Revealed: 550 new homes could be built on Rayleigh farmland

A major new housing development is being proposed on farmland in Rayleigh, with local residents warning the local area could be pushed beyond breaking point.

Developer Crest Nicholson has unveiled plans for 550 new homes at Lubbards Farm, off Rawreth Lane, and is now consulting the public ahead of an outline planning application to Rochford District Council.

The proposals, outlined in leaflets delivered to nearby households, include a mix of one-bedroom maisonettes up to four-bedroom family houses, with half classed as “affordable” homes.

Crest Nicholson says the scheme could also include:

• Specialist housing for older people
• New sports pitches and community sports facilities
• Retention of existing tree belts and hedgerows, alongside new ponds, trees, hedges and grassland
• Enhanced walking and cycling routes
• Improved bus services and links
• Two new road access points onto Rawreth Lane and Hullbridge Road

The developer says it is aiming to submit its application by December 2025 and insists local feedback will be used to shape the final plans. A ‘Statement of Community Involvement’ will accompany the application.

However, many local residents and councillors have expressed concern over the impact of such a large-scale development on already stretched roads, schools, GP surgeries and other public services.

Councillor Danielle Belton said:
“Sadly we are seeing these sorts of applications all over the District, and to be honest the Country. Developers are making the most of governments mandate to build 1.5m homes and their reclassification of green belt to grey. I do believe this site had been on the cards for many years but at this time I can’t comment on specifics as no application has come forward, just this proposal.”

Local resident Zoe Liz said:
“The roads around Rawreth won’t cope. It’s terrible at 5 as it is. It’s gridlock. They need to look at the roads first.”

Keith Anderson added:
“This is just one of the reasons we are selling up and heading to a less populated part of the country.”

Nicole Amoroso said:
“The roads and local services simply cannot cope with the additional demands. Rochford is awful already in terms of traffic. The village was not built for the numbers that already reside there, let alone thousands to come.”

A public drop-in exhibition is being held at The Rayleigh Club on Thursday 25 September, from 3pm to 7pm, where residents can view the plans, speak to the developers and submit feedback.

Part of a wider development surge across south-east Essex

The Rayleigh scheme is just one of a series of large-scale housing proposals now coming forward across south-east Essex, part of a wider government push to rapidly increase housing delivery.

The Government has set a national target to build 1.5 million homes by 2030, and developers are racing to bring forward sites, particularly where land has been reclassified from green belt to so-called “grey belt” to enable faster development.

If all current proposals go ahead, this region of South East Essex could see more than 5,000 new homes built, including:

• 2,000 homes – Hemspan
  Land near Brays Lane and Apton Hall Road, north-east Rochford.
• 950 homes – Stolkin & Clements
  “Tithe Park”, off Poynters Lane, Great Wakering, near Shoebury.
• 550 homes – Crest Nicholson
  Lubbards Farm, off Rawreth Lane, Rayleigh.
• 360 homes – Friends Farm Limited
  Land east of Shoebury Road, Great Wakering.
• 350 homes – Taylor Wimpey
  Land west of Main Road, Hawkwell, between Mount Bovers Lane, Gusted Hall Lane and Main Road.
• 300 homes – Croudace
  Land north of Hall Road, Rochford.
• 250 homes – David Wilson Homes
  Land south of Hall Road, near Cherry Orchard Way, Rochford.
• Up to 250 homes – Bellway Homes
  Land north of Brays Lane, east of Ashingdon.
• 225 homes – ilke Homes
  Southend-on-Sea, around Fossetts Way landholdings.
• 64 homes – Govey Homes
  The Foundry Business Park, Station Approach, Hockley.

Campaigners warn this development surge risks overwhelming the local transport network, schools, GP surgeries and emergency services if infrastructure is not upgraded in step with the housing growth.