The Concreting Over of Rochford

I'm very worried about how Rochford will look in just a few years time as Developers line up with immediate plans for well over 1000 houses in the area, many of which will be on green belt.

The Government has failed to allay fears that new planning legislation will retain protection for the Green Belt, as it contains an overriding "presumption in favour of growth".

It's increasingly obvious that this is the Government's plan to stimulate growth. Build. Build. Build. Who can afford to buy all these homes, and what mortage funding will be available appears to be a question that will be addressed at a later date.

Within Rochford area the following schemes look likely to go before Planning Commitee within the next few months;

Hall Road - 600 houses
Rectory Road/Thorpe Road, Hawkwell - 175 houses
Stambridge Mill - 100 homes
Brays Lane - 100 houses (already agreed provisionally)
Coombes Farm (Stambridge Rd) - 260 houses

All these sites, except Stambridge Mill, are green belt designated.

The Council is an invidious position. Central Government forces Local Councils to produce Local Development Plans that demonstrate that a supposed future demand for housing can be met.

Rochford has extremely limited land left for development, and has been forced to surrender some green belt to comply with Government demands. Of course, Developers also prefer green belt as it provides a blank canvas and avoids expensive demolition and redevelopment costs.

Yet, if the Council doesn't produce a plan, it leaves itself open to Developers taking control of the planning agenda. With deep pockets for top ranking Barristers, costs which Local Authorities can ill afford to match, Developers can often successfully use the Legal System to get the outcome they want, a new housing estate of ticky tacky houses on land which was often previously cherished by the neighbourhood.

I learn today that the Council's Core Strategy (its Local Development Plan) has finally been approved by the Government and will formally be adopted by the Council in December.

This should help to defend against development schemes not forming part of the Council's plans, however most of the schemes listed above ARE included in the Development Plan.

I wish I could conclude this post on a positive note, but right now I can't help but think of a future where Southend and Rochford increasingly merge into one urbanised mass.