Residents Fight 1,300 Homes

A FIGHT to stop 1,300 homes being built on greenbelt land is being ramped up by Rochford District residents.
Developer Bloor Homes wants to develop Dollyman’s Farm near the A130, but residents and the local MP have branded the scheme unsustainable.
The site, which sits next to major roads between Rayleigh and Wickford, has long been mooted for development, but frustrated residents have come forward to show opposition.
Since the plans were submitted, over 100 official objections have been submitted on the council’s planning portal with an overwhelming number of rejection existing “infrastructural strain” as a key concerns.
Bloor Homes outline that 50% of the homes will be “affordable” and will close a gap in local housing need, as well as delivering amenities and infrastructure upgrades including cycling paths, shops and green spaces.
Mark Francois, Conservative MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, has long stated his opposition to the plans.
“I’ve always been opposed to this development, which represents unacceptable, unsustainable urban spread in our precious greenbelt,” he said.
“I have submitted a detailed seven-page letter of objection to the council over this, which I will be publishing shortly on my social media pages so my constituents can see for themselves how much I am against it.”
Speaking to concerns raises about the plans, a Bloor Homes spokesman previously said: “There is a need to address the current house shortage in Rochford, and as such, we are bringing forward plans to deliver it up to 1,300 much-needed homes for local people, including 50% affordable.
“We believe this scheme represents a transformative opportunity to address the pressing housing needs of Rochford District, whilst delivering wider benefits to the local community.
“During our community consultation, we want to listen to local people to understand their local concerns, and to hear what the community would like to see in their community.”
Danielle Belton, Tory leader of Rochford District Council, has recently launched a petition to tackle the number of unfinished developments on brownfield sites, in a bid to stop greenbelt encroachment.
She commented: “Statistics show we don’t need these homes locally.
“Like so many of the applications we are seeing across our district, it’s another example of greenbelt being stolen unnecessarily.
“It’s one of the many reasons I’ve started a petition to ask government to leave our greenbelt alone, and concentrate on the 1.4 million planning permissions already granted but not yet built, many of which of brownfield sites.”
Bloor Homes’ plans were formally submitted to the council in February this year amid government-mandated housing targets demanding 15,000 homes be built in the Rochford District by 2043.
Picture: Artists’ impression of the development. Pic Bloor Homes
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