We are pleased to be bringing forward the emerging proposals for an infrastructure led, connected, and sustainable new community in Southend-on-Sea: Bournes Green, over 40% of which will be open space and will include the City's largest park.
We are looking to submit an Outline planning application to Southend City Council in the coming months and we want to hear your views on the emerging proposals which we have outlined on this website.
© JTP and Craig Auckland, Fotohaus
Bournes Green will deliver 2,000 new homes supported by infrastructure for the benefit of existing and new residents, including:
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A new park, which will be the largest in Southend, and will include formal and informal recreation and sports facilities;
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Space for a new health centre to accommodate up to 15,000 patients;
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Two form entry primary school;
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Community and events space;
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Local facilities, including shops, a café and flexible commercial space;
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Ecology and biodiversity enhancement which will deliver an improvement in biodiversity of at least 10% (BNG).
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Investment in transport improvements, including new cycling and footpath links
Location plan
Why is this needed?
The Country and particularly Southend are facing a housing crisis. Over the last few decades not enough homes have been built and house prices in the City are over nine times the average wage, which puts the dream of home ownership beyond the reach of many. There is also a significant shortage of affordable homes within the City.
Market conditions are preventing many brownfield sites in the City from coming forward and there is no reasonable prospect of that changing in the short to medium term. If and when they do come forward, they will largely provide one and two bed apartments, rather than family houses. The viability constraints of brownfield sites mean that provision of affordable housing is incredibly challenging.
Southend’s new Local Plan must allocate enough land for nearly 24,000 homes to meet its housing targets, equivalent to 1,405 homes per year. Over the last 23 years, on average, 350 homes have been delivered per year.
Without the inclusion of a new neighbourhood to the north of Southend, the Council's emerging Local Plan only identifies capacity for 9,500 homes, only 45% of the homes required.
The proposed development would make a significant contribution to housing need whilst, unlike most other development sites in Southend, provide a high proportion of family houses.