bats, greater crested newt and red-listed breeding birds are present.
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. 300 houses in total
2. 150 affordable houses/150 market price houses
3. 1-4 bedrooms
4. Maximum 3 storeys
5. 12.5 hectares of public open space (total site 20 hectares)
6. Play areas
7. Access from Outwood Common Road
8. Emergency access on Outwood Farm Road
9. Greater than 10% Biodiversity Net Gain
10. Existing trees & hedgerow retained
11. Exist public right of way retained
12. No on-site services – shops, community centre, health facilities, schools
13. Proposed contributions towards education & health (unspecified amounts)
14. No proposed highways improvements other than access
15. Claiming grey belt.
16. No dormice or badger setts are recorded on site.
17. Bats, greater crested newt and red-listed breeding birds are present.
Points to consider when objecting
1. This is Green Belt. The site is predominantly made up of 2025 Green Belt Study parcels BI35 & BI36 where the bulk of the houses are being proposed. Both parcels contribute strongly to Green Belt purpose (a). The land has not been previously developed. Therefore, the majority if the site should not be considered grey belt.
2. The land is active and productive agricultural land providing food security and local jobs.
3. All primary schools close to the site are at, or over, capacity today (Sunnymeade & South Green). Likewise, St. Peter’s Catholic faith school.
4. It is an an extreme edge of town location and is therefore not sustainable. The estate will be car dependent. It is a significant walking distance to many key services.
5. The nearest GP Surgery (Chapel Street) is 1.4 miles and a 30-minute walk
6. Likewise, the nearest dentist also on Chapel Street.
7. The nearest full range supermarket (Waitrose) is 1.5 miles and 35-minute walk.
8. The nearest secondary school (Billericay) is 1.4 miles and a 30-minute walk.
9. Billericay rail station is 1.5 miles and a 35-minute walk.
10. The routes to the nearest, doctors, dentist, secondary school, and rail station are all via very steep hills and are not suitable for cycling by the majority of people. No safe cycle routes exist from the site into Billericay.
11. With walks to key services being over 15 minutes most people will use a car if they have access to one or use a taxi. The estate will generate significant extra traffic.
12. Outwood Common Road is rural and unsuitable for increased traffic. No highways improvements are being proposed by the applicant.
13. The increased traffic will add to the existing congestion on the junction of Outwood Common Road and Southend Road. Exacerbated by the proposed developments of 310 houses on Greens Farm Lane and 240 houses south of Outwood Common Road, and the approved development of 99 houses just south of the junction on Southend Road. No improvements of the junction are being proposed by the applicant.
14. There is a significant potential for increased traffic rat-running through nearby housing estates and on Greens Farm Lane, Outwood Farm Road and Coxes Farm Road as drivers seek alternatives to the inevitable pinch points. Outwood Farm Road and Coxes Farm Road are narrow and difficult to navigate in places.
15. Whilst the No. 9 bus service operates along Outwood Common Road it is no more than an hourly service and does not operate on Sundays. Its frequency would not suit most commuters. There are no proposals to improve this bus service.
16. Whilst there is mention of the development making a contribution towards health care, there are no such comments about education funding. A development of this size should fund healthcare and education.
17. Loss of habitats for bats, newts and red listed birds. Whilst tress and hedges will be retained, and new habitats will be creased, most species cannot live within a built environment with the introduction of people and pets. There is a high potential for species loss from the area.
2. The land is active and productive agricultural land providing food security and local jobs.
3. All primary schools close to the site are at, or over, capacity today (Sunnymeade & South Green). Likewise, St. Peter’s Catholic faith school.
4. It is an an extreme edge of town location and is therefore not sustainable. The estate will be car dependent. It is a significant walking distance to many key services.
5. The nearest GP Surgery (Chapel Street) is 1.4 miles and a 30-minute walk
6. Likewise, the nearest dentist also on Chapel Street.
7. The nearest full range supermarket (Waitrose) is 1.5 miles and 35-minute walk.
8. The nearest secondary school (Billericay) is 1.4 miles and a 30-minute walk.
9. Billericay rail station is 1.5 miles and a 35-minute walk.
10. The routes to the nearest, doctors, dentist, secondary school, and rail station are all via very steep hills and are not suitable for cycling by the majority of people. No safe cycle routes exist from the site into Billericay.
11. With walks to key services being over 15 minutes most people will use a car if they have access to one or use a taxi. The estate will generate significant extra traffic.
12. Outwood Common Road is rural and unsuitable for increased traffic. No highways improvements are being proposed by the applicant.
13. The increased traffic will add to the existing congestion on the junction of Outwood Common Road and Southend Road. Exacerbated by the proposed developments of 310 houses on Greens Farm Lane and 240 houses south of Outwood Common Road, and the approved development of 99 houses just south of the junction on Southend Road. No improvements of the junction are being proposed by the applicant.
14. There is a significant potential for increased traffic rat-running through nearby housing estates and on Greens Farm Lane, Outwood Farm Road and Coxes Farm Road as drivers seek alternatives to the inevitable pinch points. Outwood Farm Road and Coxes Farm Road are narrow and difficult to navigate in places.
15. Whilst the No. 9 bus service operates along Outwood Common Road it is no more than an hourly service and does not operate on Sundays. Its frequency would not suit most commuters. There are no proposals to improve this bus service.
16. Whilst there is mention of the development making a contribution towards health care, there are no such comments about education funding. A development of this size should fund healthcare and education.
17. Loss of habitats for bats, newts and red listed birds. Whilst tress and hedges will be retained, and new habitats will be creased, most species cannot live within a built environment with the introduction of people and pets. There is a high potential for species loss from the area.
