Plans approved for 42-home Essex scheme

A new residential scheme is moving ahead in rural Essex after planners approved fresh proposals to deliver a mix of private and affordable housing.

Housebuilder The Hill Group has secured permission to build 42 new homes on Oak Hill Road, on the edge of Stapleford Abbotts in Epping Forest. 

The development updates an earlier consent for the site, with revised layouts and designs shaped by local consultation.

Bosses say the scheme will deliver 40 per cent affordable housing in partnership with B3Living, including 13 homes for affordable rent and four shared ownership properties, all designed as two and three-bedroom houses for local people. 

The remaining homes will range from three to five bedrooms and are aimed at first-time buyers, families and downsizers.

Andy Hill OBE, founder and group chief executive of The Hill Group, said: “We are delighted to receive planning permission for our new development in Stapleford Abbots. 

“This thoughtfully designed neighbourhood will provide much-needed high-quality homes, including a significant proportion of affordable housing for the local community. 

“Our updated plans reflect extensive consultation and respond sensitively to the village’s character, delivering sustainable homes and generous green spaces that future residents can enjoy for generations.”

All properties will be built to Hill’s sustainability standards, incorporating air-source heat pumps, electric vehicle charging and energy-efficient measures to reduce running costs.

The plans also include enhanced landscaping, a children’s playground and a ten per cent biodiversity net gain, helping the development blend with the village setting. 

Jon Hayden, executive director of development at B3Living, added: “We are pleased to be partnering with The Hill Group to bring new affordable homes to Stapleford Abbots. 

“The mix of affordable rent and shared ownership properties will offer local families high-quality, energy-efficient homes in a desirable rural setting, helping to meet the ongoing need for genuinely affordable housing in the district.”

Work is due to start in early 2026.

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