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Search the Public Notice PortalCouncillors have chosen to delay a decision on Bellway Homes’ latest bid to slash affordable housing at a major Shoebury development after being warned they may not have strong enough grounds to refuse it.
The developer has repeatedly sought to reduce the affordable housing commitment at its 210-home scheme between Barge Pier Road and Ness Road, despite the original agreement requiring 65 affordable properties.
A bid to cut the contribution to 10 per cent was rejected in 2024, before councillors threw out another attempt to reduce it to 15 per cent, or 32 homes, in May last year.
Bellway Homes is now seeking to cut the requirement again to just 21 homes, equivalent to 10 per cent.
Planning officers recommended approving the change after viability assessments concluded the development could not financially support any affordable housing.
But Southend Council planning committee rejected the recommendation by six votes to four on Wednesday.
Reform councillor James O’Rourke then proposed refusing the change, arguing members had not seen enough evidence to justify such a substantial reduction.
However, officers warned a desire to retain more affordable housing would not alone provide sufficient grounds for refusal.
One officer said: “If we are refusing this, it needs to be based on the conflict of the viability assessment rather than a desire to have more affordable housing.”
A viability assessment by Arebray Development Consultancy calculated the scheme would face a £7.5million deficit even with no affordable housing.
The council’s independent assessor calculated a smaller £5.55million deficit but also concluded the development could not viably support any affordable properties.
Despite this, Bellway Homes has offered 21 homes, comprising 15 for affordable rent and six for shared ownership.
The developer has previously blamed rising construction costs and the expense of engineering work required on the flood-prone site for affecting the scheme’s viability.
Officers warned the circumstances have changed since councillors rejected similar reductions in 2024 and 2025 because the original agreement is now more than five years old, allowing Bellway Homes to appeal a refusal.
Members were told a planning inspector would scrutinise the viability evidence if an appeal was lodged.
Committee chair Margaret Borton ultimately deferred the application so officers could seek further legal advice, with members told it could return in December.
Mr O’Rourke said: “I do feel like we made the wrong decision so it’s being deferred until we make the right one, which doesn’t quite sit right with me.”
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