What the Masterplan says...
"Promotion of high quality residential developments adjacent to the River Crouch. Revitalisation of the River Crouch as a public asset and promotion of new eating/drinking opportunities."

The Masterplan strategy for this area
A2 is a residential block of 19 units - now complete. Block A1, on the site of the sorting office / garage, is a mixed development with 173 residential units (was 86 on the original plan put to residents), with restaurants and offices at ground level. Block B is also a mixed development, on the site of a car showroom / tyre repair unit on Runwell Road, with cafe / office / live-work units and 80 residential units on upper floors (35 on original plan).

"A focus of fine grain mixed-use activity, becoming a lively and attractive venue for people to live and enjoy with mainly residential development and a restaurant/cafe fronted by a new local space that allows uses to 'spill out' and line the lower southern edge of the water. 
Runwell Road will provide a high quality northern gateway with townhouses and commercial activity."

What is actually happening?

• Block A2 is complete and in use, with 20 flats, not the 19 in the Masterplan.
  
  
• Planning permission has been granted to Bradgate Developments for Block A1. The Masterplan was altered to add more flats, from 86 to 173, and it will now be 6 storeys high, although nothing has happened as yet. It is thought that there is a problem with  the re-siting of the Sorting Office.
  
  
• An application from Butie Limited for a development for block B, 84 flats, has now been passed on appeal. (The Master Plan was altered in Feb 2006 from 35 townhouses to a block of 80 flats). It does not include the corner plot (the old Swan garage, recently Kwik-Fit), although the Masterplan does include this. The WAG view is that the plot should definitely have been included in any development, otherwise it will be left as an eyesore. This is also the view of a number of councillors, but the problem for developers is the cost to remove the old petrol tanks.
  
  
• A planning application is pending for 2-12 The Broadway to build 10 flats on a corner plot, currently a taxi office, old bank building and solicitor's office. This is outside of the Masterplan, and we understand that approval has been granted.

Current situation - number of residential units
In Masterplan	Proposals	Plans in	Approved	Built	Current Total
272	0	0	267*	20**	287
* 10 not in the Masterplan    ** 19 in Masterplan

The Wickford Action Group view
Two members attended the planning meeting for block B and we feel we were instrumental in getting it rejected. Unfortunately, the planners outflanked us by appealing 'in writing', which meant that residents were unable to submit comments, and this was passed in June 2007 by the government inspector.

The Council made the upgrading of the river Crouch a key part in the presentation of the Masterplan, 'Riverside Living'. We feel that this is a complete non starter because the area is in the flood plain, and the environmental agency will not allow the water level to be raised. There will definitely be 'No Canoeing', unlike the propaganda illustrations issued by the Council!