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 worked closely with Basildon and Chelmsford councillors because the land owned by the developers fell within the boundaries of both councils; and, also, with our (then) 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 by North Wickford residents.
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 (then)
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.
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 the ill-fated
Wickford Masterplan.
Following the High Court’s decision, WNGAG’s focus changed.
We had to accept that there would be development of one
sort or another at Barn Hall. We’ve been ‘working behind
the scenes’ to ensure what is built is the most suitable
development for this part of Wickford and its residents. We
are pleased that Gleeson and Gladedale have listened to
what we had to say. Their new, detailed planning
application was very different from their original plans in
2006. Following minor revisions, it was given the ‘go
ahead’ by Basildon Council in November 2010 and building
began in April 2011. For more information and for how to
raise any concerns or issues directly with the developers’
Site Manager during construction, see News and Updates.
You may:
- View the detailed building plans and the conditions imposed on this development on Basildon Council’s website by following the link on our Take Action page;
- Tell us what you think about the new, detailed plans
by e-mail.
You can 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 four years, not one single person ever said to WNGAG that they were in favour of developing Barn Hall!