Three-bedroom bungalow at Land Rear Of Rivendale, 326 Plumberow Avenue, Hockley
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Rochford Development Committee on 24 Sept 2026.
What was proposed
The application proposed dividing the plot and building a three-bedroom bungalow with two private parking spaces.
“APPLICATION DETAILS Sub-divide the plot and construct a 3 bed bungalow with x2 private parking spaces.”
Officer report
What officers recommended
Officers recommended approval, considering the site grey belt and finding no unacceptable harm to housing, amenity, highways, ecology, trees or drainage with conditions.
“The proposal would result in the construction of one additional dwelling within the Green Belt and therefore conflicts with the Council’s Core Strategy Policies GB1 and GB2, insofar as those policies seek to restrict and direct development away from the Green Belt. This conflict weighs against the proposal. However, the proposal would make a positive, albeit limited, contribution towards meeting the identified need for housing within the district.”
“As set out above, officers consider that the application site falls within the definition of grey belt having regard to the definition within the August 2026 NPPF and the assessment criteria contained within Annex E.”
Officer report
Who spoke
An objector’s representative, a Hockley Parish Council councillor and a visiting councillor spoke against the application.
What members debated
Members debated concerns about the Green Belt, sustainability and flood risk.
“An ensuing debate took place with members have concerns regarding; • Green Belt • Sustainability • Flood Risk…”
Minutes
The committee’s decision
The committee unanimously refused the application, finding strong Green Belt contribution, harm to openness and no very special circumstances outweighing that harm.
“The application site lies within the Metropolitan Green Belt and forms part of Parcel HO12, which the Rochford Green Belt Assessment (Draft), July 2026 identifies as making a strong contribution to Green Belt Purpose A.”
“The proposed dwelling would therefore constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt and would harm its openness. The considerations advanced in support of the proposal do not clearly outweigh this harm so as to amount to very special circumstances. The proposal is therefore contrary to the Green Belt policies of the National Planning Policy Framework, including Policy GB7 and Annex E.”
Minutes
The members' reasons
The members' reasons are quoted from the minutes above, under “The committee’s decision”.
Sources
- Rochford Development Committee minutes, 24 September 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Rochford's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Committee
- Rochford Development Committee
- Council
- Rochford
- Date
- Thursday 24 September 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Refused, against officer advice
- Vote
- Unanimous
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Rochford committee decisions →
This committee's year
17 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 4 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.