Two Self-Build Homes Approved in Billericay Green Belt
Full planning permission secured from Basildon Borough Council for two self-build dwellings on Green Belt land near Billericay, using the NPPF grey belt policy. Read how the scheme was approved.
PLANNING APPROVALSBASILDONESSEX
Andrew Ransome
10/2/20262 min read
In September 2026, Basildon Borough Council granted full planning permission for two self-build dwellings on Green Belt land near Billericay.
Grey Belt Policy and the Green Belt Test in Basildon
The site, in the village of Little Burstead, lies within the Green Belt. It is an unused parcel of about 0.3 hectares, previously used to store vehicles and containing a number of sheds and outbuildings, and it is surrounded by homes on all sides.
The application was built around the NPPF's grey belt policy. We demonstrated that the land did not strongly contribute to Green Belt purposes (a), (b) or (d) in paragraph 143, and then addressed each test in paragraph 155 for homes on grey belt land.
Demonstrable unmet need was clear-cut: Basildon's own Five Year Land Supply Report showed a supply of only 1.96 years.
Planning Permission Granted by Basildon Borough Council
The two dwellings follow the prevailing pattern of detached homes laid out parallel to the road and set back within their plots.
They are 1½ storey chalet-bungalow style buildings, using red facing brick, weatherboard cladding and clay tiles to reflect the surrounding area, with boundary vegetation retained.
The decision demonstrates how the NPPF's grey belt provisions can support small-scale housing on well-contained Green Belt sites in Essex, where the policy tests are properly addressed.
Do you have a potential development plot in the Green Belt?
Own land in the Green Belt in Basildon, Billericay or elsewhere in Essex and wondering whether grey belt policy could support new homes? Contact me me for an initial discussion.
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 Basildon
Planning Application Information
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