Support
New Local Plan: Spatial Options Document 2021
Representation ID: 42190
Received: 05/09/2021
Respondent: Mr Robert Jones
Stage 2 assessment area AA78(49 & p45) comments submitted under Spatial Options consultation
I am writing to support the possibility of developing this area for housing. I acknowledge that Hawkwell has to contribute to the housing needs of the Rochford District but hope that this can be done without spoiling the essentially rural nature of the village.
This site appears to be a logical continuation of the existing village boundary. Future occupiers would have good access to local services and links to public transport.
The site is now mostly unused since the closure of Rawalpindi nursery and is in danger of becoming an eyesore. The nursery has an existing exit to the B1013 which could be utilised for easy access with good sight lines. Traffic generated by housing on this site would unlikely to be any greater than that which the nursery used to generate.
The green belt would not be adversely affected as much of the site is not within it. Indeed it is difficult to determine exactly where the boundary is. There has already been considerable development adjacent to the site since the Highwell estate was built. Surely there is now an argument for making the B1013 the logical and easily identifiable boundary of the green belt.
Another successful nursery is open only a few hundred yards from the site so it is unlikely that Rawalpindi will reopen. Any other use than housing would of course run entirely contrary to the objective of meeting the stretching targets for new housing that the District is trying to meet.
I understand that the existing occupants of the site are in favour of redevelopment for housing so there will be no opposition from them.
Stage 2 assessment area AA78(49 & p45) comments submitted under Spatial Options consultation
I am writing to support the possibility of developing this area for housing. I acknowledge that Hawkwell has to contribute to the housing needs of the Rochford District but hope that this can be done without spoiling the essentially rural nature of the village.
This site appears to be a logical continuation of the existing village boundary. Future occupiers would have good access to local services and links to public transport.
The site is now mostly unused since the closure of Rawalpindi nursery and is in danger of becoming an eyesore. The nursery has an existing exit to the B1013 which could be utilised for easy access with good sight lines. Traffic generated by housing on this site would unlikely to be any greater than that which the nursery used to generate.
The green belt would not be adversely affected as much of the site is not within it. Indeed it is difficult to determine exactly where the boundary is. There has already been considerable development adjacent to the site since the Highwell estate was built. Surely there is now an argument for making the B1013 the logical and easily identifiable boundary of the green belt.
Another successful nursery is open only a few hundred yards from the site so it is unlikely that Rawalpindi will reopen. Any other use than housing would of course run entirely contrary to the objective of meeting the stretching targets for new housing that the District is trying to meet.
I understand that the existing occupants of the site are in favour of redevelopment for housing so there will be no opposition from them.
I hope you will consider these comments favourably.