Oak Lodge, Ongar Road, Writtle

Oak Lodge, in Writtle, was brought to J-Group by an independent land agent we work regularly with. The site contained a wide chalet bungalow along the fully build street frontage, with two storey residential dwellings on narrower plots either side. The property benefitted from a significant rear single storey addition and space to the side of the plot containing parking and small outbuildings. The property was in a mix of uses, both as a residential, owner occupied, dwelling and part short term holiday rental.

Despite the site’s location within the Green Belt, and the Local Plan identifying the site as outside of the settlement of Writtle, J-Group identified the potential for limited infilling and re-development of the site on which the bungalow sits following demolition.

An 18-month option was agreed in July 2021, following which, a planning application was submitted Dec 2021 for an infill dwelling which was approved Jan 2022. In April 2022 planning was submitted for the demolition of the existing chalet bungalow and erection of three new dwellings was approved in June 2022.

Following the approval of four dwellings within a year of the option agreement, we were able to complete well within the 18-month timeframe of the agreement.