Brokenshire gives Essex housing schemes the go-ahead

Communities secretary James Brokenshire has used his ministerial powers to approve three housing schemes in Essex which will see the construction of up to 260 homes on land near the village of Hatfield Peverel.

In 2016 Gladman applied for planning permission for 80 homes at Stonepath Drive in the village. Braintree District Council’s planning committee overturned officer’s recommendation and refused planning permission.

Gladman then put in application for a larger scheme of 140 homes and this time Braintree District Council’s planning committee agreed with officer’s recommendations and approved the application.

However both applications, along with another for 120 homes at a nearby site in Gleneagles Way, were called in for determination by the secretary of state.

A significant factor in the minister’s decision was Braintree district council’s inability to demonstrate a five-year housing-land supply.

“Given this finding, and the objective of significantly boosting the supply of new homes, he attaches great weight to the provision of housing,” the secretary of state’s office said.

Cheshire-based Gladman had proposed building one of two schemes on land near Hatfield Peverel featuring 140 or 80 homes, up to 40% of which would be affordable.

The sites would feature planting and landscaping, green space and play areas for children.

The council has six weeks in which to challenge the minister’s decision at the High Court, but said it had no plans to do so.