A group of residents in Leigh-on-Sea are trying to raise awareness in Leigh-on-Sea and Southend-on-Sea areas of a promotion by the Salvation Army to develop a large area of their Hadleigh Farm green belt site.
This site is the birthplace of the Salvation Army Colony and its historic social reform project. The Salvation Army promotion has been included in the Castle Point Plan, which is the Issues and Options Consultation Document for Housing Development. The site includes the area between Leigh-on-Sea and Hadleigh and is designated as GB8 in the Plan.
The proposal, issued by the Salvation Army for GB8, identifies areas of development. The residents’ group has been advised by an architect working with them that this could equate to approximately 1,100 dwellings but could rise in excess of 2,000 if GB8 is fully developed.
The Salvation Army Plan would include a new access road linking to the A13 London Road between Leigh-on-Sea and Hadleigh. This will inevitably require the removal of many established trees.
Preserving Hadleigh’s Vital Farmland
This beautiful and unusual farmland is an important barrier between Hadleigh and Leigh-on-Sea. It has been farmed successfully for decades by the Salvation Army. The land forms a functional purpose, separating the two areas and affording a stunning view down to the river Thames.
Even a development of 1,100 dwellings and the proposed new junction would likely generate over 2,000 more vehicles on the already congested roads. This additional congestion would have a far-reaching impact on the traffic and surrounding infrastructure in Hadleigh, Leigh-on-Sea, and Southend-on-Sea.
Hurting Local Services
It would have a negative effect on community services, such as schools, doctors’ surgeries, hospitals, dentists, etc. In 2023, there were reportedly some 376 raw sewage releases into local rivers within the Castle Point area and some 400 releases in the Southend-on-Sea area. The proposed development will only make this worse.
The farmland and its hedgerows are essential to a wide range of wildlife, including badgers, foxes, shrews, migratory geese, skylarks, gulls, bats, and bees, which all use this as their habitat.
The proposed development would further erode the land barrier between Hadleigh Castle (Grade I listed building, ancient monument with English Heritage) and the surrounding urbanisation.
Protect Leigh’s Green Spaces
The residents’ group now has support from Leigh Town Council, who have confirmed their strong objection to the proposed development and loss of green belt, stating, “the council cannot express strongly enough how appalled they are at the Salvation Army having proposed allocating some parcels of their land for development within the Castle Point Borough local plan.
The areas in question are without a doubt unsuitable for any kind of development, and the impact this would have on the community of Leigh-on-Sea would be phenomenal. It is incomprehensible that not only the Salvation Army feels giving up these green spaces is acceptable, but that the Castle Point Borough Council would even consider it.
Generations of families over the years have been able to enjoy this landscape which enhances health and well-being. Removing the open spaces is detrimental to people now and to those in the future. The council has deep concerns for the effects on Leigh-on-Sea and the wider Southend-on-Sea area for anything but appropriate green belt uses on the land.”
United Against Greenbelt Loss
Southend Strategic Planning is against the development and the loss of green belt. Leigh Ward Councillors are against the development as well as the Castle Point MP.
There is strong opposition amongst residents who live in Castle Point.
The group is in dialogue with the Southend West MP, Mr David Burton-Sampson, and hopes they will gain his full support to stop any development.
There is a petition (for some reason Southend City Council requires it to be handwritten, not online). The residents’ group is collecting signatures door-to-door, aiming to get in excess of 500 signatures to present to the Council, which means the Council will have to debate this development, where it is hoped they will come out in full support against this development.
STOP PRESS: If you live in postcode areas SS0, SS1, SS2, SS3, or SS9 and you would like to sign the handwritten petition, you can do so at the Leigh Community Centre in Elm Rd; the petition is in reception.
Now is the crucial time to fight this proposed development before it reaches the planning stage!
If you wish to support this campaign, you can email your local MPs:
Mr David Burton-Sampson (Southend West):
david.burtonsampson.mp@parliament.uk
Mr Bayo Alaba (Southend East):
bayo.alaba.mp@parliament.uk
You can also contact your local Ward Councillors or email the Salvation Army directly at:
media@salvationarmy.org.uk