Welcome To
Hambro Hill United
Community Group
Join us to stay informed and engaged with planning issues specifically the proposed development for 130 homes, affecting Hambro Hill, Hambro Close, Hockley Road and all surrounding roads. We bring transparency and community insight to local developments, residents have a stronger voice if they are united
Outline Planning For 130 Homes Has Now Been Submitted
Click The Button Below To See Our 3-Step 'How To Object' Guide
We now have 24 days from 22nd September to get objections in to the council
DEADLINE 15th OCTOBER
As it stands (24th Sep) site R02, Land North Of Hambro Hill, Rayleigh has been removed from the Rochford Council Local Plan. This is good news but it doesn't change the fact that we will be objecting to this planning application as a community group and we will be asking everyone reading this to do the same please. Friends and relatives are allowed to have their say too so please feel free to share far and wide. One objection is permitted per adult aged 18 or over (not one per household), regardless of whether they reside locally.
If you need help with what to say or how to do it, just click 'How To Object' or the button above.
Any objections MUST be based on facts and not emotions please. For example; the traffic at Hambro Hill/Hockley road mini roundabout which is by the councils own assessment already at it's limit at peak times and is also unmitigable, the knock on effects of traffic in the wider Rayleigh area, the lack of infrastructure, the dangerous access point to the site on a blind summit etc. etc.
Ref. 26/00581/OUT
If you don't need our guide and are ready to object please click the 'Have Your Say' button below.
Alternatively you can email your objection directly to planning.applications@rochford.gov.uk Remember to add all of your personal details and the application reference: 26/00581/OUT We would suggest that you set it out in the same format as you would write a letter.
If you would prefer to fill in an objection with old school pen and paper you can download a blank one via the button below and print it off. When you're finished it can be posted to: Rochford District Council, Civic Suite, 2 Hockley Road, Rayleigh, SS6 8EB. Or handed in, in person, to: Reception, Rochford Library, 8 Roche Close, Rochford, Essex, SS4 1PX
The outline planning application is available to view on the Rochford District Council website via the button below.
All relevant documents can be found under 'plans and comments'. There are lots of documents but the most important is probably the one named 'Final Planning Statement'.
Gridlocked
Roads
Insufficient
Healthcare
Flood
Risks
Not Enough School Places
It Was A Walk In The Park
Another Successful Fundraiser Completed!
Thank you to everyone that came along and donated. Nice to see a few new faces and some 4 legged supporters too
Surely we are the only community group with a cat in a pushchair!!
It's great to see lots of posters up on Hambro Hill and Hockley Road!!
If you've arrived on this website because of them this is what it's all about.
Rochford District Council is currently consulting on proposals to allocate the Green Belt land to the north of Hambro Hill for 150 new homes as part of the emerging Local Plan
This site is identified as CFS105(a)
Why This Matters.
Development here could:
- Reduce important Green Belt land separating Rayleigh and Hockley
- Increase traffic pressure on already constrained local roads
- Impact drainage, flooding and local infrastructure capacity
- Affect wildlife habitats, landscape character and countryside views
- Insufficient infrastructure including schools, doctors, dentists etc
The impact will be felt by all surrounding roads and residents, not only those living closest to, or overlooking the site.
Lots of us have had our say via the response forms and as a group we took almost 400 completed forms to the planning department, plus any more that were posted/delivered in person or emailed in. That is a huge amount for what is a fairly small site so thank you to everyone that got involved and engaged!
If We Don't Protect Our Green Spaces, Everything Will Eventually Die
Please Donate!
Donate Securely Via Our GoFundMe Page
Our GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover the costs of running a community group. Printing costs, legal advice, planning advice etc.
Our first major goal will be using the services of a planning expert, the fees for this are £1500 plus VAT so we've set the initial target at £2000 because we'll have other printing costs etc. to cover. Please put in whatever you can. If you can't afford to donate that's absolutely fine but please share our page to your friends and neighbours!!
Any donations no matter how big or small will be greatly appreciated
What Is The GoFundMe For?
A Brief Outline
Why we are asking for donations and what it will be used for.
We have collected about four hundred responses to the Rochford District Local Plan consultation - Stage 1 which in technical terms is a Regulation 18 consultation. Stage 2 i.e. Regulation 19 will be in the autumn of 2026.
So far so good.
We have also been and continue to be active with the local councillors and MP again prudent actions.
Hollybrook the potential developer have made a pre-application to Rochford District Council (timescale about 8 weeks), this will most likely be followed by an outline planning application (timescale 8-13 weeks) and a full planning application (timescale about 13 weeks).
In other words, they could start building in less than 6 months.
We are not planning experts, Hollybrook will have appointed a planning expert. We will be disadvantaged if we do not get professional advice. Therefore, we need to get on with it, hence the request for funds.
Like you all we don’t have a pot of money for this process and there may be other fees further down the line (we do not yet know) but to have a chance of stopping Hollybrook taking advantage of no Local Plan being in place we need to be ready to object and need professional advice to do this to maximum effect.
What service will the planning expert provide:
1. Receive instructions and client briefing
2. Review RDC Development Plan and policies
3. Attend and speak at residents’ meeting
4. Draft outline of matters to guide resident objections;
5. Liaise with Local Planning Authority (LPA);
6. Liaise with client on preparation of objection letter, and submit to LPA on their behalf;
9. Monitor application & make client aware of issues arising from the application process;
10. Instruct experts where appropriate (additional cost)
11. Receive LPA’s formal decision for review and client debrief
12. Prepare Appeal submission (if required)
If you have any further questions or concerns about donating please contact us
Thanks for putting up the posters in your windows, please talk to your neighbours and friends about what we're up against and how we're trying to preserve our green spaces
Hambro Hill United champions the rights and concerns of local residents by monitoring planning proposals and sharing timely updates. Our focus is on fostering a united community that actively participates in shaping the future of our neighbourhood.
Healthcare Implications
According to statistics available from the 10 year census, In the Rochford District Council (RDC) area the total population was 83,270 residents in 2011. That rose to 85,600 residents in 2021, a modest increase of 2.8% over the whole 10 year period.
The current Government imposed target for the RDC area is 15,000 new dwellings. Generally speaking, the average occupation for each new dwelling is (minimum) 2 persons.
Therefore, in simple mathematics 2 X 15,000 = 30,000 additional residents in the district. This equates to an increase in population of 30,000 new residents, or a 35% increase, creating a new potential population of 115,000 people.
That equates to 32.2% more than previous 10 year organic growth.
After London, Manchester & Birmingham, the “Greater Essex” population is the largest in the country.
Let’s look at the basic Healthcare requirements for our new population.
- The average OECD (developed country) patient/GP ratio: 3:1000 (3 doctors per 1,000 people).
- Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Norway & Switzerland the ratio: 4:1000 (4 doctors per 1,000 people).
- The current English patient/doctor ratio: 1:2200 (0.45 doctors per 1,000 people or less than one doctor per 2000 people).
Based upon the current inadequate “English” ratio, RDC would require 13 or 14 new GP’s. However, based upon the OECD average, the requirement for the additional residents alone would be 90 new GP’s.
Congestion Implications
The proposed site will only be accessible by HGVs from Hockley Road and Hambro Hill itself which means that all construction traffic that is over 3.7m high will have to come down to the A127 to Rayleigh Weir, then through the High Street and out the other side due to the low bridges in Rayleigh. Considering that most construction supplies come on trucks this will be a huge increase in HGV traffic all through Rayleigh town centre. The small roundabout at the Hambro/Hockley junction can barely cope with the car transporters as it is, with constant broken kerbstones and damaged drain covers
The video below is of the traffic at a standstill in both directions on Hockley Road at 2pm on 11th March due to just one set of two way traffic lights on Hambro Hill.
Local Planning Updates
We will be constantly updating our progress with regular insights and alerts on the planning proposal impacting Hambro Hill.
