Witham MP Priti Patel has raised concerns over a speculative development application submitted for 375 new dwellings on agricultural land in Silver End. The site, to the north of Western Road, has been put forward for an outline planning application, a company notorious for submitting speculative development applications against local wishes. The application has come forward as a a direct result of the Labour Government’s changes to planning policies and huge increase in housing targets, which undermine protections and local decision-making, while enabling speculative developers to propose destroying the countryside and agricultural land. Priti said:
“Labour’s planning policies once again threaten the Essex countryside. Keir Starmer’s imposition of huge increases in housing targets on this part of Essex are to blame for this application.”
“These development plans are wrong and will place huge new pressures and burdens on local services. Silver End has already experienced significant levels of new housing growth and it is appalling that Labour’s planning policies have empowered speculative developers to destroy farmland and countryside. I will campaign against these plans and encourage residents with concerns and who want to protect the countryside to respond to the consultation on this application.”
