TRADERS who have called the Foundry home for decades will be sad to leave behind their “family community” when an all-but set in stone bid to knock the estate down is officially made.

The 23-unit estate, adjacent to Hockley station, was reportedly purchased by developer Govey Homes for a fee believed to be in the region of £2.7 million – £2.85 million last year.

Traders on the estate believe it is only a matter of time before the firm submits a planning application to Rochford Council to knock down the estate to make way for homes.

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Keith Clemence has run Central Motor Services from the foundry for 42 years.

“Obviously I’m totally gutted will have to leave, but it’s just one of those unfortunate things in life.

“We have a close-knit family community and most of us have been here a very long time.

He added: “I’ve been told that once the planning application is in, which is likely to take six months, we will get six months’ notice. The new owners have been fair about it.”

Ronny Billington, who operated Foundry Tyres from the site since 1995, said: “As a small business, the Foundry works for us as it has small units, with low overheads. The new units being made around here are massive and will cost an arm and a leg to work from.”

Hockley councillor Adrian Eves, says it’s “only a matter of time” before a planning application is made.

The Rochford Residents Group councillor added: “A lot of these independent small business and one-man bands rely on the Foundry's small units.

"There is not much else like it in Essex, so we need to find them new suitable homes to prevent them from having to close."

In 2014, the council formally adopted The Rochford District Hockley Area Action Plan designed to balance development with the protection Hockley’s “village character”.

The plan, which identifies the Foundry for development due to its central location, state any plan for new homes, retail, or leisure should be balanced with commercial spaces to “protect local jobs”.

Responding to rumours circulating on social media a plan to demolish the estate had already been lodged, a council spokesman said: “There is no application that has been made or approved for redevelopment of the Foundry estate”.