Why Are We Here Again?
This is not the first time Coombes Farm has been threatened with development.
More than 15 years ago, residents across Rochford came together to oppose plans to build on this much-loved green space. Between 2009 and 2012, the community organised, submitted objections, and took part in a series of planning hearings and appeals.
At the time, Rochford District Council refused the proposed development, and that decision was supported through the appeals process. In 2012, a High Court decision upheld the Council’s Local Plan, which protected Coombes Farm from development.
Many residents believed that decision had settled the issue and established an important precedent protecting this land. It is therefore deeply concerning to see new proposals brought forward once again, taking advantage of the uncertainty surrounding the current planning environment.
What Happened Previously?
Plans to develop Coombes Farm were previously submitted in 2009 but were refused by Rochford District Council.
The refusal was later supported by a Government Planning Inspector, who cited the proposal as largely unacceptable due to the site’s location within the Green Belt.
The developers subsequently challenged the decision through the courts, focusing on weaknesses in Rochford’s planning framework at the time. However, by 2011 the Council had adopted a new Local Plan, which was later considered sound.
As a result, the High Court ultimately rejected the developer’s appeal in 2012, leaving the Council’s original refusal in place.
Coombes Farm in Rochford’s Emerging Local Plan
Coombes Farm is currently included in Rochford District Council’s Site Assessment Methodology (Regulation 18), which reviews land that could potentially be developed for housing in the future.
Sites within this process are given different classifications. Some are labelled “Clear Omission”, meaning the Council considers them unsuitable for development. Others are classed as “Marginal Omission”, meaning the site may still be considered in the future.
At present, Coombes Farm is listed as a “Marginal Omission”, which means the possibility of development has not been fully ruled out.
Information about Rochford's Local Plan through RDC's website can be viewed by CLICKING HERE.
What You Can Do
In addition to submitting comments on the current planning application, residents can also tell the Council that they believe Coombes Farm should be permanently excluded from future development by being reclassified as a “Clear Omission” in the Local Plan.
When commenting, you may wish to highlight that:
• The site has previously been refused planning permission by the Council
• The refusal was supported by a Government Planning Inspector
• The land forms part of the Green Belt and an important open landscape
When submitting comments, it is important to reference the site code: CFS116(a)
You can comment on Rochford District Council’s Emerging Local Plan by CLICKING HERE.
Coombes Farm is mentioned in the Rochford Local Plan as follows:
