At a Glance
- Jotman’s Farm, a protected Greenbelt site in Castle Point, faces a major new planning application.
- The proposal includes 675 homes, road infrastructure, a school, healthcare facility, and affordable housing.
- The site is designated as Grey Belt, making it highly vulnerable to development.
- Local residents and campaigns stress the urgent need for a sound local plan to protect Greenbelt land.
- Developers continue to target vulnerable sites amid planning failures and lack of local plan.
Jotman’s Farm is probably the most historic and well-defended Greenbelt site in Castle Point. It has survived planning applications for over 40 years but now faces its biggest test.
A new controversial planning application has been submitted for 675 homes. The proposal includes road infrastructure connecting to the A130 Canvey Way, a primary school, nursery, healthcare facility, a residential care home, and affordable housing.
For a borough with no local plan, speculative developments keep emerging and are likely to end up at government appeal. Sadly, this site could be lost under such circumstances.
Developers are increasingly targeting vulnerable sites, knowing that an unsound local plan may force these areas to make up the shortfall in housing targets.
More concerning is the council’s own local plan documents, which designate Jotman’s Farm as potential Grey Belt. This designation leaves the site extremely vulnerable. It must be questioned to defend the open horse grazing land and the important buffer to the busy Canvey Way.
The new junction on the A130 could cause issues for Canvey Island residents, adding unbearable pressure on an already overstretched route. This would lead to more congestion, longer journeys, and increased risk during emergencies, especially evacuations.
This long-running battle over this contentious development site has been exhausting for local residents, who deserve better. The application needs to be opposed.
This is yet another Greenbelt site targeted by developers in Castle Point, which has lost four similar sites at appeal in the last two years, with six more awaiting decisions.
As Head of the Save Hadleigh Farmland group, I can confirm that our site is also under threat from the Salvation Army. These are all the wrong sites for development, emphasising the urgent need for a sound local plan to provide protection.
Promises of Protecting the Greenbelt Need Serious Action, Not Words
By Martin England
Head of SAVE HADLEIGH FARMLAND Group
savehadleighfarmland@gmail.com