2 Dwellings Approved by Basildon on Green Belt - Previously Developed Land
Planning permission from Basildon Council for two new single-storey dwellings in the Metropolitan Green Belt near Billericay, by demonstrating the site constituted previously developed land and the proposed scheme reduced the overall built footprint.
PLANNING APPROVALSBASILDONESSEXGREEN BELT APPROVALS
Andrew Ransome
7/19/20262 min read
In 2023, Basildon Council granted planning permission for the demolition of an existing bungalow, mobile home and outbuildings on a Green Belt site between Basildon and Billericay, and their replacement with two new single-storey dwellings.
I demonstrated that the site was previously developed land, and that the proposed scheme would result in less built development overall — a key argument in justifying the NPPF exception for Green Belt redevelopment.
Previously Developed Land - 2 Dwellings Approved in the Green Belt
I secured planning permission from Basildon Council for the demolition of an existing rundown bungalow, a permanent residential mobile home and several outbuildings on a site in the Metropolitan Green Belt between Basildon and Billericay, and their replacement with two new family dwellings.
This was a complex Green Belt case.
The site was a deep plot extending some 150 metres to the rear, containing a variety of structures — the bungalow at the front, the mobile home immediately behind, and storage buildings beyond that.
The combination of these structures formed the basis of the previously developed land argument.
Under the NPPF, the redevelopment of previously developed land in the Green Belt is not inappropriate development, provided it does not have a greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt than the existing development.
I argued the site clearly met the definition of previously developed land, and built the case around two key openness arguments.
First, the proposed scheme would result in an overall reduction in built development compared with the existing.
The existing structures, though modest individually, were scattered across a large depth of the plot. The two proposed dwellings were single-storey with a narrow rectangular form, concentrated within a smaller area, and designed with greater spacing between buildings — generating a loose-knit arrangement more in keeping with the rural character of the locality.
Second, the design reinforced the rural context. Timber cladding and slate were specified as the principal external materials, creating a modest, countryside-appropriate appearance rather than the generic suburban character common to many Green Belt applications.
Basildon Council approved the redevelopment application.
Planning Application Advice
If you have a Green Belt site with existing buildings and want to understand whether a redevelopment scheme is achievable, I can advise on the previously developed land argument and the openness test. Contact me to discuss.
Andrew Ransome MRTPI - Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
About me
Andrew Ransome is a Planning Director and a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), with more than two decades of experience in town planning.
He specialises in delivering strategic planning solutions for complex developments across both rural and urban environments, helping clients navigate planning challenges and unlock development opportunities. Connect with Andrew on Linkedin.
Planning Approvals in the Green Belt
Planning Application Information
Get in touch for planning advice: Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
© 2026. All rights reserved.