Plans for thousands of new homes 'insane' - MP

An MP has described a leaked document showing potentially thousands of new homes as "insane" and said the plans should not "possibly be allowed to continue".

Mark Francois said Rochford District Council's report, which is due to be made public at some point this year, plans for 17,000 new homes in the district.

The authority said government policy required it to build "at least 689 new homes per year every year" and it was considering the "feasibility" of the numbers required.

The government has said it is committed to delivering 1.5 million new homes this Parliament.

The BBC has seen part of the council's 'Local plan workshop: progress update' report of 22 April 2025.

It lists dozens of sites for new homes up to 2040 and beyond in the district.

There would be 1500 homes to the north of Southend as part of a new town development with 3500 built after 2040.

The report includes 24 locations in Rayleigh for 3,679 new homes to be built.

The largest sites would be 730 homes at Wolsey Park and 600 at Lubards Farm.

There would be 1500 homes at Dollyman's Farm in Rawreth with a further 500 to be built after 2040.

Hullbridge could have 1000 new homes built over the next decade, as could Great Wakering with 820 homes being considered at Tithe Park off Poynters Lane.

The Rayleigh and Wickford Conservative MP Francois said the proposals in the document he had seen were "utterly unacceptable".

"With our local roads already maxed out, and hospitals full to bursting there is absolutely no way on earth our semi-rural district could possibly accommodate 17,000 new houses, including a new town on the Rochford-Southend border."

Rochford Council, which is Lib Dem-controlled, said: "Options are currently being tested for their impacts on the environment, transport network and other facilities and this evidence will be presented to councillors who will make a decision on the draft local plan in due course."

The council did not comment on whether 17,000 new homes were being planned for the district.

Local authorities are legally obliged to have a local plan for new housing and development.

The current local plan for Rochford dates back to 2011 and includes plans for 250 new homes a year in the district.

The government has reintroduced mandatory housing targets for local authorities and it has more than doubled for Rochford compared to its target a decade ago.

Other areas like Southend and Basildon need to build around 1,000 new homes every year.

Rochford council said there would be two rounds of public consultation on new housing plans before they go to government to be approved.

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