The first proposal was for 87 flats in three 3½ storey blocks on the site of the empty Toyota garage near Somerfields. This is described at the bottom of this page.

Doctor's Surgery / Medical Centre
An outline planning application for a medical centre on the site has now been approved. This is for a doctor's surgery (the London Road Surgery are looking for new premises and have expressed an interest), a second building which would be suitable for a new medical centre, and a block of 24 flats. The plan below is from the application 09/00779/OUT.

The developer has discussed the above proposal with the Wickford Action Group, and explained how the larger building could be used as a medical centre, which Wickford certainly needs, and which looks like NOT being delivered any time soon by any other means.

A decision on the application had been delayed because the planning committee couldn't make a decision after Malcolm Buckley said 'it was too vague, and one of the buildings could be used as a mosque'. We regard this as scare mongering and typical of the delaying tactics of the Council and it's determination to put through the Wickford Masterplan against all reason.

The plan was approved on 10th March 2010.

87 flats.
The first application was refused on 20 November 2007 on the grounds of restricted vehicle access, flood risk, and building height - read more on the council website

The appeal was heard by a government inspector, and was approved on 1st May 2008, read more on the Inspectorate website: APP/V1505/A/08/2061217. See the status of the building work on our development update page

Planning Application 07/00218/FULL from Robert Mulholland & Company was submitted on 19th February 2007, but it only appeared on the council website on 12th July. The 87 flats include 61 two bed and 26 one bed units. On the original application from the developer, 25 units were to be 'affordable', but on all of the council's documentation this figure is 21, and this is the number the accepted by the Appeal Inspector. The parking provision for this development is 87 parking spaces. There is also a pedestrian entrance from Wick Lane via a footbridge, which the developers apparently think they own, (but they don't), over the river Wick.

View from the bypass - taken from the submitted plans 
Below, the site plan

The Wickford Action Group view
This development is just outside of the Town Centre Masterplan, and represents yet another block of flats for Wickford.

One local resident has pointed out that the parents of North Crescent School should be made aware that Block A will have a perfect view over their children playing in the school's field.  Like us, she thinks it's disgraceful and should be stopped.

These developments make a mockery of the council's claim to have a 'plan'. Ad-hoc buildings like this which are built for quick profit and which do not take into account the surrounding facilities, are the reason Wickford is in such a mess.  

We strongly believe that it should not be approved, and should not be built. But it is going ahead anyway!