Wickford, Basildon

In 2023, Martin Grant Land submitted an outline planning application for up to 250 new homes adjacent to Wickford, Basildon Borough.

The site is Green Belt, and an application was submitted on the basis of it being draft allocated in the now, withdrawn emerging Local Plan.

There have been many complex issues to overcome, including the need to liaise with Network Rail to close an existing crossing from the site to the west, as well as capacity issues at Anglian Water’s nearby waste water treatment works.

Through considered negotiation and discussions with Basildon Borough Council, the application received a resolution to grant planning permission at Committee in November 2025. The justification for the principle of development was that the Council agreed with us that the site constituted Grey Belt.

We are in the process of negotiating the S106 Agreement and hope to secure consent in 2026, before selling the site.

• Up to 250 homes including 50% affordable in line with the NPPF ‘Golden Rules’
• 67% of the site is open space
• Provision of a Neighbourhood Equipped Area of Play (NEAP) and three Local Areas of Play (LAPs)
• Retention and restoration on of site WW2 Pillboxes
• Contributions towards local infrastructure including schools and bus services
• Closure of existing Network Rail crossing that is deemed one of the most unsafe in the region and provision of an alternative route by upgrading existing footways