John Baron

Conservative Party | Billericay and District

John Baron MP receives assurance from Basildon Council over Barn Hall

Council says any development would be inappropriate.

In opposing plans to develop the Barn Hall site, John Baron MP has questioned the Council about the designation of the land and has recently received assurances that any development would be inappropriate.

John said:

“Although the owners have made informal contact to discuss planning proposals, the Council has assured me that if an application was submitted it would be assessed on the basis that the land was a greenbelt site, and that therefore any development would be inappropriate unless there were very special circumstances to justify granting permission.”

“The Council has explained that Barn Hall is allocated in the Basildon District Local Plan as an ‘area of special reserve’, and that the owners may have been prompted to consider developing it due to the fact that the Council has withdrawn from the Replacement Local Plan – but this in itself does not mean that sites such as Barn Hall become available for development.”

“I have written to the Council again confirming these assurances. I have also pointed out that, given the importance of Barn Hall to the local community, it is important that local residents’ are listened to and that this valuable site is not developed.”

“We must do all we can to ensure that local residents are not ignored when it comes to the development of our greenbelt. Local residents should make these decisions as they have to live with the consequences.”