Priti with Wickham Bishops Parish Council Chair Ian Wardrop
Priti calls on Council to reject unsuitable development in Wickham Bishops
Witham MP Priti Patel has called on Maldon District Council to reject a planning application for a large and unsuitable housing development on a site off of 9 Church Road, Wickham Bishops.
The outline planning application for up to 50 dwellings is due to be considered by the Council’s North Western Area Planning Committee on Wednesday (13 September 2023) and has been recommended for approval by Council officers. The application is opposed by local residents, including Wickham Bishops Parish Council. A previous similar planning application was refused by the Council and the Planning Inspector because it was outside of the settlement boundary and would have an adverse impact on the environment and local infrastructure.
Speaking after meeting with Parish Council Chair Ian Wardrop and local campaigners opposing the application, Priti said: “These development plans are wholly inappropriate and unsuitable for Wickham Bishops. The location is unacceptable, the scale of development proposed is too large and the impact on local services and infrastructure will be significant. Developments on this site have been rejected before and it is disappointing that the Council is recommending that this outline application is approved. I have been working with the local community in Wickham Bishops to oppose these plans and urge the planning committee to reject them this week.”