Key Points:
- Havering Council has approved an outline planning application for 28 new homes in Broxhill Road, Havering-atte-Bower.
- The development will replace existing industrial warehouses.
- The housing scheme includes 11 “affordable” two- and three-bedroom mews houses and 17 “custom build” houses.
- Custom build homes will allow individual construction of development plots.
- Each group of homes will be built around its own courtyard with access from Broxhill Road.
- The application was submitted over three years ago and faced six objections from residents.
- Concerns raised include extra strain on infrastructure (electricity, sewage) and potential harm to the historic village.
- The Havering-atte-Bower Conservation Society argued that the infrastructure is too old to sustain the proposed number of homes.
- The site is on green belt land, but the council ruled that the impact of the homes would be less than that of the existing warehouses.
- The council cited the need for affordable and custom-built housing as “very special circumstances” to approve the plan.
- Developer Iceni Projects now has three years to submit further details on design, landscaping, and layout.
Havering Council Approves Plan for 28 New Homes in Broxhill Road
An outline planning application to demolish industrial warehouses and build 28 new homes in Broxhill Road, Havering-atte-Bower, has been approved by Havering Council—despite concerns from residents and conservationists.
The decision, made after a three-year process, paves the way for a new housing development in the historic village, comprising both affordable and custom-build homes.
What does the approved plan include?
The approved outline plan consists of:
- 11 “affordable” mews houses with two or three bedrooms.
- 17 “custom build” homes, where individual plots will be constructed separately.
- Homes arranged around courtyards, with access via a driveway between Mylands Farm and Fernside House.
Why did residents object to the development?
The proposal faced six formal objections from neighbours and organisations, who raised concerns including:
- Increased strain on local infrastructure such as electricity and sewage.
- Potential harm to the historical and archaeological significance of the village.
- Fears that the existing infrastructure is too old to support additional homes.
The Havering-atte-Bower Conservation Society argued that the plan would be “detrimental to the village” and that the “very old” infrastructure could not sustain the number of houses proposed.
How did the council justify approving the plan?
The site falls within green belt land, where developments are typically restricted to preserve open space.
However, the council’s planning team ruled that:
- The proposed houses would have a lesser impact on the land than the current warehouses.
- The need for affordable and custom-built housing constituted “very special circumstances” that outweighed the usual green belt restrictions.
A planning officer’s report stated:
“The proposal is considered inappropriate development in green belt which, by definition, is harmful to its openness. However, due to factors pertinent to the development, it is considered that the proposal would be acceptable.”
What happens next?
Since the application was approved in outline form, developer Iceni Projects now has three years to submit detailed plans covering aspects such as:
- Building appearance
- Landscaping
- Layout of the homes
Further approvals will be required before construction can begin.
Will the decision face further challenges?
With local opposition and concerns from conservationists, the development is likely to continue facing scrutiny as the planning process moves forward.
The council’s decision highlights the ongoing tension between housing needs and heritage conservation in Havering.
