North Benfleet - 2000? new homes?

[rosegriffin]

Basildon Council approved its DRAFT core strategy on 19th December. The draft was approved by a not vast majority vote.

The draft strategy includes at least 2000 new homes, 5.5 hectares of employment land, schools, sports facilities and health care provision in the "North East Basildon Urban Extension" identified as PADC6 over the next 16 years i.e. by 2031.

I have asked Basildon Council whether this includes North Benfleet and an excerpt from the answer I have received is below:

"Land within the North East of Basildon between the A127 and A13 could be regarded as being part of PADC6. There are no specific sites identified at this stage, but it could include land at Bradfields Farm/ Harrow Road/ Carpenters Farm/ North Benfleet Hall Farm, as well as land around them, as these are in the North East of this area of the Borough. The policy says that the development should support the existing Plotland community of North Benfleet to the south through Plotland Infill, as well as retaining and maintaining a strategic gap of Green Belt along the A130 Corridor. It is not unreasonable therefore to assume that it is the Council's proposed intention to try to contain its spread southwards and eastwards, which would mean the far east of the Borough adjacent to the A130, which includes Bonvilles Farm and others may be excluded as a development location and any development in the Plotlands would be limited to infill only".


The draft core strategy must now go out to public consultation. The Residents Association has asked for one of the public consultation meetings to be held at the Benbow. As yet this has not been confirmed. However, if one the consultation locations is not at the Benbow there will be other locations e.g. Pitsea, Wickford, Basildon.

We will let you know when and where the public consultations will be be. If you do not receive one of our monthly email newsletters then please email [e-mail] so that you receive relevant information as soon as we know.

Some councillors believe that the building would be better on the other side of the A127. Others argue that this would cause problems getting to the industrial site. What do you think? Join our forum and "have your say".

[wattsicle]

I read with interest, and I wonder if you did too, a piece in the Evening Echo on January 15th regarding increasing rents and intern a housing shortage in Basildon. I know that I personally, and many other Basildon residents, have voiced concerns that many of the homes being planned for Basildon will in fact be for migrants from London. These concerns have often been met by reassurance from councillors/MPs that the core strategy is actually based on the district's current residents' needs (and their children of course).
However, Phil Turner of Basildon council cites an migration from London as effecting the housing demand in Basildon more so than a demand for social house and says that actually, there is enough council housing. See attached.

Attachments:

[rosegriffin]

Regrettably, there will be no consultation in the Benbow as requested. However, Tony Ball will be coming to our meeting on 5th February.

Please send any questions for Mr. Ball in advance to [e-mail] Please restrict questions to the core strategy; Little Chalvedon Hall Farm Appeal; and Flooding