Wickford North Green Action Group (WNGAG) was formed in late 2006 when we first became aware that developers were planning to build on 100 acres of green countryside between Station Avenue and Waverley Crescent - an area known locally as Barn Hall. WNGAG is an independent, non-political group of residents. We are recognised by both Basildon District Council and Chelmsford Borough Council as a properly constituted interest group which is representing the interests of the local community. We work closely with Basildon and Chelmsford councillors because the land owned by the developers falls within the boundaries of both councils; and, also, with our local MP, John Baron. As well as this website, we issue regular leaflets to local residents and aim to keep the whole community up-to-date with what is happening and what’s at stake for their neighbourhood.
We won a significant victory on
12 February 2008 when Basildon Council’s Planning Committee
rejected the developers’ initial application to build up to
200 flats and houses in the two fields at the end of
Station Avenue. But the fight to save Barn Hall permanently
continued because the developers, Gleeson Homes Ltd and
Gladedale Group Ltd, don’t just own these two fields. They
own most of the 100 acres up to and beyond Waverley
Crescent. They intend to ‘concrete over’ the lot, build up
to 2000 flats and houses, and ruin the neighbourhood and
lifestyle enjoyed at present by residents in North
Wickford.
We won a second victory, after a Public Inquiry lasting
four days at the end of June, when the Planning Inspector
recommended that Gleeson’s and Gladedale’s appeal against
the Council’s rejection of their planning application be
turned down. But the Planning Inspector’s recommendation
was over-ruled by central government and the Secretary of
State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears,
decided in October 2008 to allow the developers to start
building at Barn Hall - despite the strength of opposition
in the local community that had been reflected in our
petition to her containing 3,521 signatures!
The battle continued as Basildon Council, with the full
support of WNGAG, appealed the Secretary of State’s
decision to the High Court. Unfortunately, on 19 February
2009, that appeal was unsuccessful. For more information
and further updates, see News and Updates.
WNGAG was dedicated solely to
opposing development at Barn Hall. Our aim was to keep it
permanently within the Green Belt. We are not connected to
other, local action groups with wider aims, such as the
Wickford Action Group, which is against all aspects of
over-development in Wickford, including (in their view) the
current Wickford Masterplan.
Following the High Court’s decision, WNGAG’s focus is
changing. We have been forced to accept that there will be
development of one sort or another at Barn Hall. We must
now strive to ensure that it’s the best sort of development
for this part of Wickford. The developers now need to make
a detailed planning application to Basildon Council. That
will be the time for us, and indeed for all residents who
feel adversely affected by their proposals, to submit their
comments again to the Council’s planning department. We’ll
publish details of the developers’ detailed planning
application, when available, on this website. You will then
be able to:
- E-mail us with your comments, saying
what you think about the proposed development; and,
• Submit your views, objections etc to Basildon Council, following the guidance which we’ll give at the time on our Take Action page.
You can also read the many, many thoughts and comments sent to us by past and present Wickford and Essex residents, who wanted to stop this development, at Comments. In over two years, not one single person ever said to WNGAG that they were in favour of developing Barn Hall!