Updated plans include proposals for a three-storey building with retail space and parking spaces at the rear of the building
Plans to demolish a car garage and replace it with a three-storey development of 29 flats are set to be approved as the council aims to revitalise Rochford town centre.
Rochford District Council’s planning committee will determine the West Street flats plan at a meeting on Thursday.
Council planning officers have recommended the scheme is approved after the committee initially rejected proposals for 30 flats on the site across a four-storey development at 68-72 West Street currently occupied by 1st Stop Cars garage.
Updated plans include proposals for a three-storey building with ground floor restaurant, retail space, 30 bicycle spaces and 21 car parking spaces at the rear of the building.
Housing would comprise of 12 one-bed flats, 16 two-bed flats and one three-bed flat.
The estimated gross value of the development sits between £6.5 million and £7.1 million – both the planning agent and the council’s appointed specialist District Valuation Service (DVS) state the development cannot viably provide affordable housing.
Planning documents state that commercial costs have been estimated between £4 million and £4.5 million.
The council’s appraisal of the proposal states the town is a smaller retail centre which has experienced loss of key facilities in recent years, adding the addition of 29 new residential units into the town centre has the potential to support local shops and services.
Rochford resident Christine Austin, who is campaigning against a separate 662-home development near Ashford Road, said: I don’t disagree with the council’s assessment that new housing will boost the area’s economy. If it’s done sympathetically to the area’s character and implemented properly then I would never say that was wrong.
She added: If you have an area and infrastructure that can cope, and we know there is a quota for housing, then we all have to suck it up and fight against the developments that aren’t.
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