Business owners on a Hockley industrial estate have described being on a "knife-edge" with “no plan for the future” amid proposals to demolish the site and build homes.

The Foundry Business Park, off Station Approach, Hockley was purchased by developer Govey Homes in 2022 before major plans to build 77 new homes were submitted to Rochford Council last March. 

Alongside homes, 2,000 square metres of business space will be created but Rochford Council is yet to vote on the proposals and business owners fear they are living in limbo. 

Estate - The Foundry Industrial Estate Estate - The Foundry Industrial Estate (Image: Govey Homes/HCUK Group)

 

Tony Druitt, owner of Holt Motor Services, has claimed that “no one can plan anything” and that he knows “absolutely nothing” about the future of the industrial estate. 

Keith Clements, owner of Central Motor Services, has been on the estate 40 years and described his business as “on a knife edge”.

Mr Clements said: “We have been here for 40 years, and we are one of the only MOT stations in Hockley. We serve the people.

“The thing is, there is nowhere to relocate us and if this does go ahead, we have to finish and we cannot go anywhere else and if we do, we have to renew all our equipment.”
Mr Clements believes this would cost more than £100,000 and added: “We are on a limb. We are in limbo.”

 

Holt Motor Services - In the Foundry Industrial Estate Holt Motor Services - In the Foundry Industrial Estate (Image: Govey Homes/HCUK Group)

 

He said: “Nothing has been said so we are on a knife edge waiting for the developer to say. It hasn’t happened well into this year, nothing has been said.”

Mr Druitt said: “We know nothing, absolutely nothing about what is happening.

“Because we don’t know, no one can actually plan anything that is going on about it. We are trying to work out some alternative.”

 

Plans - An image of Govey Homes proposed site Plans - An image of Govey Homes proposed site (Image: Govey Homes)

 

Rochford District Residents councillor for Hockley Ward, Adrian Eves, said: “Some businesses aren’t suitable and the tyre and MOT car servicing businesses are having major issues at the moment.

“That makes things quite difficult and I have concerns.”

A spokesman for Govey Homes said: ‘The applications are due to be determined by the end of the year, at which time progress can be made towards regeneration of this highly sustainable previously developed site.”