Scheme is first major site in local plan to be approved through council’s planning committee

Housebuilder Vistry has received planning permission from Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) for 780 new homes at a village in Essex.

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Source: Shutterstock

Submitted by Vistry and EFDC, the masterplan for the scheme in North Weald Basset also includes a new local centre, green space, health centre and primary school. 

EFDC said 40% of the homes are expected to be for affordable housing, with 75% of the affordable provision for affordable rent and no more than 25% for shared ownership, in line with the council’s affordable housing policy.

The site was allocated for development and removed from the green belt in March 2023 following its adoption in Epping Forest’s local plan.

A strategic masterplan was endorsed by the council in March 2024, which comprehensively planned the site, together with five neighbouring parcels of land.

The scheme is the first of the large sites allocated in EFDC’s local plan to be approved through its planning committee.

In 2025, Vistry completed 15,658 and reported a revenue of £3,614m.

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