At a Glance
- The Green Party pledges to protect Southend’s greenbelt and promote realistic housing solutions.
- The Party warns against a new proposal for 2,000 homes following the rejection of a 10,000-home new town at Bourne’s Green.
- Focus will remain on brownfield development, affordable housing, and sustainable infrastructure.
Despite the government rejecting Southend’s bid for an expression of interest to build a 10,000-home new town at Bournes Green, Southend is immediately facing a new challenge from an untested developer who wants to build 2000 homes and potentially lay the groundwork for further destruction of greenbelt land. This when we have not yet even had the outcome of the consultation on the local plan.
Tricia Cowdrey, a Green Party campaigner, commented:
“As it appears to be a local developer they must be aware of the strength of feeling against building on our precious greenbelt. It would be naive to think that residents will fall for promises of a health centre that the NHS has no ability to staff or fund, or another school, when local schools are undersubscribed. The actual infrastructure needs are to deal with our overflowing sewers, and to improve public transport. With worsening air quality and our biodiversity under attack, they must listen to residents.”
Councillor Stuart Allen added:
“We don’t have a housing crisis – we have an affordability crisis. This proposed sprawl of executive homes will do nothing to make housing more accessible for Southend residents. Across the country nearly 1.4 million homes already have planning permission but remain unbuilt – proof that the issue isn’t supply, it’s priorities. We don’t need to sacrifice our precious greenbelt for more car-dependent, out-of-reach developments. This land is classified as greenbelt in our Local Plan, and it should stay that way. I encourage all residents to take part in the consultation and raise any concerns with the planning department.”
The Green Party will focus on brownfield sites, making the best use of urban land, with high-density blocks of 4-5 storey sustainable homes in transport-linked areas, preventing speculative land-banking, and stepping up public sector provision of much-needed social housing.
They recognise that Southend does not require the government’s suggested 24,000 homes for a waiting list of around 1,600 people, and will continue to challenge unrealistic targets for the city’s geography.
Only the Green Party in Southend will put nature at the forefront of Southend’s future, addressing natural injustices, benefiting both wildlife and the health and wellbeing of residents. This includes addressing housing effectively, without destroying remaining greenbelt and vital agricultural land.
Cllr Stuart Allen – Leader of the Green Group
📞 07386 697928
📧 cllrstuartallen@southend.gov.uk
Lauren Ekins & Simon Giffius – Co-Chairs
📧 coordinator@seessex.greenparty.org.uk