Allocations DPD Discussion and Consultation Document

The survey undertaken in October 2008 by Hockley Residents Association (HRA); Hockley Parish plan Group (HPPG); and Hockley Under Threat (HUT) was completed by 972 local residents and clearly showed that the vast majority want to keep the village largely as it is e.g
- only 5% in favour of major redevelopment of shops
- 78% against a new town square
- 87% supporting little or no change in Eldon Way.
- many free-form comments voiced the opinion that Hockley should remain a village.
The council has a copy of the report and details of all the manuscript comments.
We hope that the council will take note of these.

As clearly previously stated in the Hockley Parish Plan, large scale housing developments in Hockley, are not supported for the following reasons:
 There should be no loss of countryside, greenbelt and open spaces in and around Hockley
 There should be no large housing estates due to lack of infrastructure
 There are no proposed solutions to traffic issues on the already congested main artery roads between Rayleigh and Rochford, i.e. the B1013 and Rectory Road, which are narrow and winding, and include the narrow railway bridge in Hawkwell
 Bus services (Nos. 7 and 8) are inadequate in the area to support the additional housing
 There is no proposed solution to traffic issues (congestion and parking) caused by the 'school runs' in the morning and evening, which would be considerably worse than the current problems due to the additional children

As clearly previously stated in the Hockley Parish Plan, large scale housing developments in Hockley, are not supported for the following reasons:
 There should be no loss of countryside, greenbelt and open spaces in and around Hockley
 There should be no large housing estates due to lack of infrastructure
 There are no proposed solutions to traffic issues on the already congested main artery roads between Rayleigh and Rochford, i.e. the B1013 and Rectory Road, which are narrow and winding, and include the narrow railway bridge in Hawkwell
 Bus services (Nos. 7 and 8) are inadequate in the area to support the additional housing
 There is no proposed solution to traffic issues (congestion and parking) caused by the 'school runs' in the morning and evening, which would be considerably worse than the current problems due to the additional children

The development of any additional housing in the area is not supported for the following reasons:
 There is no proposed solution to traffic issues on the already busy roads around Church Road, Folly Lane and Fountain Lane, which are dangerous, narrow, winding and used by many horseriders.
 There is no proposed solution to traffic issues at Hockley primary school caused by 'school runs' due to the additional children
However, if development is enforced, then Option WH2 (mushroom farm - brownfield site) is preferred as it avoids the loss of greenbelt and open spaces.

These options are not supported. As stated in the Core Strategy, gypsy sites are best suited to the west of the district due to transport links and access to services.

It is essential that any gypsy site developments are matched by appropriate infrastructure such as water / gas / electric supply, sewerage, access for refuse / recycling collection, access to healthcare and schools.
Hockley already has a small site off Lower Road. and the development of additional gypsy sites in the Hockley area either at Plumberow Avenue or off Lower Road is not supported for the following reasons:
 Loss of countryside, greenbelt and open spaces in and around Hockley
 Hockley is already highly developed with relatively less open spaces than other regions in the district.
 Access to transport links and utility services (water, gas, electric, sewerage) is poor in both proposed Hockley sites
 Plumberow Ave access via unadopted, unmade road which is privately maintained, increasing wear and tear.

These options are not supported. As stated in the Core Strategy, gypsy sites are best suited to the west of the district due to transport links and access to services.

It is essential that any gypsy site developments are matched by appropriate infrastructure such as water / gas / electric supply, sewerage, access for refuse / recycling collection, access to healthcare and schools.
Hockley already has a small site off Lower Road. and the development of additional gypsy sites in the Hockley area either at Plumberow Avenue or off Lower Road is not supported for the following reasons:
 Loss of countryside, greenbelt and open spaces in and around Hockley
 Hockley is already highly developed with relatively less open spaces than other regions in the district.
 Access to transport links and utility services (water, gas, electric, sewerage) is poor in both proposed Hockley sites
 Plumberow Ave access via unadopted, unmade road which is privately maintained, increasing wear and tear.

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The relocation of Industrial Units to the proposed Airport Business Park to provide space for redevelopment and additional housing in the Town Centre is not supported for the following reasons:
 There should be no large housing estates due to lack of infrastructure
 There is no proposed solution to traffic issues on the already congested main artery road between Rayleigh and Hockley, i.e. the B1013.
 There is no public transport (trains or buses) to support the Airport Business Park
 Based on the results of a resident survey in October 2009, seven out of every eight residents in Hockley opposes major redevelopment of Eldon Way / Foundry Industrial Estates
 Based on the results of a resident survey in October 2009, if redevelopment of Eldon Way / Foundry Industrial Estates is enforced, the recommendations for change include a youth centre, a healthcare centre, a community centre and leisure facilities, with only 1% support for housing.
 It contradicts RDC's own Retail & Leisure Study 2008 proposal to reclassify Hockley as a District centre - Hockley should be kept as a Village!

Option TC7 (the current town centre boundaries remain) is recommended.
The exclusion of the shops to the west of Hockley (Option TC8) is not supported - regeneration (not expansion) of this row of shops / businesses must be encouraged without detriment to the village feel.
Eldon Way / Foundry Industrial Estates (Option TC8), whether remaining as industrial / leisure or redeveloped for other purposes, should not be included in the town centre boundaries.

Option TC10 should be adopted to redesignate Hockley as a district centre. This would protect the area from expansion and preserve the village feel that was requested by residents in both the Hockley Parish Plan and in the recent resident survey in October 2009. This must not however be allowed to prevent opportunities for minor regeneration and improvements.
The Retail & Leisure Study in 2008 indicated maintaining and developing existing strengths rather than retail expansion. Expansion of the town centre to include Eldon Way / Foundry Industrial Estates is not promoted within the Retail & Leisure Study and would detract the focus away from maintaining and improving the current town centre.

Option TC16 (existing primary and secondary shopping frontages) should remain the Primary Shopping Area and encourage minor regeneration and improvements of the secondary frontages. Option TC15 is too restrictive and does not fairly support those shops / businesses away from the 'centre'.