Great Wakering Friends Farm 360 homes plans spark concern

An Environmental Impact Assessment request for the proposals, at Friends Farm off Shoebury Road, raises several potential risks which residents say render the development “unsustainable”.

Developer Friends Farm Ltd has outlined a number of measures to mitigate the risks and stated how up to 30 pupil spaces will be created through an on-site special school.

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Simon James Jones is a member of the residents’ group, Stop Overdevelopment of Great Wakering, which also has concerns about a separate application for 950 new homes off nearby Poynters Lane.

Rural - The green belt land could be transformed by the development of 360 new homes (Image: Google Maps) “Our community has serious concerns about the Friends Farm development and the Environmental Impact Assessment request,” said Simon.

“We are deeply worried about flood safety, as this low-lying land has a history of tidal and surface water flooding.

“Building hundreds of homes here would put future residents at unacceptable risk, especially as sea levels rise.

The Environmental Impact Assessment request filed on behalf of Friends Farm Ltd details how a flood mitigation strategy will be submitted alongside formal proposals and that no off-site flood risk would be created.

Friends Farm Ltd has already specified how the development would incorporate open spaces and sustainability-focused measures to mitigate the potential harm to the natural environment,

If approved, the proposals for the “eco village” are also set to feature a GP surgery and shops.

Despite this, Simon said that hedgerows and ponds supporting wildlife in the area would be inevitably destroyed and also pointed to increased pressure on existing roads.

Development - The proposals also include space for a special school catering to 30 pupils (Image: Friends Farm Ltd) The Stop Overdevelopment of Great Wakering group are especially considered around the combined pressure of the Friends Farm and Poynters Lane proposals.

“Infrastructure is another major issue,” he said.

“Our roads, including Shoebury Road and the narrow village routes, already struggle with traffic and safety and adding hundreds more cars will worsen congestion and accident risk.

“For these reasons, we believe the Friends Farm development is unsustainable, unsafe and unnecessary."