Homes4Life has agreed to buy Crowlands Heath Golf Course from Barking and Dagenham Council with plans to demolish the golf course and build 1,253 homes in its place.
The site straddles the boroughs of Havering and Barking and Dagenham.
In a Havering Council strategic planning committee meeting on Thursday, January 22, representatives of Homes4Life presented the proposals to the committee.
CGI of the proposed housing estate (Image: Kanda)
Director of Homes4Life Marc Pennick described the proposal as that of one that “no other developer or housing association has ever delivered in your borough or London before”.
He described the golf course as “uneconomical” as well as a “private, privileged, underused space”.
He added that the land will become “free open space for everyone”.
Conservative councillor Viddy Persaud spoke against the directors and said she “objects” to the proposal.
She also claimed she had seen an “overwhelming response” from residents objecting to the proposal.
Cllr Persaud said: “At a time when councils across the country are declaring climate emergencies, it would be contradictory, even irresponsible to approach a development that removes mature green space, increase traffic and diminished biodiversity.
“We must protect the natural environment and ensure our residents have access to open, breathing space.
“Once we start building on green belt, even a little, we set a precedent that is almost impossible to reverse.
“Bit by bit, we lose the very spaces that make our area liveable, healthy and distinctive.”
She urged the committee to reject the proposal and described potential approval as a “short sighted decision with long term consequences”.
Cllr Persaud referred to the land as green belt although the Homes4Life representatives referred to the site as grey belt land.
When asked about which type of belt the land officially sits in, a Homes4Life spokesperson said the site is designated as green belt but “there is guidance at a national level that we have used to assess the site and we have come to the conclusion that it is grey belt”.
Fellow Rush Green and Crowlands ward councillor Timothy Ryan (Con) added that he was “very deeply concerned about the presentation” in relation to concerns over traffic and local wildlife.
In a Havering Council report that was prepared ahead of the meeting, it confirmed that around 1,253 homes are proposed as well as a sports hall, public open space and a new bus route linking Crow Lane and Wood Lane.
According to the report, 959 (76.5 per cent) of homes would be built on land in Havering and 294 (23.5pc) on land in Barking and Dagenham.
A Homes4Life representative confirmed the company has been “working with Transport for London to introduce a new road” that would connect the two lanes and allow a bus to run through the estate.
