Re: Spatial Options consultation – Land Junction Hullbridge Road/ Lower Road, Hullbridge Essex. CFS 015

I refer to your spatial options consultation document in which the Local Planning Authority are seeking views that will form the basis of the Local Plan going forward to 2040.

I would be grateful if your office would kindly note that this practice acts on behalf Walden Land & Property, the developers of the above site.

The purpose of this letter is to assist the Local Planning Authority with its consultation process and provide additional information which may assist officers of the council when reviewing individual sites which are most appropriate for residential development. There does appear to be a number of errors within the site assessment already conducted by the Local Planning Authority. This letter along with the additional reports that have been undertaken will provide some assistance.

In the case of the above site, this has a long planning history which is relevant to the Local Plan process. In 1995 the review of the Local plan identified a number of errors in the Hullbridge area including this site with inner Green Belt boundaries.

Although the Local Planning Authority initially undertook the work which was direct by the Secretary of state, it was never completed.

The matter was again highlighted at the 2005 Local Plan review and this time the Secretary of State direct that the site should be removed from the Green Belt. A letter from Mr Meddle confirming the aforementioned was received at that time, and is still available for inspection by Officers and Members of the Council should the need be required.

Cearly the site is currently identified within the Rochford District Local Plan as Green Belt, it must be a matter of common ground that the site does has never met the objectives of the Green Belt which are as follows:

Green Belt serves 5 purposes:

(a) to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas;
(b) to prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another;
(c) to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment;
(d) to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns; and
(e) to assist in urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land.

In view of the site not meeting any of the above Green Belt criteria and indeed the planning History, the Local Planning Authority are encouraged to rectify the error and remove this site from the Green Belt.

With regard to other areas that have been highlighted within the initial assessment, my clients have already conducted extensive survey work which have included highways, ecology, flood, and strategic drainage, all of which have concluded there are no issues of concern, and these have been confirmed by statutory consultees.

In terms of sustainability, the site is highly sustainable being on a major bus route and within a five-minute walk of a major food store, A primary school is a 15-minute walk and secondary education is within easy access. In addition, Rayleigh town is also within easy reach either by bus or by walking. The site is also well served by open space and parks are within a 5-minute walk.

Development delivery has been mapped out by my clients with, delivery of this much needed housing could be delivered within two years.