We do find these development of green belts really troubling. The fact that you seem content to ride roughshod over the purpose of this legislation in halting urban sprawl is a major concern to us, as we chose to move here to get away from such sprawl. While building on green belts is permitted, it is only to be undertaken in exceptional circumstances. We do not feel this is exceptional in any way.

We are concerned that you make no effort to give any breakdown of the infrastructure improvements that you would need to undertake with each of the plots. How can you ask residents to give their opinions without supplying this vital data? Certain developments might be more palatable if you had included the link roads, schools and doctors surgeries which would be included. Current infrastructure is already seeing long delays in getting to see doctors and children not being offered their first place in primary schools (which ironically causes more road traffic). We find this lack of planning surprising as it is clear you have done intensive reviews of each of the plots, without seeming considering this vital factor.

The fact that the roads are already in a very poor state of repair, gives us no confidence that such improvement can be achieved prior to building, or even post the builds.

With reference to the areas near where we live, without understanding the infrastructure improvements needed, it is difficult to draw up a comprehensive list of objections. However, to start the ball rolling, with this development, we would like you to formall record the following objections.

Site reference: CFS023

1. You are looking to build right on the edge of ancient and well used woodland, which would clearly damage it physically, but also the nature of the woodlands itself.

2. To build the road into this development you would need to compulsory purchase a large number of plots to be able to put in a road and footpath of a suitable width.

3. Again ,with regard to the road, you would also need to cut down a number of trees which currently line the track, a number of them appear to be very old.

4. Our house is only a few meters from the proposed road, which would reduce our privacy as well as increase air pollution, and noise levels.

5. Having any development along the already crowded Greensward Lane/Ashingdon Road with its large number of schools located on or adjacent, would simply cause more road congestion, and with the road already often reduced to a crawl, which in turn would also increase the air and noise pollution for residents.


You have placed scores against schools and healthcare, but have you approached these establishments to ask if they can service these new developments? You simply cannot score against existing needs, but need to score against the projected ones. For example I know an existing local primary is full, so how can you score a 5.

Our view is that if more new houses are needed, you should focus on new town developments where you can suitably create the infrastructure needed, as part of the development itself. People moving there would fully understand what they are moving into. We would suggest building close to the A130 to the West, with their improved road links, or to the South East with links to A1159/A13. We would also suggest working alongside the surrounding councils of Wickford and Southend to produce a fully joined up offering as joint developments.

We see a number of these proposals, as death by a thousand cuts to small towns such as Hockley, which will forever change their makeup and character. We were under the impression that it was the council’s duty to protect the hamlets under their charters, but these plans seem to go totally against these aims.

With Covid, we are likely to see homework now becoming more widely used. This in turn will see more offices converting to residential use (such as Victoria Ave, in Southend), which may have a big impact on the need to build more homes in rural areas such as ours.

To restate our initial comments, we believe on top of the callus building on Green Belt, you need to produce a fully realised infrastructure plan for the regions first, to sit alongside any proposals. Only then should residents be asked for their views.