As part of the ‘Preferred Approach with Options’, the Local Plan is seeking views on whether land north of Southend—currently agricultural and designated Green Belt—should be allocated for development or retained as open land. Developers are promoting this location for a new neighbourhood spanning Southend City and Rochford District.
The proposed neighbourhood could include:
- 4,000–5,000 new homes, including family and affordable housing
- Employment, healthcare, schools, and community facilities
- Parks, open space, and sustainable drainage
- New roads, walking and cycling routes, and bus links
Policy SP2 provides for 9,500 homes within the existing urban area by 2040, but this falls short of the national housing need by over 14,000 homes. Green Belt release must therefore be considered to meet this need. If supported, a Strategic Policy will be developed to guide any future scheme.
Overview of the potential impacts of this option:
Positive
- 4,000–5,000 new homes to ease housing pressure
- New schools, health, and community services
- Improved transport and connections
- Public open spaces and new parks
- High proportion of affordable/family homes
- Construction jobs and inward investment
- New local centres and commercial space
Negative
- Loss of Green Belt and countryside
- Still won't fully meet housing need
- Extent of new transport connections depends on land in Rochford
- Extents of parks depends on land in Rochford
- Loss of agricultural land
- Draw focus from city centre regeneration
- Long delivery timeframe, possible disruption
We need your views on whether to include this Policy Option and what criteria should guide the design of a new neighbourhood if it progresses to the next stage of the Local Plan.