Plans for a large new industrial estate, which is expected to create more than 400 jobs and contribute around £30 million to the economy, have been given the green light, with councillors demanding infrastructure improvements.

Rochford Council’s development committee insisted that Lucton Educational Management Solutions improve the footpaths, bus stops, and travel plans for its industrial estate plans.

The firm’s proposals are for office and factory space at land off Sandy Crescent and Star Lane in Great Wakering.

The proposals are expected to create more than 400 jobs in the construction and operation phases of the business units, as well as supply chain roles, and bring around £29million to the economy.

The council agreed outline planning permission at a meeting on November 28, but insisted the developer must pay just over £7,000 for a workplace travel plan for a minimum of five years which must be paid before the occupation of the site, pay towards infrastructure improvements to public rights of way footpath to the north and east of the site which upgrade for improved services and pay towards bus service infrastructure enhancing to upgrade existing bus stop Star Lane.

Mike Steptoe, a committee member, told the hearing: “If there is a mind to approve this, there’s a couple of items I’d like to see put into the conditions on there. One is that an assessment of the speed limit where the 30mph finishes and goes into 60mph is carried out and is taken forward.

“That street lighting is improved along that section of road, and it is a dark section of road and that working hours, it says working hours between 6pm and 7am, I'd like to see that changed to 6pm and 8am and it says about working on bank holidays, but when it’s a bank holiday weekend I would like that to include Saturdays so we do give at least those residents a little bit of respite over a bank holiday weekend, rather than having the noise of the machinery going at that time.”

James Finn, planning director at Stantec and agent for the plans, told the meeting: “Demand for this type of employment space has been clearly demonstrated, and the application has been made on the basis that the applicant is confident in the market need.

“Moreover, the council’s evidence base from 2023 and 2024 continues to confirm high levels of demand for modern, flexible employment space. This proposal delivers significant employment benefits. It will create a substantial number of jobs for local people, contributing to the local economy and supporting the borough’s growing housing need.”