A major new housing development that could see 10,000 homes built between Southend-on-Sea and Rochford is being explored by local councils, following a formal expression of interest submitted to the Government’s New Towns Taskforce.
Southend City Council and Rochford District Council have joined forces to put forward the idea of a cross-boundary new town, which could transform the area north of Southend and south of Rochford.
The latest proposal, submitted in December 2024, is part of ongoing work on Local Plans and aims to address the region’s growing housing and infrastructure challenges.
What do you think of this idea? Be sure to leave a comment below with your thoughts.
An infrastructure-led approach
The proposed development, which has been considered before, would split the 10,000 homes evenly between Southend and Rochford. It would also include essential infrastructure such as new roads, schools, healthcare facilities, and green spaces, as well as job opportunities and commercial spaces.
Councillor Daniel Cowan, Leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council, stressed that this is about planning ahead:
“Working closely with Rochford District Council, an updated expression of interest to the original 2018 submission has been submitted to Government so we can make a stronger case for infrastructure-led development. Southend-on-Sea is suffering from a worsening housing crisis and needs new infrastructure. Our expression of interest is for issues around roads, health, public transport, education, and public open space to be tackled first, so we can then meet our housing challenges in both Southend and Rochford.”
Balancing growth with community needs
The idea of a new town has raised concerns among residents, with fears that it could contribute to urban sprawl and merge Southend and Rochford into one continuous development. However, the councils stress that this is just an initial step and no firm commitment has been made to build on the land.
Councillor James Newport, Leader of Rochford District Council, acknowledged the challenges but highlighted the importance of exploring all options:
“Rochford now has a requirement from Central Government to build more homes a year than it ever has. It is therefore incumbent on the Council to explore all options to meet this requirement to ensure the best outcome for residents and businesses in the district.
“That is why officers proposed this potential development site to the New Towns Taskforce, but it is important to be clear that no decisions have yet been made and this was just an expression of interest at this stage. It does not commit the Council to proceed with a new town in this location.”
If the Government selects the proposal for further investigation, the councils will conduct public consultations and commission detailed assessments before any decisions are made.
A wider national strategy
The New Towns Taskforce, launched in September 2024, aims to deliver a new generation of large-scale developments to address the housing shortage and promote economic growth. The Government received 100 proposals from councils across England, with each potential new town required to include at least 10,000 homes. The taskforce has emphasised that these new settlements must be “well-connected, well-designed, sustainable and attractive places where people want to live.”
In addition, the initiative sets a target for 40% of homes to be classed as affordable housing, providing much-needed relief for those struggling to get on the property ladder.
What happens next?
The New Towns Taskforce is expected to review submissions over the coming months, with final recommendations to ministers due in summer 2025. If the Southend and Rochford proposal progresses to the next stage, further studies and public consultations will shape the plans, ensuring that any development aligns with local needs and concerns.
As discussions continue, the focus will be on whether this new town could be the right solution to ease housing pressures while delivering the infrastructure improvements both councils argue are essential for sustainable growth.
For now, residents and local businesses will be watching closely to see if this ambitious vision for Southend and Rochford’s future takes a step closer to reality.
Problem is that while 10,000 new houses will be built, the extra resources required for the increase in population are seldom if ever provided. A larger population requires more schools, doctors, hospital capacity, etc. Those extra resources should be put in place before the houses are occupied. There is a tendency to promise the extra resources will be provided but that doesn’t become fact.
It’s already a nightmare trying to leave Thorpe Bay at the moment due to congested 127. What new road plans have been made to alleviate further problems?
No our countryside is under massive threat and there must be plenty of so called grey areas to build on and not our countryside
Why? We are already over congested. The hospitals can’t cope. You can’t get GP appointments anymore. The roads are packed, and the pollution is high.. Why can’t you stop making people’s lives unlivable? You just can’t stop yourselves can you? I am sorry I voted Labour… So, so bloody sorry…
We need new roads to take the strain off of the A127 and A12 first. Build the arterial roads connecting to M25 and A130 then plan your housing
Not being funny but I got a feeling British citizens are not the priority here.
Councils , why do you not take notice of the residents that would be affected ? This is NOT wanted . Services are already not fit for purpose so you think we could cope with another up to 50,000 people and visitors ? Will you pay for new trains, buses, schools, police, social workers , care workers and teachers, doctor ls, consultants and nurses ? I dont think the residents want or can afford to pay for this.
Absolutely ridiculous. Apart from the obvious infrastructure issues, and the adding to already stretched schools, doctors surgeries and hospitals, the idea that 40% will be affordable housing is misleading. We have already seen recent local developments by Bellway reduce the number of affordable housing that they will now be able to provide on the grounds of ‘increased costs’. Yet planning was presumably agreed on the basis of affordable housing to be added. This will just be another way to line the pockets of developers at the expense of the local population and will not actually achieve what the government wanted anyway.
That’s it we will be moving
More roads will HAVE to be built, but will main feeder roads be widened? The builder’s job is to maximise profits, not provide infrastructure.
They WON’T build new GP’s surgeris and schools etc etc , the build will be split up into different smaller companies (just like the Hall Road Estate (Even though it was owned by the same people)) by doing that they dont’ have to… all the houses will be like rabbit hutches with postage sized, north facing gardens and all on top of each other (just like Hall Road) and it will either be affordable (which is part ownership) or completely unaffordable – no middle ground…. and Rochford won’t be a small town like it is now, it’ll be a sprawling, overcrowded eyesore and melt into Southend which, unfortunately, has become an absolute sh`thole……