Allocations DPD Discussion and Consultation Document

We are not in principle opposed to development in the Hawkwell area but feel it should be moved from the congested area at the junction of Rectory Road to land opposite at Land South of Mount Bovers Lane (ref: Call for Sites Allocations 83).

The relocation of the development to the west of Hawkwell offers the opportunity to provide more than one efficient access onto the main road to relieve congestion in this area. It is considered that the impact on the highway network in this location is less than would be generated on the proposed sites SH1 - SH4. This site unlike the others proposed is not an existing cut through for traffic between Ashingdon and Hockley so there is no exacerbation of existing highway congestion by locating development away from Rectory Road.

The site is located between Rochford Station (3.3 km) and Hockley Station (2.1km). Green links to these stations can be provided as part of this development to encourage less car traffic on these routes. Similarly the provision of housing development in this location would support improved public transport along the main road further reducing the reliance on cars.

It is acknowledged in the SHLAA assessment that this area is reasonably well related to services and a short journey from schools, shops GP's and leisure facilities.

The site is grade 3 agricultural land. In contrast to the sites proposed there is no woodland habitat or open grassland areas that offer environmental benefit which will be lost by the proposed development.

Only part of the site is located within the Special Landscape Area. It is considered that sensitively designed development in this location would not harm the adjacent Special Landscape Area.

Development on this site can link into Cherry Orchard Country Park. The landowner for this site owns farmland between his site and the Park and can offer enhanced green links for this side of Hawkwell to the open space.

The site at Stroud Green (ref: Call for Sites Allocation 79) provides an ideal site for small scale employment use. The site is ideally located with access onto Hall Road and Cherry Orchard Way. The site has obtained a change of use of some building to commercial storage uses. The remainder of the site is unproductive agricultural land which has not been cultivated for many years.

The site is located within 1.4 km of Rochford station. It will also be located close to residential development proposed West of Rochford and development proposed in Hawkwell.

This site can provide a small scale employment site offering small business premises or potentially a seed bed centre for this area close to the Airport employment area.

As owner of this site I am continually approached by business men and developers wishing to develop this site as a high class commercial business centre. There is demand to utilise this high profile site in the District in an easily accessible location for commercial uses.

More recently I have been approached by a developer looking for a hotel site. It is acknowledge that tourism in Rochford is lacking and therefore this site could offer a solution and provide additional employment in the area.

It is considered that this site should be included as an additional employment allocation