1-29 Lower Southend Road, Wickford

Planning Application 05/00654/FULL is for a 7 story development at 1-29 Lower Southend Road, on the site of a garage and the old post office, and comprises a mixed residential / retail / restaurant development, including 173 flats.

The site was included in the Town Centre Master Plan when it was put to the residents in November 2005, but in the plan it was for 86 flats in the 'Riverside Living' section. The Council didn't bother to tell the residents that the above planning application was in progress for this site, from Bradgate Developments Ltd (director, Chelmsford Councillor for Runwell, Ray Ride), which was approved on 8th November 2005, and was for 173 flats in 7 storeys. The residents were in the process of giving their opinions on the Master Plan, which had this area listed as 86 flats! (NO, THIS ISN'T A TYPING ERROR, THE COUNCIL ACTUALLY DID THAT!)

The selling agent is Amos Estates, one of the proprietors being Colin MacLean, current chairman of the Wickford Business Association, (WBA), sometimes referred to as the Wickford Chamber of Commerce, and the Architect is Barry Gibbard, of Ayshford Sansome, also a member of the WBA. Chairman of the WBA at the time was Ray Ride - yes, the same!)

Where are we now?
Phase 1 of the development is in progress, and below is a recent photo. On 22 September 2008, Basildon Council applied for a Compulsory Purchase Order for the remainder of the site, so that Bradgate Developments could demolish the Sorting Office, and complete Phase 2 of this monstrous development.

Read more about the Compulsory Purchase Order 

Riverside Place
Click on each photo for a bigger view, or click here to see the application on the Basildon Council website.

as it is now	visual 1	visual 2	the scenic river!	elevation

The Wickford Action Group view:
The flats are being offered for sale by Amos Estates, with completion between 'December 07 and January 08'. Development has started on phase 1, but there are still issues to be resolved. 

There is the issue of parking. The plan includes about 140 parking spaces for the occupants and guests of the 173 flats, which is hardly sufficient in this age of 2 car families. And these will all have to leave the area via the narrowed Lower Southend road exit at the Broadway, already a congested area. 

If you feel that Wickford is already over-developed and oppose additional housing development, then please click Have your say to add your comments to this website. You can view other people's views by clicking on Comments