Thundersley plan for flats on former Hobson and Sons site

Developer Savannah Property Investments has submitted a bid to build the 32 homes on the site of the former Hobson and Sons in Kenneth Road.

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The company vacated the site in 2021 and the building was demolished earlier in 2022.

Permission has been granted for 30 homes on the site, but the developer is returning to Castle Point Council to ask for permission to add an extra two homes to the scheme.

An artist impression of the scheme (Image: Savannah Property Investments)

“I think this is a good development and the kind of home-building we need here in Castle Point,” St Peter’s Ward councillor Michael Dixon said.

“We want to protect our green belt as much as possible, and to do so, we are going to need to utilise brownfield sites like this for the homes we do have to build.”

If approved by councillors at a development committee meeting next week, three flats will be added to the roof space, while a flat is lost from the ground floor, so the bin and cycle stores can move to provide more parking.

Workers outside Hobson and Sons (Image: Savannah Property Investments)

An extra affordable home will be provided, taking the total to four, the developer has pledged.

A total of 32 parking spaces will be provided.

“This new proposal has allowed us to gain two extra apartments whilst only creating minor visible changes,” the developer claims in planning documents.

“This was possible just through the addition of dormers and skylights with no increase to the mass of the roof.

“The new proposal will only benefit the site and will offer very little to no negative impact. As already agreed by the approval of the previous application, it is in a very sustainable location for residential development due to its proximity to two high streets and the amenities that accompany this.

“Although only a small increase, these two additional apartments will help Castle Point Council deliver more housing whilst having minimal impact by comparison to what has already been approved.”

The developer will have to make a healthcare contribution of £15,700, as well as stump up £82,886 for primary education and £2,489.60 for library enhancements at Hadleigh Library.