Exactly where more than 11,000 new homes will be built in Rochford
Plans have been slammed as “utter madness”
Plans which detail exactly where thousands of new homes could be built across Rochford has been slammed as “utter madness”.
Rochford’s draft local plan determines where the district council thinks a total of 11,783 homes should be built between 2026 to 2043.
The council has been asked to allocate land to accommodate 11,710 homes. The allocations include six large strategic sites with a total allocation of 5,886 homes.
Another 32 smaller housing sites set out visions of developments of between 10 and 480 homes. Rochford District Council’s planning policy committee will meet on Wednesday September 16 to consider the report on the next stage of the emerging local plan.
The committee will be asked to recommend that full council approves the Regulation 19 local plan and supporting documents for a six-week public consultation.
This stage allows residents, businesses, stakeholders and statutory consultees to make formal representations on the plan’s legal compliance and soundness before any future decision is taken on whether to submit it for independent examination.
Local plans play an important role in setting out how councils plan for future housing, employment, infrastructure and environmental needs. Rochford’s emerging Local Plan has been developed over several years and reflects changes in national planning policy and local evidence requirements.
The council is being run by a minority administration, led by Reform UK. Decisions on the future progression of the Local Plan will be matters for councillors collectively. But the details of the housing allocations has sparked criticism from some quarters of the council.
Leader of the Tory group Councillor Danielle Belton said: “The sites that have been supported by Reform for publication are, in my opinion, utter madness. Not only do they exceed the revised housing target – but they include just about every controversial green belt site in the area – whilst omitting a number of brown field ones.”
Among the most controversial areas included in Rochford’s draft local plans are 1,824 homes proposed across three sites around West Rayleigh – 1,004 at Dollymans Farm, 737 west of Wolsey Park and 83 at Timber Grove, London Road.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Independent Group Councillor James Newport who represents Downhall and Rawreth said: “These proposals will shape Rayleigh for years to come, affecting roads, schools, health services, infrastructure and the character of our area.”
Councillor Neil Hookway, chair of the planning policy committee, said any decision must be owned by every councillor – regardless of their political colour.
He said: “The current administration inherited the work on the Local Plan and, since taking office four months ago, has been committed to ensuring that the project continues to progress and key milestones are met.
“While our involvement has been limited to the most recent stage of the process, we recognise our responsibility to provide leadership and ensure councillors are able to consider the Plan at this important point in its development.
“The decision on the next stage of the local plan next Wednesday does not rest with the minority administration alone, it is a collective effort of all councillors who need to weigh up and balance the benefits and risks of decisions involving the local plan.”
Strategic allocations
Land North of Southend and South of Rochford 1,645
Dollymans Farm 1,004
Land east of Rochford and Ashingdon 1,000
Tithe Park, Great Wakering 950
Strategic Allocations Total 5,886
Residential allocations
Land east and west of Parkhurst Drive, Rayleigh 73
Land north of Hambro Hill, Rayleigh 175
Land to the west of Nelson Road, Rayleigh 176
Land between Eastwood Rise and Rayleigh Avenue, Rayleigh 100
Land to the west of Sandhill Road, Rayleigh 87
Land off South View Close, Rayleigh 165
Lower Wyburns Farm, Rayleigh 100
Weir Farm Road, Rayleigh 140
Great Wheatley Road, Rayleigh 152
Timber Grove, Rayleigh 83
Land south of Pooles Lane, Hullbridge 480
Nevenden Salvage Yard, Hullbridge 98
Land east of Kingsway, Hullbridge 18
Land to the east of Hullbridge Road, Hullbridge 259
Eldon Way and Foundry Industrial Estate, Hockley 100
Land north of Greensward Lane, Hockley 137
Land at Pulpits Farm, Greensward Lane, Hockley 201
Land north of Rectory Road, Hawkwell 280
Land at 241 Rectory Road, Hawkwell 10
Land off Ironwell Lane, Hawkwell 14
The Paddock, Rectory Road, Hawkwell 12
Land at Rawal Pindi Nurseries, Hawkwell 153
Land east of Highcliff Crescent, Ashingdon 65
Land rear of Newton Hall Gardens, Ashingdon 111
Land north of Brays Lane, Ashingdon 300
Land at Doggetts Chase, Rochford 90
Circus Field, land west of Southend Road, Rochford 40
Land south of Hall Road, Rochford 200
Land to the rear of 399 Little Wakering Road, Little Wakering 18
Land to the rear of the Castle Inn, Little Wakering 10
Land south of Conway Avenue, Great Wakering 150
Land west of Ash Green, Canewdon 14
Residential-led Allocations Total: 4,011
Allocations Total 9,897
Extant permissions 1,136
Windfall 750
Total Housing Provision 11,783