Resolution to grant planning permission granted for £780 Million Dunton Hills Garden Village

Brentwood Borough Council recently resolved to in principle grant planning permission for Dunton Hills Garden Village.

The planning application, submitted by CEG in autumn 2021, provides for up to 3,700 new homes, three care homes, a village centre and two neighbourhood hubs which will provide easy access to shops, facilities and services. There will also be three primary schools, a secondary school, children’s nurseries and a community sports hub, as well as a football and cricket pitches.

About half of the site will be green and blue space, which will include trees, hedgerows, grassland and habitats, as well as a village green, community growing space, an orchard, ponds and new informal parkland. There will be a 20% net biodiversity gain when compared to the existing site. Designed to be a healthy place to live and work, it will include new walking and cycling routes, as well as formal sports facilities.

A mobility hub will provide a forward-thinking approach to the sustainable travel proposals which include a community concierge, hire and repair of cycles, car sharing schemes, traditional bus and demand responsive transport infrastructure. An improved pedestrian/cycle link to West Horndon railway station is to be provided which will complement the Council’s aspirations to enhance the facilities available at the station.

Charlotte Robinson, Head of Planning at CEG, said: “This decision follows many years of engagement with the Council, local stakeholders and residents. It is a locally designed and landscape led scheme which will provide a mix of new homes and employment space, set within extensive green spaces, with schools, healthcare facilities, shops and services all within walking distance.

“As well as including extensive investment into transport infrastructure, alongside the education and healthcare provision, there will also be much-needed affordable housing designed to enable local people and young people stay in the area.

“CEG would like to thank the officers of the Borough and County Councils for working in collaboration with its own consultant team to enable Dunton Hills to reach this position. The consultant team was co-ordinated by David Barnes of Star Planning and included by Broadway Malyan, SLR/Vectos, WSP, Lichfields, Brookbanks and Clyde & Co”

The development will create 1,150 jobs and will support a further 700 plus jobs in the local area. There is expected to be some £71million of additional expenditure each year, supporting the local economy.