3. A framework for a better Hockley

(5) 3.1 What makes for a sustainable Hockley?

Hockley is an established settlement within the Essex countryside, and a sustainable location for homes, shops, jobs, leisure and other services. The AAP seeks to ensure that a positive planning policy framework that protects this function is put in place. It recognises that sustainable development must be delivered in a joined-up fashion, with economic, social and environmental benefits being sought concurrently. In this context, the following factors are considered important:

Provision to meet local shopping need – Hockley’s centre provides opportunities for local residents and those employed within the area to easily and sustainably access goods and services. The retail offer should be retained and enhanced to make Hockley centre the first choice for its residents when doing their shopping.

Excellent public realm – There are a number of attractive places and buildings within Hockley. The character of the settlement should be further enhanced, and the arrival of new commercial and residential development should be used to deliver new and improved public spaces.

A high quality natural environment – Hockley benefits from being surrounded by the Metropolitan Green Belt, which prevents urban sprawl, but also allows local people access to significant areas of high quality, open space. This open space should be safeguarded through the efficient use of previously developed sites within the settlement’s existing boundaries.

Housing for local people – Hockley provides choice in terms of living accommodation, with a large number of family houses. There should be an emphasis on the provision of homes for local people throughout all stages of life.

Local employment opportunities – the Hockley Trading Centre and Foundry Business Park provide a range of premises for small, local businesses. The accommodation needs of such businesses should be met, and balanced against the competing requirements for other uses within Hockley’s existing boundaries.

The AAP is a planning policy document that, primarily, seeks to assist in the management of planned changes and developments in the centre of Hockley. Therefore, whilst its remit is limited, its reach is wide. Alongside the Core Strategy and other key policy documents, the AAP will help to attract and encourage new investment and co-ordinate change.

(7) 3.2 Vision & objectives

The future development of Hockley provides an opportunity for change that will deliver a high quality of life for local residents, who will have an improved environment, as well as better access to homes, shops, jobs, leisure and other services.

The AAP sets a vision for the settlement’s future based on an understanding of the unique context that drives change and development in Hockley. It translates this vision into implementation objectives, policies and guidance that will act as a robust framework for delivery.

The vision for Hockley is:

By 2026, Hockley will have a centre that is defined by the high quality of its public realm and the opportunities on offer for local people to access homes, shops, jobs, leisure and other services without having to travel far afield. These changes will be delivered in a manner that makes the most of land that has been previously developed, and all new development will respect and enhance the existing suburban, low-density character of the settlement.

The four key objectives that support this vision and are vital in its delivery are to:

1) Provide greater shopping choice for local people.

Most food shopping undertaken by Hockley’s residents involves a drive to another town centre or location. Improving the range of shops in Hockley will help to encourage more local people to do their shopping closer to home. This should help existing businesses in the centre, benefit the environment and help to build stronger communities.

2) Identify and deliver environmental improvements.

The redevelopment of light industrial uses and existing buildings presents a major opportunity to help deliver a range of environmental improvements to the centre, including improvements at key road junctions and the creation of a new public space in the heart of the Hockley.

3) Recycle previously developed land for housing.

There is a pressing need for new housing across Rochford District. The District is required to provide 250 new dwellings per year. Making efficient use of brownfield land for housing means that less greenfield land in and around Hockley will have to be used for housing development. Hockley is a sustainable residential location and provides opportunities for affordable and market housing to improve housing choice and address local housing need.

4) Protect local employment.

The strategy for Hockley needs to balance the importance of protecting local jobs with attracting new investment to strengthen the vitality of the centre. In particular, some of the employment uses on the Hockley Trading Centre and Foundry Business Park should be retained, alongside some of the leisure uses on these sites that also provide employment and recreational opportunities.

(3) 3.3 Arriving at a framework

Hockley’s form and structure was analysed in detail as part of the 2009 Issues & Options Document that was prepared to inform the AAP. This process resulted in clear ideas about the types of change that would help move the town forward, as well as a preferred spatial framework, which was produced as part of the 2010 Options Report and set out a direction of travel in terms of the main proposed interventions.

The 2010 framework included general areas for focusing main town centre and employment uses; a site for a new retail anchor; a range of public realm improvements, including the creation of prominent public spaces throughout the town centre; the introduction of clear linkages between important sites; and, improved car parking facilities. Figure 3.1 is the 2010 framework plan.

Since 2010 a number of important changes have taken place, and in response the framework has been updated. The key changes are that:

• Today’s economic climate is significantly more challenging than when the AAP process first commenced.

• There would need to be a greater focus on food retail as the anchor investment opportunity, to help ensure that a greater proportion of future shopping would take place within Hockley, and thereby protect the centre from further out of town retail expansion. At the same time, it is important that any food store would be of an appropriate size, such that it would complement other retails uses in the centre, and not dominate Hockley centre.

• The Foundry Business Park has recently benefitted from upgrades and the development of new modern accommodation, whilst the older accommodation is still occupied by a range of small enterprises. This would, therefore, represent a strong location for employment uses.

• Housing provision needs to be balanced with other uses to help meet pressing local housing needs, including that proposed for Hockley centre. Hockley is generally considered to be a sustainable location for new housing development, and the use of previously development land here would help protect Green Belt land around Hockley. Housing on previously developed land would also enhance the vitality of Hockley centre. At the same time, it is important that a range of other uses would be provided within Hockley centre, including commercial, retail and leisure. As such, fewer dwellings are now proposed than in some of the previous options considered.

The AAP sets out a framework that responds to these changes and takes into account previous stages of analysis and consultation.

Figure 3.2 presents an overview of the framework and provides a broad indication of where development should take place.

The delivery of many of the elements set out within the framework is contingent on the successful mixed-use redevelopment of the Eldon Way Opportunity Site. This site would help to deliver new homes and shops, improved car parking facilities for the whole centre, an enhanced public realm and opportunities for better connectivity.

The creation of a sustainable Hockley with enhanced access for local residents to homes, shops, jobs, leisure and other services is dependent on the quality of the development proposals that come forward. The AAP sets out further policies that are intended to deliver high quality development that is in accordance with its vision, objectives and framework.

The council does not own or control the majority of the land within the Eldon Way opportunity area. Its redevelopment is therefore largely dependent on private land owners and developers bringing the land forward.