Masterplan - The Station Gateway

What the Masterplan says...
"Promoting the station entrances on both sides of the railway line as key gateways to Wickford, enhancing transport interchange facilities and bringing forward the car park site on Station Road for development as a new multi-storey car park and mixed-use development."

The Masterplan strategy for this area
Block C1 is a mixed residential and retail development including 14 flats, on the site of the second hand shop / taxi office / newsagent / betting office. C2 is a new multi story car park with 163 spaces, 41 flats and small cafe and shops, on the site of the private (temporary) car park. 

"Station Plaza: Opening up the station to the south of the tracks with the creation of a new station plaza with ticket barriers and high quality landscaping scheme to include lighting, signage and street furniture. Enhanced landscaped roundabout to the north of the station with interchange facility to include bus shelter and taxi rank facilities."

What is actually happening?

• A planning application from Angus & Dewars for development of the old fitness centre at 61 Station Avenue has been granted. This includes 4 flats and is not in the Masterplan.
  
  
• Another development, at Barn Hall, would influence this area, and is also not included in the Masterplan. This is for an initial 200 homes on fields at the end of Station Avenue from Gleesons and The GladeDale Group.

Current situation - number of residential units
In Masterplan	Proposals	Plans in	Approved	Built	Poss. Total
55	200*	0	4**	0	59 (259*)
* not actually in the Masterplan area, but would critically affect the traffic congestion  ** not in Masterplan

The Wickford Action Group view
The proposed changes to the north and south entrances to the station forecourt would be definite improvements which we would support. We are not sure what the plans are for the existing station car park, and whether the new car park with 163 cars is expected to replace it. The private car park on this site has 189 spaces (plus a small extra private area)

We do have a concern about the extra traffic which the developments would create, and we will be looking for how this will be addressed when plans are submitted.

Regarding the Barn Hall outline application for 200 homes, whilst acknowledging that there is a strenuous campaign against it, supported by the Council, it is clear that the developers have the opportunity to make huge profits from this and follow-up developments on adjoining land, so the outcome is far from certain. (Remember that had the council adopted the Local Development Plan, the Barn Hall proposals would not have existed). The effect on this area of the Masterplan, and of Wickford, would be quite appalling, and we are very much against it. All of the traffic would meet at the bottom of Station Avenue, and then combine with that from the 256 new flats in Lower Southend Road / Runwell Road. Will it go through the High Street, with all of the new flats there??