I share residents' concerns about the potential of 1800 new homes being built on Green Belt at North Benfleet Hall Farm. If you have not already, I would urge you to take part in the consultation here: croudace-northbenfleet.co.uk/feedback/
A proposal has been put forward to cram in a development of 1,800 homes on Green Belt at North Benfleet Hall Farm. Since I was first elected in 2010, I have always stood with residents when they oppose the development on treasured and unspoiled local Green Belt which is central to the semi-rural character of the local villages and towns.
I am aware that local residents feel that the semi-rural nature of Bowers Gifford and North Benfleet is what makes the area a great place to live. This development risks taking away the village feel and would make the area into a dormitory town.
The Bowers Gifford Parish Council are also opposed to developments of this scale on this location and they have my support. I fully support their concerns for local infrastructure in maintaining these new developments and the effect it would have on current locals.
I will acknowledge the pressure put onto local towns after the current governments commitment to building 1.5 million net additional homes in England until 2029. I also understand that new government legislation that could see farmland being compulsory purchased for development and move to reclassify some Green Belt as ‘Grey Belt’ has put pressure on local landowners. However, Basildon Borough Council have not yet finished their plan, and the Council lists several negative planning factors related to the use of this site for housing in their site assessment report. These include concerns about pollution, distance from economic centers, proximity to protected habitats, and flood risk. Another big factor being road infrastructure and transport. This is already a major issue for the people of Bowers Gifford, North Benfleet, Canvey Island, South Benfleet and Thundersley. This development would only enhance this issue.
It is important that we continue to protect our Green Belt from unsustainable developments such as these, and I will continue to stand with the local residents who are wholly opposed to development of such a huge and unviable scale on that site.
