Core Strategy Preferred Options (Revised October 2008)

We have been requested to make representations on the above Document relating to two adjoining sites within the District and we do so in the following terms :

LAND AT MAGEES NURSERIES, WINDSOR GARDENS and LAND EAST OF CLEMENTS HALL SPORTS CENTRE, HAWKWELL

1.0. MAGEES NURSERIES

1.1. THE SITE

1.2. The site has an area of 3.11 ha. (7.8 acres) and is situated off the northern end of the residential street known as Windsor Gardens.
1.3. It is presently built up and used for growing mushrooms but also has planning permission for industrial purposes.
1.4. It is owned by Magees Nurseries Ltd whose Agents are Whirledge & Nott, The Black Barn, Lubards Lodge farm, Hullbridge Road, Rayleigh, SS6 9QG

2.0. SUGGESTED USES AND JUSTIFICATION

2.1. It is considered that suitable new uses for the site would be for mixed purposes of housing and employment and accordingly should be included as such within the Allocations Development Plan Document.
2.2. Because of its existing built environment (a quasi agricultural use - but more akin to light industrial ), and planning permission having been granted for business use, the land could legitimately be described as 'previously developed'
2.3. The development of this land for housing purposes accords with the advice contained in Government Guidance PPS3 : Housing (2006) in that (i) it is sustainable (paragraph 11); (ii) it is in a suitable location (paragraph 36) and (iii) it is an effective use of land by re-using previously developed land (paragraphs 40 and 41)
2.4. Your Core Strategy (Regulation 26) Draft indicates that housing development should be focused on existing settlements with the main settlements in the district taking the majority of development required. Hawkwell/Hockley is identified as a main settlement and is, therefore, eminently suitable.
2.5. The site's proximity to the immediate urban area with its attendant road and transport networks, community, recreational and employment facilities makes it ideal for development purposes in order to complement the existing infrastructure. A mixed use of housing and business would add to the economical sustainability of the area.
2.6. Highway access would be via Windsor Gardens and Rectory Road - a well used link between Rochford and Hockley. 'Hawkwell is the best located part of the conurbation, being only a short distance from the Cherry Orchard Way link road'
2.7. A mixture of housing and business uses would aid the economical growth envisaged in the Core Strategy and be on all fours with the advice and guidance contained in PPG4 : Industrial and Commercial Development and Small Firms.
2.8. The site could be made available as soon as is required and there is no reason to believe that it would not be deliverable in the short term.

3.0. LAND EAST OF CLEMENTS HALL SPORTS CENTRE HAWKWELL

3.1. THE SITE

3.2. The site has an area of 14.62 hectares (36.12acres) and comprises three arable fields. To the east is Magees Nurseries; to the south and southeast are residential areas of Rectory Road and Windsor Gardens; to the west is a sports centre and recreation ground; the boundary to the north follows and existing ditch line.
3.3. It is owned by W E Purkiss & Son who currently farm the land and the Agents are, as above, Whirledge & Nott.

3.4 SUGGESTED USES AND JUSTIFICATION

3.5. It is considered that this site should be allocated for a residential or mixed use development within the Allocations Development Plan Document.
3.6. Arguments similar to those projected to justify the development of the Magees Nurseries apply also here. I refer you to paras. 2.3. (i) and (ii), 2.4., 2.5. and 2.6. above.
3.7. Expansion of existing settlements through urban extensions are an option for additional housing suggested in PPS3;particularly suited to this option would be this site. The development of both sites would constitute a logical, physical rounding off of an existing urban settlement.
4.0. Both sites referred to are located within the Green Belt and, therefore, by definition, the development proposed is inappropriate and harmful to the Green Belt. However, the Clients' view is that the positive matters brought out to justify the suggested allocations amount to very special circumstances such that the the harm by reason of inappropriateness and any other harm are clearly outweighed.
4.1. There is no reason to consider that this site cannot be deliverable in the short term.
4.2. A copy location plan to a scale of 1/5000 will be forwarded under separate cover.

5.0. CONCLUSION

5.1. It is concluded that the above two sites, to be developed either separately or together for the suggested purposes, are in line with the intentions expressed in your Core Strategy relating to Housing, the Green Belt and Economic Development and, accordingly, can be included thus in your Allocations Development Plan Document.

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