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Plans for 900-home estate on green belt

A HUGE new housing estate of 900 homes could be built on green belt land between Benfleet and Pitsea.

Plans for 900-home estate on green belt Plans for 900-home estate on green belt

The Echo has seen plans drawn up by Castle Point Council’s planning department to develop privately-owned land at Jotmans Lane, Benfleet, stretching to the borders of Pitsea and Rayleigh Weir.

It is understood the plans have the support of Tory councillors, who are desperate to avoid upsetting voters by allowing development on green belt across the rest of the borough.

They think the Jotmans site would be ideal for a major housing development, as it is hardly surrounded by any existing homes.

However, David Head, 64, from Daws Heath, who is chairman of the Hands Off Our Greenbelt pressure group, said the plan would be unprecedented.

He said: “We’re totally against any building on green belt in Castle Point.

“We need to protect this land for our children and their children too.

“The borough has never seen a new development on this scale for generations, since they built New Thundersley in the Sixties.”

Councillors have been banned from commenting on the issue, but a Tory, who asked not to be named, said: “On the face of it, I would be inclined to support this plan.

“It would take pressure off other greenbelt sites which have been identified for development.

“There would still be a barrier of green space between Castle Point and Basildon after all the new homes had been built.”

Castle Point Council has been forced to review where new homes will be built in the borough over the next 15 years, following a damning report by the Government’s planning inspector Paul Crysell.

Mr Crysell was concerned many of the sites put forward in the authority’s Local Develop-ment Framework were unrealistic, and demanded it find new locations for 1,000 homes.

Councillors from all parties are set to cast a final vote on the issue at a council meeting on September 27.

Other green belt sites being considered for development include land to the north of Daws Heath Road, Thundersley, and to the west of Glebelands, Benfleet.


Comments (9)

14/09/11

geezer, innit says...

ooh look, Castle Point Council are going to grant planning permission for green belt land.....


Quick someone 'Dale Farm' them in the High court....or there'll be hell to pay

captcha gobbledygook 'prime example hypocrisy'

14/09/11

Mark D says...

It's dreadful that ANY Green Belt land is being built on.

14/09/11

PJR says...

If this is Jotmans lane, off the Benfleet High Road, how is it going to stretch to Rayleigh Weir?
...
Another geographical goof by the Echo I think...

14/09/11

Rayleigh-boy says...

It would be a shame with so many run down property's that could be used. instead. It just comes down to the housing/builders wanting more profit if they start from scratch.

14/09/11

GentleGiant says...

Hope they build a good variety of homes - mind you where will the access road be as cemetery corner would be no good.

14/09/11

Ian P says...

Not only should greenbelt not be used for housing on this scale, what about the infastructure required to support this influx of people into an already overcrowded area lacking in infastructure.

14/09/11

marshman says...

Seems like a reasonable plan to me.

But where on earth has David Head been? He says “The borough has never seen a new development on this scale for generations, since they built New Thundersley in the Sixties.”

Really Mr Head? How about The Saints Estate, Lawrence Homes, Sixty Acres and The Avenues on Canvey?

Or don't they count?

I think what you mean is that in the past the council has only allowed major development on Canvey. Well sir, welcome to the real world.

Next on the list should be Daws Heath in my opinion. It's a scrubby bit of land sandwiched between a main road and an industrial estate and doesn't really serve any greenbelt function.

The government's changed the rules so there's a presumption now for approval for plans in the green belt. That should remove the obstacles that have prevented development thus far.

Looks like the Island's going to spared for a while as we watch the whole of Benfleet, Hadleigh and Thundersley buried under concrete.

Now that'd be worth the trip home from Spain or Florida.

14/09/11

Aint it just the truth says...

They won't be happy until the whole of south east England is carpeted with concrete and houses. We are already one of the most densely populated corners of the most densely populated country in Europe so why do we have to build anything round here? This should all go elesewhere, not round here. Time our Councilors grew a pair and stood up to the Governement and said NO.

16/09/11

termite1944 says...

Dale Farm residents ... here is a solution to your problem ... green belt land with planning permission and nobody could evict you!

I suggest when you are evicted to squat on land in Castle Point as they would have qute a headcache convincing any court that green belt land cannot be built on!

Nice bit of land right on the sea front currently a car park ... and Castle Point Council don't mind if it is green belt?

I am sure many of you can get past locked gates and barriers!

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