I am writing in response to the consultation on the New Local Plan: Spatial Options Document 2021.
My opinions predominantly apply to the promoted site CFS013 (Land at rear of Newton Hall
Gardens, Ashingdon) and CFS119. To structure my response, I am referring to Q57 and its
subsections of the survey.
I believe the final allocation of promoted sites will say a lot about our community’s culture and vision
for the future. I hope to outline my own vision, and that shared of others I have spoken to, so the
council can best serve its lifelong residents, and returning residents with who are invested in the
community.
I am a 29-year-old secondary school teacher who grew up in Canewdon View Road. I moved out at
the age of eighteen for university but upon returning from university I struggled to afford a property
in the local area. After nearly a decade of saving and career progression buying a property in
Ashingdon with my partner was just about viable. I am therefore heavily invested in strengthening
our community such that others in my own situation can afford to live where they grew up.
However, any future development should not be to the detriment of existing residents and
communities, such that Ashingdon and Rochford become dormitory towns for London.
Rochford and Ashingdon need more affordable housing, However I believe that new developments
should occur away from current population centres and only where large-scale projects (500+
homes) can be constructed. This is so they can be accompanied with infrastructure investment with
an emphasis on GP surgeries, schools and social care. Any developments on the immediate
periphery of existing side roads to Ashingdon road will only worsen congestion and demand on
public services. Developments close to people’s homes would also damage trust with Rochford
residents, whom I’m sure the majority understand the need for new housing but do not wish it upon
their own doorsteps.
I have looked very carefully at the Spatial Options Map and it seems that CFS261 meets this criteria,
given its relative separation from existing population centres and closer proximity to Rochford town
centre. Albeit the section of this site that closely borders Lingfield Drive should not be developed out
of respect to the current homeowners.
I would now like to draw your attention to a promoted site that borders my own property CFS013
(Land at rear of Newton Hall Gardens, Ashingdon) and CFS119 (the adjacent plot).
Residents of Newton Hall Gardens and Assandune Close currently enjoy the benefits of living in a
Cul-de-sac, surrounded by open fields filled with horses. This was one of the many reasons my
partner and I chose to purchase our property two years ago. The benefits of good air quality, low
noise pollution and low levels of traffic all being key factors, especially with our intention of soon
starting a family. The cul-de-sac has a strong sense of community, with most neighbours being on
first name terms and group gatherings such as VE day parties and Jubilee celebrations being a given.
This sense of community is rare in the modern world and should be preserved, with the support of
our local council who should capitalise on and foster such communities. We are concerned that if
CFS013 or the adjacent CFS119 were to be developed in the future for housing or commercial
purposes, Newton Hall Gardens would become a through road. Many residents already park on the
road making it effectively single lane, young children enjoy playing around the road, this would be
unsafe if the road became access to a larger development.
If access were obtained by other routes, Newton Hall gardens would still suffer in terms of its
microenvironment due to the potential for reduction of green space surrounding the homes,
changes to noise and air pollution, and the prospect of being overlooked. North facing properties of
Newton Hall gardens (including my own of number 9) also enjoy stunning views of St Andrew’s
Church and the River crouch (see attached), this green outlook enriches our appreciation of the
property and surrounding countryside. If the small patch of CFS013 highlighted in a darker blue in
the picture below were to be developed, these views would all be imposed upon, as could the
market value of our properties.

It is my view that CFS013 and CFS119 should only be promoted for use as community infrastructure
e.g. open space, allotments or as an extension to King Georges playing field. These sites in their
historic proximity to Ashingdon hill and St Andrew’s church should not be used for commercial and
housing purposes. If one considers the view from the church itself it would be greatly damaged by a
modern, tightly packed housing development of gardenless mansions.
In conclusion, I plead that you protect our little slice of eden on the edge of residential Ashingdon by
denying the allocation of CFS013 and CFS119 as promoted sites in the New Local Plan but I also
encourage the council to promote sites that are away from existing population centres, and come
with the promise of new infrastructure to serve our communities.