Dollymans Farm
Welcome to our consultation on Dollymans Farm
Welcome
Thank you for visiting our consultation website for Dollymans Farm.
Back in the Summer, we invited the local community to share their views on our proposals for Dollymans Farm. We’d like to thank everyone who attended our public events and took the time to send us their feedback. Since then, we’ve carefully reviewed all the comments and refined our proposals to reflect what we heard.
As you scroll through the site you will see our updated masterplan which incorporates feedback into an updated masterplan, a refined site boundary and enhancements to green spaces and community areas.
Our masterplan aims to create a vibrant neighbourhood with new homes, health and educational facilities, attractive green spaces and an extensive network of cycleways and footpaths, all set within a strong landscape framework.
It’s not just about homes; it’s about creating a place that works for everyone in the community and includes supporting services and facilities. With this development, Bloor Homes will help Rochford and Basildon meet its housing needs, while providing a range of options for local families. We understand the challenge of finding a suitable home, whether you’re a young family or someone looking to downsize. This development will offer a variety of housing options, giving residents the opportunity to stay in the community they love. It will also seek to address the local housing shortage in a highly sustainable location.
Please explore this website to learn more about our updated vision.
Why Your Input Matters
We are committed to delivering a new neighbourhood that responds to the aspirations and priorities of the local community. That’s why your feedback is essential. Before submitting our outline planning application to Rochford District Council, we are seeking your views on the emerging masterplan proposals.
This is an important opportunity to help shape the design and layout of Dollymans Farm, ensuring it becomes an attractive extension to the community, and provides a range of local benefits.
The Process
Earlier this year the local community and stakeholders shared their feedback on our emerging masterplan. Over the last few months, we have used that feedback to reflect changes to the proposals. Please scroll through the website to explore our updated masterplan for Dollymans Farm, which is part of preparing an outline planning application, setting out the broad design principles of the development along with details of the access locations and environmental enhancement.
Details of the final appearance, house types, materials and exact location of roads and the layout of green spaces will be set out at a later stage through reserved matters applications if outline permission is granted. At the reserved matters stage, there will be further opportunities for consultation with the community on the detailed plans before development commences.
The Site
Located to the east of Wickford (Shotgate) and west of the A130, this site is strategically located to deliver a walkable new neighbourhood with homes, local centre, primary school and other facilities in a sustainable location. There are around 8 hectares of established employment uses already on site and a wide range of job opportunities close by at Wickford Business Park, in Wickford Town Centre, Rayleigh and Fanton Hall Farm.
There are other local facilities located nearby at Shotgate village centre.
The site is visually well-screened by existing landscape features and physically contained and separated from the wider countryside by existing employment areas and major infrastructure such as the A130 and the railway line. A new neighbourhood located here would help avoid areas of higher sensitivity and environmental value.
Across Rochford and Basildon, there is significant need for a variety of housing types, and we want to address this by providing a range of homes suited to different lifestyles and requirements.
Comprehensive neighbourhood-scale planning allows new homes to deliver investment in improved education, social amenities and local infrastructure, particularly through improvements to highways and transport.
About half of the site will be set aside for well-connected green spaces, with sports pitches and play areas available for active and quiet recreation, such as dog-walking and nature walks. There are also significant opportunities for biodiversity net gains and wildlife habitats, as well as improved surface water management to reduce flood risk.
We will be working closely with Officers at Rochford District Council to ensure that our proposals are tailored to provide the right mix of homes, local amenities and facilities that are required in the area along with infrastructure and highway improvements.
What Has Changed
Since our last consultation, we’ve refined the proposals for Dollymans Farm to reflect the feedback received and the findings from ongoing technical work.
In response to community feedback, we have made the following changes to our masterplan:
Woodland
- We’re retaining all the existing woodland next to Wethersfield Way and Boreham Way, alongside keeping a natural buffer between the site and nearby communities.
- The woodland will be included in a network of green spaces and natural features, with a new rainwater pond planned in the area currently used for paintballing.
Community
- The primary school has been moved closer to the village hub, helping to create a stronger community focus. The surrounding open space has also been redesigned to provide a greater sense of enclosure and activity.
- The northern gateway has been redesigned to create a stronger sense of arrival from the new eastern approach to Wickford, while the north-western gateway will have a more understated character that reflects the neighbouring community of Shotgate.
- Initial designs for open spaces have been developed, showing a variety of areas for recreation and play, including features such as a skate park and a pump track, with more to follow as the plans progress.
- The plans now also allow for a potential on-site water treatment facility, should it not be possible to connect to existing off-site infrastructure. Discussions on this are continuing.
Housing
- A new area of homes has been added to the east of Dollymans Farm to improve connections between the village hub and the south-eastern neighbourhood. The total number of homes remains the same but spreading them across a slightly larger area allows for a lower overall density and more variety in layout and character across the site.
- Higher-density areas will be located near the northern gateway, main street, school, and village hub, with lower-density areas along green spaces and landscape edges.
Updated Masterplan
Following feedback from the community and local stakeholders we have reviewed our masterplan. Key components of the masterplan proposal include:
Sports pitches and connected open green spaces for all to enjoy.
An access strategy that directs external traffic to the A129 and minimises impact on neighbouring residential areas, supported by funding for offsite improvements to the strategic road network.
About 1,300 homes offering a mix of types and tenures to accommodate various local community needs, including 50% affordable homes.
Improved connectivity, with cycle infrastructure, new bus routes as well as new footpaths and improvements to existing footpaths and the bridleway.
A new local centre at the heart of a distinctive, walkable community with flexible space for community facilities such as local retail, business, nursery and health uses.
Educational improvements including a new Primary School with Early Years on site.
Retention of existing employment areas on site and new supporting access and public transport infrastructure.
A landscape-led design that retains key landscape features and provides new play areas, walking trails, sports pitches and connected open green spaces for all to enjoy, including a natural open space area of around 20 hectares.
Virtual Exhibition
Benefits
Delivering a variety of much-needed housing:
Addressing the significant housing shortage in Rochford and the local area by providing 50% affordable dwellings, alongside a full range of house types for all walks of life.
A landscape-led design:
Attractively landscaped and connected open green spaces for the community to enjoy, enhancing the local environment and promoting connection with nature near people’s homes.
Improving accessibility:
A walkable and compact new neighbourhood, with improvements to existing pedestrian and cycle routes, bus services and connectivity. A mobility hub in the local centre.
Supporting local highways:
Delivery of improvements to local roads and improved access for existing businesses on the site.
A new vibrant and distinctive community:
Incorporating a new local centre with retail, health facilities and other local services at the heart of a walkable community.
Improving access to local education:
A new Primary School and Early Years facility to improve education for local families. Strategic pedestrian and cycle links to Beauchamps High School along Southend Road and funding for other off-site school improvements.
Boosting the local economy:
Creating local jobs both during construction and after completion, benefiting Rochford’s economy and businesses. Ideally located in relation to existing employment areas and better access for existing occupiers.
Supporting healthy lifestyles:
Provision of new sports pitches, play areas and connected natural open space for recreation, encouraging physical activity.
Habitat Creation and Water Management:
Significant areas of habitat creation to enable wildlife to thrive alongside new homes and deliver a gain in biodiversity. Sustainable drainage measures to reduce flood risks and support new wetland habitat creation.
Considerations
Our community consultation provides an overview of the overall vision for this new development. When the outline planning application is submitted, it will include detailed technical and environmental reports, surveys and plans that will be available for all to view and comment on.
Helping to Meet Housing Need
Across Rochford and the immediate area, younger generations and families are finding it increasingly difficult to find housing close to their family networks due to high property prices and shortfalls in housing delivery. Similarly, older residents who wish to downsize are struggling to find suitable properties that allow them to remain within the community they’ve called home for years.
Bloor Homes is committed to addressing this issue by delivering about 1,300 homes, including 50% affordable, providing the local community with opportunities to continue to live locally.
Nature and Landscaping
Dollymans Farm is being designed with extensive and connected green open spaces throughout, offering residents valuable outdoor areas. The proposed landscape framework includes about half of the site being proposed for:
- Areas of natural greenspace for people to enjoy, opening up this land to the public.
- Drainage, wetland and recreational routes linked to and enhancing the existing footpath and bridleway network.
- Potential for new sports pitches located and linked to existing facilities in the Old London Road area.
- Children’s play areas located throughout the site to enable play close to homes.
- Enhanced green infrastructure and strategic planting along the eastern edge of the site to screen development and minimise the impact of existing infrastructure, such as roads and pylons.
- Significant areas of habitat creation, known as Biodiversity Net Gain, to ensure the site is better for wildlife with the development having taken place.
At Bloor Homes, green spaces are a priority. We collaborate with ecologists from the outset, carefully assessing how existing habitats and species can be protected, as well as how a range of new habitats can be incorporated within the new neighbourhood to encourage wildlife.
Drainage and Reducing Flood Risk
There will be no increased risk of flooding associated with the development. A thorough study has been conducted, and a sustainable drainage strategy is being developed to ensure the necessary management of water on site. Where possible, this will be designed to improve existing drainage issues in the vicinity. This will be published and available when the outline planning application is submitted.
Transport and Movement
A full Transport Assessment is currently being prepared, which includes traffic surveys and modelling of local junctions to identify where improvements are required. The assessment will also consider other committed development in the area.
Upgrades to local transport infrastructure will be designed to provide wider links for the community, support active travel, better public transport access and speed reductions to reduce car use and improve road safety.
The access strategy has been designed to direct external traffic to the A129 and minimise impact on neighbouring communities. The primary access would be via an upgraded Doublegate Lane junction, with a secondary access to the west to allow bus services to serve the new community and existing employment areas.
We are working with Essex County Council’s Highways Officers, to test the impact on key junctions, such as The Carpenters Arms and the planned upgrades to the Fairglen Interchange.
Active Travel
Bloor Homes is committed to creating neighbourhoods that people truly want to live in. To achieve this, we will design new footpaths and dedicated cycleways, allowing residents to enjoy their surroundings while moving throughout the area and providing easier safer access to facilities. A mobility hub is proposed in the local centre at the heart of the scheme.
We are also developing proposals to enhance safe connections to Beauchamps High School by active travel means from the site, reducing the need to use cars. We have designed a scheme to improve the Southend Road to prove new facilities for existing and new residents to walk.
Vehicular Access
Access would be from the A129 Southend Road in two places. Firstly, the primary access is at the existing junction with Doublegate Lane in the form of a roundabout junction that will replace the existing arrangement. Doublegate Lane will then be improved to a high standard within the site to provided better access for residents, buses and existing business. The internal road network has been designed to then provide separate access to commercial and residential areas, as well as reduce conflict with users of the Bridleways and footpaths through the site. A fourth minor arm on the roundabout would provide access to land north of the A129 for new sports pitches.
A smaller secondary access is proposed on to the A129 between the improved Doublegate Lane junction and the Hodgson Way roundabout. This is expected to be a priority junction and will also allow for emergency access and for buses to loop through the site. There would be no vehicular access direct to Hodgson Way.
The details of these accesses will be included in the outline planning application alongside a comprehensive Transport Assessment, providing specifics on how the site will be accessed and how traffic will be managed effectively. This Report will ensure that all access arrangements support safe and efficient movement within and around the development.
Virtual Exhibition
Virtual exhibition to be uploaded soon
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What has changed since the last consultation?
A: We’ve made a number of updates to the plans for Dollymans Farm in response to community feedback and ongoing technical work.
- We’re keeping all existing woodland next to Wethersfield Way and Boreham Way, maintaining a natural buffer with neighbouring communities. This area will become part of the site’s green spaces and drainage network, including a new pond to help manage rainwater in the area currently used for paintballing.
- The primary school has been moved closer to the village hub, with nearby open space redesigned to create a stronger sense of community.
- A new area of homes has been added to the east of Dollymans Farm to improve connections between neighbourhoods. The total number of homes remains the same, but they’re now spread across a larger area, allowing for lower overall density and more variety in design and layout.
- The northern gateway has been redesigned to create a stronger sense of arrival from the east, while the north-western gateway will have a softer character that reflects the nearby community of Shotgate.
- Early designs for open spaces have been developed, showing potential features such as a skate park, pump track, and other areas for play and recreation.
- The plans now also allow for a potential on-site water treatment facility, should connection to existing off-site services not be possible.
Q: How many homes are proposed?
A: This is an outline planning application, where the maximum number of homes and other key parameters relating to land uses will be agreed. The exact amount will be agreed through the future, detailed applications, but we envisage this will be about 1,300 homes.
Q: Will the development include affordable homes?
A: Yes, the development will feature at least 50% affordable homes to accord with national planning policy, providing more opportunities for local people to get on the property ladder. A variety of tenures will be available, with the exact types and number of affordable homes to be agreed with the Council and finalised at the reserved matters detailed application stage.
Q: Will the new homes be built all at the same time?
A: No, the development will be phased and built out over a period of around 12-15 years, with a construction management plan to minimise disruption to the local area and ensure a smooth delivery of new homes, as well as associated infrastructure. The local centre and primary school would be developed at a relatively early stage to ensure that key facilities are in place when required.
Q: Will there be a Section 106 agreement as part of the planning process?
A: Yes, a Section 106 agreement will be part of the planning process, and the specific contributions will be determined as the plans progress. A S106 agreement is a legal agreement between the developer and the local authority that sets out the financial contributions and other key commitments from the developer that are directly linked to the development and are necessary to make the development acceptable.
Q: What will happen to public rights of way (PROWs) during construction?
A: During construction, the PROWs may be temporarily closed or diverted to ensure safety. However, once the development is complete, the PROWs will be reopened and enhanced. The new design will include green spaces and improved accessibility features, creating a better experience for the wider community.
Q: Will the proposed local centre include a health centre?
A: Space will be provided within the proposed masterplan for a potential health centre. Bloor Homes will work with the NHS to explore the feasibility of delivering a health centre as part of the development.
Q: What retail options will be available?
A: The development will include space for a variety of convenience retail options. Bloor Homes is committed to working with the community to understand their needs and will collaborate with local businesses to provide facilities that best serve residents. This could include options such as a local café, restaurant, and a convenience store.
Q: What measures are being taken to reduce congestion and improve road safety?
A: Traffic studies are being conducted to assess local traffic and measures, such as road improvements and sustainable transport options, will be introduced to help manage flow. The measures are still being reviewed and will be set out in the planning application. There will also be improved road layouts, pedestrian crossings, and cycle paths with a focus on safe access to the secondary school at Beauchamps via the Southend Road.
Q: Will new access roads or junctions be created as part of the development?
A: Access is proposed off the A129 Southend Road in two places; firstly, at the existing junction with Doublegate Lane in the form of a roundabout junction that will replace the existing junction arrangement, a smaller secondary access will provide access to a limited portion of the site between the existing Pegasus crossing and the Hodgson Way roundabout. The secondary access will be a priority junction and allow for emergency access for the whole development, if required. There will be no access to Hodgson Way.
Q: How will local transport be impacted by the proposals?
A: Bloor Homes will work with Rochford District Council and Essex County Council to ensure residents have convenient access to local transport. This will include a loop road through the site for bus services to ensure all future residents have a bus route within reasonable walking distance.
Q: How will Bloor Homes positively impact the local community during the development?
A: Bloor Homes is dedicated to positively impacting the local community throughout the development’s lifetime and during construction. We plan to use local suppliers and contractors and are exploring the possibility of offering apprenticeship opportunities. Details about these apprenticeships will be confirmed as the plans progress.
Q: How will the proposed development impact local schools and educational facilities?
A: Bloor Homes has carefully considered the impact on local education services and has included provision for a new Primary School and Early Years facility. We will continue discussions to identify if additional funding is required to other facilities off site.
Q: What are the next steps?
A: The local community has until Tuesday 3rd June to submit their comments as part of the consultation. There will be two public exhibitions:
- Friday 16th May, 2:30pm-7:30pm at Rawreth Village Hall, Church Road, Wickford, SS11 8SH.
- Saturday 17th May at Shotgate Community Hall, 9:30am-12pm, 7 Bruce Grove, Wickford, SS11 8QZ.
All feedback will be reviewed by members of development team and considered as the plans progress. Bloor Homes is expecting to submit its outline planning application to Rochford District Council in summer 2025.
Have your Say
Get in touch and tell us what you think about the masterplan vision for Dollymans Farm by completing the form below.
Please be sure to share your feedback by Tuesday 3rd June so it can be taken into consideration as part of this consultation.
This consultation has now closed. Please do contact a member of the team if you have any questions. Contact details can be found in the ‘Get in Touch’ section below.
Get in Touch
You can contact the project team and share your feedback by:
- Emailing us with your comments, questions or feedback at: email: bloorhomes-dollymansfarm@havingyoursay.co.uk
- Calling the team on 0161 711 0293 (lines open Monday – Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm)
- Writing to us at FREEPOST SHAPE TOMORROW
All feedback received will be summarised and responded to in a Statement of Community Involvement which will be submitted to Rochford District Council alongside the outline planning application in Summer.
ABOUT US
Bloor Homes was established in 1969 by our Chair and founder, John Bloor OBE. We remain a privately owned business with a proud history of building quality homes and are committed to delivering homes and communities with a focus on quality, design and place making, ensuring that high standards are maintained more than 55 years later.
Our dedicated team, from planners and designers to tradespeople and customer service professionals, is committed to creating well-designed, high-quality homes that we would be proud for our own families to live in. This commitment has earned us a 5-star Home Builders Federation rating for six consecutive years, and over 97% of our homeowners would recommend us to family and friends.
As a financially independent and family-owned business, we bring national expertise with regional knowledge. We have a proven track record in delivering strategic land and work in partnership with landowners and councils. Our focus on locally distinctive placemaking and community engagement ensures that we build homes that contribute positively to the areas we serve. We value long-term relationships and are dedicated to creating lasting legacies through our developments.