Coombes Farm and Eric Pickles Pickles' letter - Part 2

In my post of 10th November I wrote about Cala Homes' successful challenge to Eric Pickles decision to revoke regional house planning strategies. At the time, the Government response was that the High Court decision made little difference to its plans. The Localism Bill, to be guided through Parliament in 2011, would clear up any uncertainties and in the meantime the fact that this Law is due to be added to the Statute Book means that it can remain a "material consideration" by Councils when considering planning applications. Cala Homes' legal team is obviously intent on wiping Pickles' nonchalant smile off his face, as they're seeking to take him back to the High Court for a second time. Amongst other things, they are disputing the Government's statement that their intended legislation can be taken as a material consideration. As there is no Act of Parliament, yet, to replace existing legislation covering house building targets, Cala Homes wants a Judge to agree that planning decisons must be made on the basis of current legislation in place, ie the previous Government's housing targets, and no legal weight can attach to legislation that has not yet been passed. From where I sit, despite the fact I want Coombes Farm to be protected against any development and therefore want the Government to succeed in its aims, I foresee Eric Pickles' nose being rubbed in it once again. And, sadly, I can only think of one word to summarise the situation we now find ourselves in. Incompetence.

An opportunity for the Square?

A new Sainsbury's "Local" opens at the end of the month on the old BP Petrol site at the bottom of West Street. Given that the Co-operative (formerly Somerfield) has only been open a few years that will give Rochford two extra food outlets and will surely put pressure on the Spa in the Square and other retailers. However, some locals see this as a possible opportunity to remedy a past evil. The Spa's premises are architecturally completely out of keeping with the surrounding handsome Georgian and Victorian structures...

Coombes Farm & Eric Pickles' letter

Colonnade's application for judicial review against the Government's refusal to permit its development at Coombes Farm was given a minor fillip today. Another developer, Cala Homes, was in the High Court to hear Judgment on its own challenge to the legality of the Government's decison to unilaterally abolish regional strategies without putting a Bill before Parliament. This was also one of Colonnade's arguments in its Appeal. The Judge ruled that, indeed, Eric Pickles had acted unlawfully in taking this course which technically means that the previous Government's approach to planning remains in place. The Government is adamant that little changes. Its "Localism Bill" will begin its passage through the Commons at the end of this year with the aim of gaining Royal Assent in 2011. Soon, one way or another, Regional Strategies will be abolished and local Councils will decide how many houses can built, and where they can go.

But it is quite possible that if Eric Pickles had not issued his letter, directing Planning Authorities that Regional Strategies are revoked with immediate effect, and the same letter to be given material weight in decisions on planning matters, we would not be in this limbo period and, most importantly, Colonnade's plans would be no longer.

That's because the Planning Inspector refused Colonnade for a number of reasons, most signifcantly due to the land being designated green belt. She made no reference to Eric Pickles' letter. That came with a supporting document, in addition to her own decision, from the Secretary of State. However, the two documents form the whole refusal, and it was enough for Colonnade's legal team to seize upon as one of the reasons for its appeal for Judicial Review. Cala Homes' Judgment in the High Court today sets a precedent for many Housebuilders across the country, including Colonnade.

If Eric had kept quiet it would probably be game over for Colonnade. We would not be here in this period of uncertainty. The Planning Inspector gave sound and robust reasons for refusing Colonnade, which should withstand any Judicial Review - if allowed (we won't know probably until 2011). So much for the new Government's proposals for planning issues! It hasn't helped Coombes Farm at all. In fact, quite the opposite as it's kept Colonnade's candle alight for a little while longer. Eric, this is not a good start. You were given poor legal advice and the result is an impression of incompetence.

Rochford - Matchbox and the Lesney Estate

Until the early 1980s Rochford was the main production site for Matchbox cars and similar metal toys. At its peak up to 2000 people were employed at the factory site where the Lesney Estate now exists. I believe Roche Avenue, which now leads directly on to the Estate was a dead end, and the main vehicle access was Leecon Way. The work was tedious and repetitive and required nimble fingers! Because of this, and a system of flexible working hours, many of the workers were working Mums. My Mother worked there in the lead up to Christmas to help pay for us demanding kids' presents! As a kid, growing up in the 1970s, I distinctly remember the London type buses which provided transport for staff in the Rayleigh and Southend areas. Whilst the work was mundane and the pay average I believe Lesney Products was a good, paternalistic, employer. Who would lay on such a travel to work scheme these days? Sadly such overheads probably sowed the seeds of Lesney's downfall and eventually the company, despite many efforts to retain a business in England, fell victim to the cheap labour, but good production techniques, being offered by China. Now only a road name reminds us of the past. There is much more information about Lesney, including attempts to provide better road access to the factory which were resisted by the Campaigners of the 1970s, on a website I've linked which can be accessed by clicking on the title to this post.

Late Autumn in Rochford

Just a few images from around Rochford on a beautiful sunny day.

Rochford Art Trail

Great to see local artists, businesses, and the Council coming together for the Rochford Art Trail which runs until the end of October. Click on the title for a link to details of venues, etc

Planning and green belt development in Rochford

We are in a genuine "quiet before the storm" period for new development in Rochford, but the largest and most controversial schemes have not gone away. Coombes Farm's potential developers have applied for judicial review against the Government's planning refusal a few months ago and it's likely it will be early 2011 before there is any further news, although another, separate, developer has taken it's case to the High Court and the outcome could have some bearing on the outcome for Coombes Farm. Cala Homes are trying to build new homes at Barton Farm in Winchester and yesterday went to the High Court to challenge the Government over its abolition of regional strategies, which included house building targets. Eric Pickles, in doing this, passed responsibility for setting numbers of new homes to local Councils. Not having a regional strategy to support them, Cala's plans were somewhat undermined and they are contesting that the Government acted illegally in abolishing Regional Strategies without an Act of Parliament being passed. The Government's reply is that existing legislation empowers them to "revocate" Regional Strategies. The High Court will consider the arguments and a Judgment will be issued in the near future. The QC representing Cala Homes was Peter Village who also acted for Colonnade and the Government's refusal to allow building at Coombes Farm included a reference to the abolition of regional strategies, hence the Judgment on Cala versus HM Government could set as a precedent for many other potential developments in England.

Inner London Group, the owners of Stambridge Mill, have finally submitted their planning application for redevelopment of the site. They will also shoulder the cost of repairs to flood defences in the vicinity but this will still be a controversial development, not least because the Mill, as forlorn and ravaged as it now remains, has been a landmark in the area for hundreds of years. Many people have fond memories of the site, indeed people were working there until the 1990s. Even now, many people enjoy the footpath leading past this vast hulk of a decayed building where birds and other wildlife have taken up residence, so quiet and peaceful compared to the industrial noise that once could be heard miles away.

And what is happening along Hall Road? Bellway's plans to build 600 homes on green belt between Ironwell Lane and Hall Road are still very much alive, and under a planning agreement between the developer and Rochford Council a decison will need to be reached in early 2011. This, if it's allowed to proceed, will surely be the most major redevelopment in Rochford since the Hospital site? Apart from the assault on the environment it will not do wonders for the senses either. The green fields and attractive properties along Hall Road are a pleasing welcome to Rochford, a horrible ticky tacky estate of toy town houses will destroy the essential character of this part of Rochford and the scheme should be rejected outright.

We're seemingly bombarded with preaching about how we need new homes and that everywhere needs to take its share but I wonder if that's really true. People are under the misconception that we're running out of land in this country but that's simply not the case. Because of the density of house building, basically the majority of us are all tightly packed in together, 85% of the population lives on approximately 15% of the land. Take a drive up past Chelmsford, into Suffolk and Norfolk and you will see my point. South Essex has been appallingly over developed; it's highly urbanised and any relatively rural, historic, towns and villages - such as Rochford, should be protected from any further desecration.

Rochford Council are continuing with their plans to complete their core strategy, a further questionnaire has been sent out to households this week. They tell us by adopting a structured approach to planning and house building they can control where houses will go and how many. This way the Council will be protected against "rogue" developments such as Colonnade's obscene plans for Coombes Farm. But does Rochford need any large scale developments on green belt at all??? In my view it would save time, money, and bureaucracy to simply adopt a no development on green belt policy. If you share my views, I would urge you to respond to the Council's core strategy Questionnaire accordingly and then we can see whether our concerns are acted upon.