A NEW estate with 480 homes is set to be built in Billericay – as councillors look to green-light the proposals.

Basildon Council's planning committee is being recommended to agree the plans for the development of up to 480 properties north of London Road, Billericay, which is green belt land.

The site is farmland and is described as "the best and most versatile agricultural land."

Environmental campaigners fear it will see urban sprawl, join up currently built-up areas, and risk Billericay and Brentwood merging into one.

The Billericay Action Group said: "Basildon councillors have been recommended to approve a third grey belt planning application this year. 250 houses on Laindon Road, 400 on Noak Bridge, and now 480 north of London Road. Again, completely green field, no previously developed land.

"Perhaps most shockingly, the development will cause coalescence between Billericay and Haverings Grove. Billericay will become a cross-boundary town and will extend deep into Brentwood." Council officers regard the site as "the best and most versatile agricultural land."

The council says if plans are agreed there must be 50 per cent affordable housing on site, contributions towards healthcare improvements, education, sustainable transport, bus service contribution, bus stop improvements, employment and skills and, open space. 

The council's planning officer's report states: "Whilst the proposed development would result in a low-medium harm to the setting of the non-designated heritage asset Great Cowbridge Grange Farm, this harm is concluded to be significantly outweighed by the public benefits of the scheme. 

"It is, however, considered that all of the harms identified, which include the heritage low-medium level harms detailed above, the harm to the local landscape character and setting, and to the openness of the green belt and the loss of approximately 25 hectares of best and most versatile agricultural land are, in the opinion of officers, clearly outweighed by the very special circumstances that have been evidenced in this application.

"These factors and very special circumstances include the limited purposes that the site contributes to the function of green belt, which carries significant positive weight, as well as the significant positive weight that would be attributable to the amount of market and affordable housing proposed within the scheme, along with moderate environmental, social and local community and economic benefits. In addition, the council's evidence base weighs very heavily in favour of the proposal.

"The proposals would not therefore conflict with the saved policies of the Basildon Local Plan when taken as a whole."