Proposals
Our vision for Elsenham
Our vision is to deliver a sensitively designed neighbourhood for Elsenham with new public open space for all residents to enjoy.
The proposals will deliver a mix of new homes, green spaces and landscaping with new planting, sustainable drainage features and supporting infrastructure.

Key features
Designed with the local community in mind
- 130 high-quality new homes, with a mix of house types to meet local housing need.
- 40% Affordable Housing.
- Public open space and landscaped areas, including new equipped area of play for new and existing residents to enjoy.
- Significant planting and biodiversity enhancements, with land in close proximity to the site being used to achieve at least 20% BNG.
- New vehicular access from Henham Road, as approved through the outline planning permission.
- Sustainable drainage features.
- Supporting highways, drainage and infrastructure works.
- A sensitively designed scheme based on the parameters agreed through the outline planning permission, which aims to maintain an appropriate setting to a number of nearby Listed Buildings.
- A design approach which responds to the site’s edge-of-settlement location and local context, including nearby heritage assets.

The site
Layout and design
The layout has been designed to create a well-connected residential development with attractive streets, landscaped spaces and safe routes through the site.
The proposals seek to create a high-quality place to live, with homes arranged to respond to the site’s surroundings and edge-of-settlement location.
Application site boundary
Land within applicant’s ownership
Land available to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain
New homes
Helping to meet housing need in Elsenham
The development will provide 130 high-quality new homes, helping to meet local housing need.
The proposals include a mix of house types, designed to create a balanced and attractive new neighbourhood.
The detailed design of the homes, including their appearance and scale, will be considered through the reserved matters application.

Landscaping
Open space for all to enjoy
The development will include landscaped areas and public open space for new and existing residents to enjoy, including an orchard and play area.
New planting will help soften the development, support biodiversity and create an attractive setting for the new homes. At the entrance to the site, there will be a new seating area with long range views to the south of St Mary’s Church.

Access and movement
Delivering the agreed access arrangements
The primary means of vehicular access from Henham Road was approved through the outline planning permission.
The reserved matters application will provide further detail on the internal layout of the site, including streets, pedestrian routes and connections through the development.
Biodiversity
Enhancing the area for wildlife
The proposals will include new landscaping and biodiversity enhancements as part of the detailed design.
This will include new planting and green spaces designed to support the character and environmental quality of the development.

Drainage and infrastructure
A sustainable strategy
The proposals will include sustainable drainage features and associated infrastructure works.
These features will be designed to manage surface water and support the delivery of a well-planned new residential neighbourhood.

Planning background
Reserved matters application
Outline planning permission has already been granted for residential development on land south of Henham Road, Elsenham. This established the principle of development and approved the primary means of access from Henham Road. The next stage is the reserved matters application. This will provide the detailed design of the scheme, including:
- Layout
- Scale
- Appearance
- Landscaping
The reserved matters application does not reconsider the principle of development, which has already been approved.

Timeline
Overview of the application process
Timeline is subject to change due to planning and consultation.
June 2023
Outline planning application approved.
May 2026
Reserved Matters application submitted.
Summer/Autumn 2026
Expected planning application determination.
Winter 2026 / Spring 2027
Expected start on site.
About
Countryside
Countryside pride themselves on creating places where people love to live, with sustainable communities built to last.
They are committed to providing quality homes and creating the best experience for their customers through excellent service.
Countryside has a flexible attitude towards land acquisitions, which has earned them a reputation for understanding the needs of the local environment, communities and authorities.
For more information about Countryside, visit their website here: www.countrysidehomes.com


















