Consultations

Rochford District Council is preparing a new Local Plan. This plan will set out where future homes, jobs and essential infrastructure could go, and the planning policies that will guide development for at least the next 15 years. 

It’s a way for local people to control what is built and where by setting out a plan for Rochford, rather than relying purely on national planning guidance. 

A Call for Sites is an opportunity for landowners, developers, site agents and promoters to let us know about land that could be suitable for development.  

Priority window for submissions 

The priority window to submit sites began on 30 September and ends on 31 October 2025. After this date, the planning team will be focused on other parts of the Local Plan process, so we strongly encourage submissions within this period.  

 

Why now? 

The last Call for Sites closed in 2018. Since then: 

• The planning system has changed, which may affect whether some sites are available for consideration. 

• Circumstances of landowners, agents or developers may have changed. 

This priority window gives us a chance to: 

• Check whether sites submitted previously are still available. 

• Invite new submissions from those who want to put fresh ideas forward. 

What has changed since 2018? 

On 12 December 2024, the Government published an updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and associated guidance. This includes new Golden Rules on affordable housing and infrastructure that all sites, especially those in the Green Belt, must comply with. The full details are set out in paragraphs 156-159 of the NPPF.  

If you have not already done so, please read the updated NPPF, as any site will need to be assessed against this national policy and guidance. 

Which sites were submitted last time?  

Our interactive map, created for the last consultation in Summer 2021, shows the majority of sites. There are a few exceptions, such as sites submitted more recently.  

What is a Call for Sites? 

A Call for Sites is part of preparing a Local Plan. It’s when landowners, developers and agents can tell the council about land they think could be suitable for future development, such as housing, employment or community uses.  

Knowing where development might take place gives the council and the community the overview we need to plan together for Rochford’s future.  

What happens after I submit a site? 

First, the council’s planning team will assess the sites against planning policy, including new government requirements on affordable housing and infrastructure. Not every site submitted will be taken forward. The Local Plan process will involve weighing up many factors, including community feedback. 

Do local people get a say? 

Yes. A Call for Sites is an information-gathering exercise and is mainly for landowners and site promoters, but the Local Plan as a whole will go through several public consultations. Local residents, businesses and community groups will all have opportunities to comment before any decisions are made. 

Can anyone submit a site, or only landowners? 

Sites can be submitted by landowners, their agents or developers promoting land. If you don’t have control of the land, you can’t submit it, but you can take part in consultation later. 

Can sites be suggested for things other than housing, like community facilities, green spaces, or business land? 

Yes. We’re keen to know about potential land for jobs, infrastructure or community use, as well as housing. 

What happens if a site is partly in Rochford and partly in another district? 

You should submit it, and note the overlap in the submission form. We will liaise with neighbouring councils as needed.  

How will residents find out which sites have been submitted? 

Potential sites will be published in the revised Spatial Options Maps as the Local Plan progresses. All sites will be assessed against national rules and local evidence. Community consulation will be a key part of the decisionmaking process.  

What if I submitted a site last time and have changed my mind? 

If, in light of the new policy or changes in your own circumstances, you no longer want your site to be part of the Call for Sites, please let us know so it can be withdrawn.

The easiest and fastest way to view the New Local Plan: Spatial Options Document and its accompanying draft Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) is by using the interactive version of the document, which you can access by clicking the link under "Current documents open for consultation" on this page. 

Should you wish to download a copy of the New Local Plan: Spatial Options Document and its accompanying draft Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA), you can download static PDFs using the links below. 

• New Local Plan: Spatial Options Document (Stylised Version) 

• New Local Plan: Spatial Options Document (Simple Version) 

Listed below are some of the key evidence base documents that have informed our new Local Plan to date. Please note, this list is not intended to be exhaustive and is provided purely as a quick reference. You can view our full new Local Plan evidence base webpage here. Other evidence is also underway but not complete at this time, including a comprehensive transport assessment. 

• Green Belt Study 

• Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessments: 2017 and 2020 

• Indoor Built Facility Strategy: Assessment Report and Action Plan 

• Initial Heritage Assessment of Submitted Sites 

• Landscape Character, Sensitivity and Capacity Study 

• Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) 

• Local Wildlife Sites Review 

• Playing Pitch Strategy: Assessment Report and Action Plan 

• Site Appraisal Paper 

• South Essex Economic Development Needs Assessment (EDNA) 

• South Essex Green and Blue Infrastructure Study 

• South Essex Grow-on Space Study 

• South Essex Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessment 

• South Essex Strategic Infrastructure Position Statement (SIPS) 

• South Essex Retail Study (SERS) 

• South Essex Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) 2016 and Addendum 2017 

• Urban Capacity Study 

We have published an interactive map alongside the New Local Plan: Spatial Options consultation, which is available here.

This interactive map shows some of the key constraints and opportunities in Rochford District alongside all the 'sites' (blue shapes) that have been put forward to the Council by landowners and developers for consideration for housing, commercial and some cases other forms of development.

To find out more information on a particular site, you just need to double click your mouse within that site and more information will be presented on the screen. In the case of promoted sites (blue shapes), this will include a link to the most relevant question in the Spatial Options consultation and a link to our initial assessment of that site.  Please note that this map reflects the sites which were included in the Summer/Autumn 2021 consultation and does not reflect any sites received since this point, or any decisions taken through the Local Plan preparation process to select or rule out sites for allocation.

You can turn different layers on and off by using the "Map Layers" button near the bottom of the screen. Next to this button is the "Address Search" button which allows you to find a particular location within Rochford District. If you already know the reference to a site you want to look at, you can also select this from the drop-down menu on the right hand of the screen where it says "choose a site". 

You may find it easier to see details such as the boundary of a site by panning and zooming the map. You can pan (move) the map around by holding down the left mouse button (or your finger if on a touch screen device) and moving in the desired direction. You can zoom the map using the scale on the left hand of the screen (clicking "+" will zoom in; clicking "-" will zoom out).

The LDS sets out the timetable for the preparation of the Council’s main planning policy documents over a three year period. The current LDS is effective from 10th September 2025.