662 homes approved at appeal for Bloor Homes in Rochford, Essex
Following the decision of Rochford Council to refuse to grant full planning permission for 233 dwellings and outline planning permission for 429 dwellings at land east of Ashingdon Road, Rochford, Emery Planning submitted an appeal on behalf of Bloor Homes and acted as agent for the appeal. In doing so we prepared and presented the evidence on planning and housing land supply. The public inquiry took place in January and February 2022 and the appeal decision was issued on 8th March 2022.
The site is allocated in the adopted development plan for a minimum of 500 homes to meet housing needs beyond 2021. Whilst the Council’s officers had recommended that the application be approved on two occasions, members voted against their recommendations and refused to grant permission due to concerns in relation to the impact of the proposals on the local highway network and resisted the appeal. The Rochford Supporters Group took rule 6 status for the appeal.
In allowing the appeal, the Inspector concluded that the proposed development is consistent with the development plan, there would be no unacceptable impact on highway safety and the residual cumulative impacts on the road network would not be severe. In the tilted planning balance, the Inspector gave significant weight to the plan-led development, very significant weight to the provision of 662 new homes, very significant weight to the provision of 232 affordable homes, moderate weight to economic benefits associated with the construction and occupation of the dwellings, moderate weight to the contributions and infrastructure improvements which would also benefit the wider community. Against this, the Inspector gave moderate weight to the disbenefit of increased traffic levels and moderate weight to the loss of a protected oak tree outside the local school. The Inspector concluded that the adverse impacts of allowing the proposal would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits and allowed the appeal.
The Appellant’s barrister was Sarah Reid from Kings Chambers. The Highway Witness for the Appellant was Peter Blair from Tetra Tech.
The full appeal decision can be read here.
