The Great Balancing Act: Navigating Housing, Infrastructure, and the Green Belt in Basildon, Wickford, and Billericay

The Great Balancing Act: Navigating Housing, Infrastructure, and the Green Belt in Basildon, Wickford, and Billericay

Have you ever tried to book a GP appointment lately and ended up with a slot just after your next birthday? Or noticed that rush hour on the A127 now starts at noon and ends sometime after tea? Welcome to the Basildon growth debate—a topic on everyone’s lips, from the town centre to the quiet lanes of Crays Hill.

The Basildon Borough, stretching from the bustling heart of Basildon itself to the cherished villages of Wickford and Billericay, is changing, and fast. Everyone has an opinion on it, and rightly so. This blog is here to provide you with the straight facts, empowering you with the knowledge needed to have a meaningful say in how our area evolves. Think of it as your roadmap to understanding the significant local issues.

The role of surveying is fundamental to any responsible and sustainable development. From the moment a developer considers a patch of land, a surveyor's precise, objective data is essential. Without it, planning decisions can lack essential groundwork, leading to costly errors, legal spats, and significant safety hazards. The expertise of local surveying companies contributes by ensuring that all development projects are built on a solid understanding of the land and its existing features. In short, it's the professional eye that lays the invisible foundations for the future.

The Basildon Local Plan: Blueprint or Battleground?

For those who don't follow council planning with bated breath, the Local Plan is the borough's master strategy. It outlines where and how growth will occur, encompassing everything from new homes to parks and businesses. Once it's formally adopted, it becomes the rulebook for all future planning applications.

This isn't the council's first rodeo. The previous plan was withdrawn in 2022 after a lengthy battle, illustrating the complexity and contentious nature of this process. The good news is, a new plan is in the works, with a revised timetable that's now in its thirteenth edition. Some locals say they’re on first-name terms with the survey monkey at this point!

Here's the plan's roadmap, as it stands today:

StageEstimated Timescale
Regulation 18 - First Draft ConsultationNov 2024 - Jan 2025
Regulation 18 - Second Focused DraftFeb - Apr 2025
Regulation 19 - Publication (Full Draft)Autumn 2025
Regulation 22 - SubmissionJanuary 2026
Regulation 24 - Independent ExaminationFrom January 2026
Regulation 26 - AdoptionWinter 2026


The significant figure everyone's discussing is the proposed target of 27,000 new homes for the borough. This isn't just a local decision; it's a direct result of national housing policy. This 'top-down' pressure is a key factor in the difficult decisions facing local councillors and residents alike.

Is Our Green Belt a 'Grey Belt'?

This brings us to the hottest debated topic of all: the Green Belt. These protected areas are now at the heart of the housing conversation. It's a real tug-of-war between the acknowledged need for new homes and the deeply held desire to preserve the character of our towns and villages.

Here are a few of the key flashpoints:

  • Billericay: Plans for 130 new homes on Green Belt land south of London Road have sparked significant opposition. The worry is that this could lead to urban sprawl, closing the cherished gap between Billericay and Havering.
  • Borough-wide: An astonishing "just shy of two-thirds" of the 27,000      proposed new homes are earmarked for Green Belt land. Some local representatives have gone so far as to call this "environmental and      ecological vandalism."
  • Wickford: The proposed new developments would see approximately 4,200 new dwellings, with around half of those on metropolitan Green Belt land.


In an attempt to navigate this, planners have introduced the concept of "grey belt" land. This term is used to describe land that may have been previously developed or less environmentally sensitive, making it a potential candidate for development under "very special circumstances." This re-categorisation is a clever semantic move, but for residents, it can feel like a subtle erosion of long-held protections.


Can Our Roads, Hospitals, and Schools Survive the Growth Spurt?

Let's discuss the real-world implications. Even if we all agreed on where to build the homes, there are widespread concerns that our existing infrastructure is already struggling to cope. The consensus is clear: without robust and timely investment in services, a sudden influx of thousands of new residents will exacerbate the situation for everyone.

This is more than an inconvenience; it's a serious public safety and well-being issue that needs a concrete plan.


The State of Our Infrastructure

  • Transport:  The A127 and A13, our main east-west arteries, are already described as "maxed out" during rush hour. The proposed influx of new residents and vehicles will inevitably exacerbate existing traffic congestion.
  • Healthcare: Basildon Hospital operates at a bed capacity of 98-99% and often exceeds 100% during winter. The projected 65,000 new patients from the proposed housing could have "lethal consequences for patients" according to one local MP.
  • Education: Our schools, particularly those serving students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), are under considerable pressure. A new primary school is being built in the Redrow Westley Heights development, but the overall pressure on school places remains a significant concern.
  • Utilities: The recent burst water main in Basildon town centre was a stark reminder of how vulnerable our unseen infrastructure can be.


The Curious Case of the Unspent Millions

Developers pay a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and enter Section 106 agreements to fund these improvements. The problem? Essex County Council is holding over £140 million in unspent Section 106 funds. That’s enough to pave a yellow brick road from Basildon to Oz—and still have change for a few school extensions. Basildon’s Council Leader has called this a "scandal," and it’s a perfect example of a bureaucratic bottleneck that undermines public trust and delays essential projects.


What Can You Do?

The future of Basildon, Wickford, Billericay, and Crays Hill is at a crossroads. The combination of ambitious housing targets, a strained Green Belt, and a struggling infrastructure system creates a monumental challenge. Yet, there is hope.

The property market also tells its own story. The average house price in Basildon was £364,000 in May 2025, and rents continue to rise. This raises a crucial question: Will these new homes actually be affordable for local people?

Residents have already made their voices heard in previous consultations, and your feedback matters. Mark your diary for Autumn 2025—this is your chance to review the final draft of the plan during the Regulation 19 Consultation and make formal representations.

Basildon’s best days are still ahead if we build on good data, shared knowledge, and local passion. Let’s make sure our collective voice is heard clearly, armed with knowledge, clarity, and a passion for our community.

Final Thoughts: A Call to Action

It’s a bit like King Canute and the tide; we can't stop the need for new houses. But that doesn't mean we have to sit back and watch it all happen. We can—and must—be an active part of the solution.

Let's work together to protect what needs to be protected, because when it's gone, it's gone for good. Let's examine converting old, redundant buildings and developing derelict industrial areas first, rather than sacrificing our precious Green Belt. We must be involved, remain balanced, and hold our officials accountable for their poor decisions.

It's our borough, our community, and our future. Let's make sure it's one we can all be proud of.