We are instructed on behalf of Mr. Francesco Vasile (our client) to submit representations to the Spatial Options Document which is currently the subject of consultation to inform the preparation of the New Rochford Local Plan.

Our client owns the freehold ownership interest in land situated to the east of Shoebury Road and south of New Road, Great Wakering (extending to approximately 14.96 hectares), which is referenced on the Interactive Spatial Options Map as Site CFS065 and identified in the accompanying Site Assessment Proforma as being both ‘available’ and ‘deliverable’ for housing development (with a potential housing capacity of 335 dwellings). The full extent of this land is outlined in red on the attached site location plan.

The proforma assessment categorises the site as a ‘Potential Plan Strategy Option 2’, which is predicated on meeting the growth strategy requirements of the New Local Plan through a combination of urban extensions focused in the main towns (Option 2a) and urban extensions dispersed to settlements based on hierarchy (Option 2b). The other growth options being contemplated are ‘urban intensification’ (Strategy Option 1), ‘concentrated growth’ (Strategy Option 3) and ‘balanced combination’ (Strategy Option 4). The Spatial Options Document acknowledges that the Strategy Options 2, 3 & 4 would all be dependent on releasing Green Belt land across a number of locations and/or a significant redrawing of the Green Belt boundary. In this respect, it is instructive that approximately 70% of the land in the district is currently protected by Green Belt designation.

Site CFS065 is situated within the Green Belt and therefore referenced on the Site Assessment Proforma as being ‘deliverable – subject to policy’. The current evidence base for the emerging New Local Plan includes a Green Belt Study (specifically the ‘Rochford District and Southend-on-Sea Borough Joint Green Belt Study) that was undertaken by LUC and published (as a final report) in February 2020. The Study takes the form of a Stage 1 assessment (assessing how strongly the different areas of the Rochford District contribute to the five stated purposes of Green Belts set out in national planning policy) and a Stage 2 assessment (examining the relative merits of land for development that have previously been promoted to the Council).

Site CFS065 is situated within the Stage 2 Assessment Area AA145 and is referenced as Site 65. The assessment concludes that the loss of this site to development could potentially result in significant harm to the remaining Green Belt land to the east, which would be contained on three sides by inset development. The assessment further concludes that releasing an area of land to the south of Great Wakering (and west of Shoebury Road), identified as Site 57 would potentially result in the creation of a more regular Green Belt boundary. Notwithstanding this, it is acknowledged that there are no ‘readily recognisable boundaries to mark this area’ and hence an arbitrary line has been drawn to define the area that could be released from the Green Belt. In our view, this is surprising as Site CFS065 has clearly defined boundaries to the north (New Road), west (Shoebury Road), south (housing area and which also extends partly to the east of the site), while to the east (and beyond the part housing areas) the existing Green Belt openness would continue to be maintained. Furthermore, the site could potentially deliver a significant amount of housing (in both numerical and percentage terms) relative to the objectively assessed need and so we would contend that there are strong and convincing reasons to justify releasing this land from the Green Belt to help the Council deliver its future growth strategy. Additionally, on the Council’s own assessment criteria, the site is sustainable and there are no known constraints to development in terms of topography and the related issues of tree, ecology and flood risk impact. The site is available and deliverable and would contribute positively towards short-term housing need.

Significantly, our client would also be keen to promote a housing development predicated on modern methods of construction (MMC) in the form of a modular build which would be highly sustainable and carbon efficient. This would result in significantly reduced delivery and construction times relative to a traditional build and the format is also being championed by Homes England as a solution that would speed up the delivery of affordable housing around the country. Our client has an established business relationship with one of the leading modular housing firms in the country, which has expressed a strong interest in the site.

Hence, our client would strongly support a housing land-use allocation on this site and to that end we would welcome the opportunity of engaging the Council further on the merits of this proposition in due course.

In the meantime, we trust these representations are helpful and if we can be of any further assistance in this respect, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned.