Plans for a huge 662 housing estate WILL be built after getting backing of Government planners.

The Government Planning Inspector has spoken out about the benefits of the plans by Bloor for 662 homes at land east of Ashingdon Road and north of Rochford Garden Way, Rochford. The proposals have been met with huge uproar previously from angry campaigners.

The cost to the council in defending its decision to refuse the application in June 2021 will amount to approximately £70,000 for hosting the event and for its own legal costs.

The Inspector’s report concluded that in balancing the benefits and disbenefits of the proposal the adverse impacts of allowing this proposal would not significantly outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the government’s National Planning Policy Framework taken as a whole.

Echo:

Ian Ward, councillor for strategic planning, vowed to work and reduce the impact of the development.

He said: "We note the outcome of the public inquiry and respect its decision. We will now work closely with Bloor Homes to ensure that the development scheme minimises impact on the local community and that they are held account for the obligations outlined in the appeal decision that the Council insisted upon including."

The appeal was made by Bloor Homes, Aber Ltd, AW Squier Ltd & DW Squier Ltd, and was heard at a 6 day Public Inquiry held at Saxon Hall, Aviation Way on the 25-28 January and 1-2 February 2022.

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However, no claims for costs were submitted by Bloor Homes and the Inspector did not find the Council had acted unreasonably in defending its decision.

The Inspector further considered obligations necessary to make the development acceptable and that formed part of the legal agreement for the development drawn up by the Council.

These include 232 affordable houses, a £1.4 million contribution towards highway improvements and a further £600,000 towards a range of community benefits.

Robert Eburne, Planning Director at Bloor Homes, Eastern Region said: “We welcome the independent Inspector’s decision which clearly vindicates the original recommendation that the planning application should have been approved back in June 2021. The Planning Inspector confirmed that the benefits of the development on this allocated development site quite clearly outweigh adverse impacts. 

 

“Alongside the much needed market homes and affordable homes, which the Council accepted were needed to address its acute housing needs, we are committed to delivering a £9 million package of benefits including new school places, money for the NHS, public transport improvements, youth facilities, and a raft of contributions to highway works. This is certainly a scheme which delivers necessary development together with a full range of infrastructure. We look forward to working positively with the District Council and County Council as the project moves forward over the coming months.”