At a Glance
- New “secret plan” revealed for development on the Salvation Army Farmland.
- Updated plans reportedly show 900 homes, a new roundabout on the A13, and building stretching up to Tattersall Gardens in Leigh.
- Campaigners say the site remains Green Belt and are urging residents to oppose any development.
- A new petition has been launched calling for no building on the Salvation Army Farmland.
- Residents are being encouraged to sign the petition and support the campaign by email.
NEW “SECRET PLAN” REVEALED FOR DEVELOPMENT ON THE SALVATION ARMY FARMLAND
T he year started with residents of Leigh and Hadleigh continuing their fight to protect this precious Green Belt, raising concerns about the Salvation Army Farmland plans, having heard nothing.
So when a previous article asked that residents deserve the truth about the Hadleigh Farmland site, in salvationist terms “our prayers were answered”, but sadly, I discovered the “secret plan” for the Salvation Army Farmland.
As part of the local plan process, the Salvation Army submitted a response to CPBC Local Plan Reg 19 consultation in September 2025. When all the responses were made public, I discovered within their eight-document response a map with updated plans for the farmland site, showing the building of 900 homes across the site, along the London Road, up to Tattersall Gardens in Leigh, with a new roundabout on the A13.
In their submission, the Salvation Army describes the local plan as unsound, not legally compliant, and they are planning to offer the farmland site as Grey Belt to the government inspectors as a sales pitch to meet the shortfall in the Castle Point Council’s housing target. Our group has continuously warned the council about speculative development, an unsound plan, and intervention, but we have been ignored. This is where a weak local plan makes our Green Belt sites vulnerable, as it basically invites the Salvation Army to proceed with their plans.
Green Belt fears grow
This historic area is Green Belt, and NPPF guidelines show that it will remain as Green Belt, not Grey Belt as the Salvation Army incorrectly claims. These plans show the Salvation Army’s contempt for the residents of Hadleigh and Leigh-on-Sea, as this secret proposal has clearly been ongoing all last year, even though the farmland site now does not feature in the local plan.
This section of the A13 has massive congestion already, so by adding a huge amount of extra vehicles, it will affect everyone living between Benfleet and Southend who are travelling through this area. The site plan could also be revised to maximise housing and spread further, maybe even linking to Marine Parade in Leigh.
Charity trust under fire
The Salvation Army document clearly states that Green Belt needs to be released, which is against residents’ wishes, so this will seriously affect the Salvation Army’s charitable status within Hadleigh, and their legacy, for disgracefully working on a new secret plan behind our backs. We do note that local members of the Salvation Army were not made aware of this submission, which was made by their leadership, taken without humility, transparency or genuine engagement, so it is now not just a planning issue but a moral one.
With this secret plan, our group has started a new petition, NO BUILDING ON THE SALVATION ARMY FARMLAND. Our last petition in 2024 reached over 8,500 signatures and, thanks to all those people that signed, it resulted in the farmland site being removed from the draft local plan.
Residents oppose development plans
These plans have already seen significant opposition from local residents, and the neighbouring borough of Leigh-on-Sea, who argue that this project could drastically alter the landscape and character of this historically rich area. The Hadleigh Farmland is an extremely important area of openness, natural beauty, public spaces and biodiversity, so our group’s aim is to get this site protected with an environmental policy based on agriculture, nature conservation, ecological restoration, and connectivity for wildlife.
Petition calls for halt
The petition message will be clear that any development on this site has been resolutely rejected by local residents, and as a charity, this cannot be part of the Salvation Army’s community mission statement. We will be asking the Salvation Army to end this unhappy episode and, with this petition, to publicly announce they no longer seek to develop this beautiful open space, and residents deserve to protect their community.
Call to action grows
We need your support again to help save this beautiful open space from vandalism by the Salvation Army management, so please sign our petition if you want to oppose any development on this site and to protect our Green Belt and farmland. We all knew this would happen, as I have constantly stated, and this is the start of a massive battle for Hadleigh and Leigh-on-Sea, but people power can win.
“the founder of the Salvation Army, William Booth, would be turning in his grave”.
To sign the petition, use the QR Code shown or the link :
https://c.org/XL6SkwsYvx
To support the campaign, email savehadleighfarmland@gmail.com
By Martin England
Head of SAVE HADLEIGH FARMLAND Group
& South East Essex Green Belters Commitee Member
savehadleighfarmland@gmail.com