‘Flood risk’ ex-timber yard is put up for sale

The land off Basin Road, Heybridge Basin, is on the market after plans to build new homes there were refused on a number of occasions in the past five years.

Maldon District Council maintained the development could not go ahead because it was in a high-risk flood zone.

Joe Reubin, senior surveyor from agents Lambert Smith Hampton, is confident the land will be sold.

He said: “As the appointed agent on the Heybridge Basin site, this is a rarely found freehold commercial opportunity in a historic location and we are talking to a number of potential parties.

“Given the lack of commercial space available locally, the site may be suitable for redevelopment, subject to planning, which makes it of particular interest.”

After a proposal for housing was refused in 2014, developer One Property Group’s appeal to push through the development was again opposed by Maldon District Council in 2016.

The site is about the size of seven football pitches. Heybridge West councillor Bryan Harker said developers have failed every time to build on the land because of the flood risk.

He said: “The applicants will always have to prove there is no land elsewhere with a lower flood risk that can be developed on, but the problem is there are many places.

“Unfortunately I think it looks like the best thing for the timber yard is for it to become a playing field for the children or something for the community.

“I would like to see something like that, but it is really up to the community.”

Fellow councillor Ian Dobson said: “I supported the development when I was a parish councillor but the community just did not back it. There was quite a big push to get it put through but people do not like seeing houses built in the basin.

“It was a great development that really fitted in with the community down there in terms of its look.

“As a councillor I think that if you have a piece of brownfield land in the area, then you should be able to develop on it.”