Development 'could go ahead' despite new town snub

A large housing development could still be built in part of Essex, despite the government saying it would not construct a new town in the county, a council leader has said.

Greenbelt land between Bournes Green Chase, in Shoebury, to the River Roach, in Rochford, was earmarked for 10,000 new homes earlier this year, with Southend and Rochford councils, landowners and developer Bellway asking Downing Street to consider making it a new town.

An independent report from the New Towns Taskforce has now recommended 12 locations for potential new towns – but the site is not one of them.

But Daniel Cowan, Labour leader of Southend City Council, said the development itself could still go ahead.

"The developers and landowners, I believe, will still be pursuing development on that land," he said.

"But we now need to look at what we can do as a council to ensure Southend gets the infrastructure that it needs.

"We believed the New Towns Taskforce could help with that but now we need to look at our other options - but our focus remains the same."

The New Towns Taskforce encouraged councils to make a case after being tasked to make recommendations to ministers about the location and delivery of new towns.

Authorities were invited to submit proposals that were "regionally significant for both housing numbers and economic growth".

According to Mr Cowan, the council had "never been supportive of the development" and the expression of interest was initially made by the developer.

"We decided to put in the submission to make the argument for infrastructure first," he added.

"We understand there is a need for homes but any proposal that comes forward must deliver the level of infrastructure that we need."

Rochford District Council immediately withdrew support for the submission after its political leadership changed hands in May.

"I am delighted that Rochford hasn't been included in the New Town Taskforce short list," said Danielle Belton, its Conservative leader.

"The numbers of properties proposed would have been no less than 5,000 on the Rochford side of the boundary and these homes would have been in addition to our already unsustainable housing targets.

"There was absolutely no evidence that any such new town would be infrastructure-led and it put our green belt at further risk.

"I was personally lobbied by dozens of residents on the Southend side of the border, and am pleased that our swift actions have not only helped our district but also our neighbours in Southend that were hugely concerned about the impact."

Bellway Homes has been contacted for comment.

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