Plans for another 91 homes in Rayleigh

Days after Rochford District Council agreed to allow a huge estate of 500 homes between Rawreth Lane and London Road, another developer has revealed plans for 91 housese and flats nearby.

The homes would be built on land known as Timber Grove, again to the north of London Road – prompting fresh concerns about traffic, flooding and a shortage of school places .

The development, on land including the site of the Timber Grove care home, would have 24 four-bedroom houses, 8 five-bedroom houses, 7 single-bedroom flats and 18 two-bedroom flats.

The applcation also includes a replacement 13-bed care home.

Jim Cripps, of Rayleigh Action Group, said: “This comes as no surprise, because the Rochford District Council Core Plan has sent a very clear message to developers – help yourselves to West Rayleigh.

“Previous smaller applications for this site have been refused on a variety of grounds such as it being in the green belt, flood risk and traffic in London Road, but that was before the allocations document was approved.”

Gordon Toal, 64, of Paignton Close, Rayleigh, has lived in the town for 28 years and thinks the area would be unable to cope with any more traffic. He said: “Strangely, if this development was a standalone scheme, I wouldn’t be too concerned about it, but as it would be an addition to the 500 now approved, it is not such a good idea.

“Also, I believe the application would seek to use the entrance road to Rayleigh Sports and Social Club as the estate's access road. That would affect the parking for the sports club. This isn’t acceptable.”

Peter Plummer, chairman of the Rawreth Flood Action Group, fears the plans could worsen local flooding problems.

He said: “If they did it right, and if they were to listen to what we had to say, then it could be an improvement, but they don’t listen.

“It could flood that site even worse. That area has flooded three times since being developed.”

“We could all benefit if it was done right.”