Frequently Asked Questions

We have set out below the answers to some Frequently Asked Questions in relation to the planning application.

Should you have any other questions not covered here, please visit our contact us page. 

Highways and transport FAQ

How will traffic speed on Burnham Road be reduced?

• The speed limit on Burnham Road will be reduced to at least 40mph, with a further reduction to 30mph being considered with ECC Highways.

• Appropriate crossing facilities at Burnham Road and Woodham Road will be provided.

How will the planning application address traffic congestion on Burnham Road? 

Sustainable transport measures are to be introduced to reduce reliance on private cars, primarily through a new bus service, alongside excellent cycle and pedestrian links between the site and SWF town centre. These include: 

• A viable bus service to route through the development, which would serve the wider area of SWF. This service would deliver new vehicles, bus stops and real time passenger information.
• A direct bus service to Wickford rail station could also be provided.
• Rail service improvements are at the discretion of the rail franchise operator.

A series of improvements are also proposed to key junctions on local roads to improve capacity and improve peak time congestion. These improvements comprise:

• Extension of the two lanes southbound south of the Burnham Road/Willow Grove/Ferrers Road roundabout.
• New traffic light junction at Burnham Road/B1418 junction.
• Larger roundabout at Burnham Road/Woodham Road/Ferrers Road/Hamberts Road.
• Widened northbound connection between Hawk Hill and the Rettendon Turnpike.
• New traffic lights on the Hawk Hill roundabout on the A130 southbound exit slip lane.
• Subject to ongoing monitoring, potentially increasing the length of the two car lanes on the Willow Grove and Ferrers Road arms of the Burnham Road/Willow Grove/Ferrers Road roundabout.

How will the planning application address the issue of pedestrian safety, particularly when crossing Burnham Road?

• Integrating the proposed scheme with the existing town is essential and the environment for pedestrians and cyclists will be improved.
  
  
• The speed limit will be reduced on Burnham Road from 60mph to 40mph, with a further reduction to 30mph being considered by ECC Highways.
  
  
• New crossing points will be provided at locations identified on the approved Masterplan – these are included in the consultation materials on the approved Masterplan, which can be found here.
  
  
• The proposals being put forward are also subject to Road Safety Audits to identify risks and ensure these are suitably addressed. 

Traffic congestion on the wider road network is a big issue, especially on the Rettendon Turnpike? How will this be addressed?

Queueing on the A132 is due to a lack of junction capacity. A series of proposed improvements to A132 / B1012 Rettendon Turnpike and localised junctions on Burnham Road are below. These improvements will ensure that these proposals do not exacerbate existing congestion issues. 

• Sustainable transport measures to reduce reliance on private car, primarily through a new bus service, alongside excellent cycle and pedestrian links between the site and SWF town centre.
• Potential improvements to the Burnham Road / Ferrers Road and Burnham Road / B1418 roundabouts to improve capacity.
• Potential improvements to the A132 / B1012 Rettendon Turnpike.

The highways improvements required and the details of these are outlined as part of the planning applications. 

What are the proposals to improve public transport, particularly rail and bus services?

• The outline planning application would secure significant improvements to local bus services, providing a real alternative to private car use. These improvements include:
  
  
  • An extension to the no.36 bus service to serve the development and SWF town centre.
  • An increased no.36 service frequency to every 20 minutes during peak hours and a new interchange at Danbury for the service to Maldon.
  • A no.36 service extension to serve Broomfield Hospital.
  • An enhanced frequency to the 36X commuter service to Chelmsford – to encourage residents who commute to Chelmsford out of their cars.
  • Provision of an additional, new demand bus service to SWF area.
  • Peak period services to Wickford (station) and Basildon (hospital).
  • New bus stops on Burnham Road.

How will pedestrians move across the site and between the site and the town centre? Have footbridges and underpasses been considered?

• A pedestrian access strategy has been developed that has considered all crossing options for Burnham Road.
  
  
• Underpasses are not feasible due to the impact on private properties to the south of Burnham Road and impact on the water table.
  
  
• Pedestrian footbridges have also been considered, but these are visually intrusive and do not improve the pedestrian environment on Burnham Road.
  
  
• The proposed surface crossings will help to slow traffic speed on Burnham Road and enhance integration between the new scheme and town centre.

Drainage, flood risk and utilities

The area southwest of the site on Burnham Road / Willow Grove often floods. How will the planning application address this issue?

• The new development will reduce flood risk from the site through reducing the rate at which water flows off the site, including in extreme rainfall events.
  
  
• Rainfall will be managed through providing on-site attenuation features to limit discharge to Fenn Creek to a green field run off rate. These include a Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS), comprising drainage basins and swales, (which are shallow, long, thin ditches, usually located next to roads). More information on the SUDS proposed for the site can be found in the Flood Risk Assessment submitted with the planning application, and which is available to download on the resources page of this website.  

There have been similar flooding issues at Fenn Creek and on Hullbridge Road. How will the drainage system help with this?

• The site’s attenuation / SUDS features reduce the rainfall discharging from the site in all rainfall events greater than a ‘normal’ annual rainfall event, so discharge into Fenn Creek and Hullbridge Road will be reduced and take place at the equivalent of a green field rate.

How does the SUDS system work and are there good local examples of this that we can see?

• Swales and attenuation basins will convey surface run off to the watercourse, providing managed storage and mitigating flood risk.
  
  
• The basins will provide rainwater storage capacity to control discharge to Fenn Creek for up to a 1 in 100 year storm event, plus 40% climate change.
  
  
• The attenuation basins will mimic the natural drainage regime. Groundwater levels will also be assessed and managed through the scheme design.
  
  
• Similar SUDS systems are in place at our schemes at Beaulieu in Chelmsford and St Luke’s Park in Runwell.

Landscape, ecology and open space

Who controls the land between the northern site boundary and Edwin’s Hall Road? What will happen to this land to stop it being developed in future?

• Land to the north of the allocation area is currently under option to Countryside.
  
  
• This land is not suitable for development and likely to be retained by the landowner for continued agricultural use.
  
  
• A large area located across and around Mill Hill is now included within our planning application as public open space.

What are the reasons for the location of the allotment sites? How many allotment plots would this provide?

• Three allotment sites are proposed in the central and eastern parts of the site. This is to ensure easy access to an allotment area from all parts of the site.
  
  
• These locations would collectively deliver c.30 allotment pitches, subject to the final number of new houses across the allocation area.
  
  
• The plot by the Garden of Remembrance was located here following a request by South Woodham Ferrers Town Council during consultation on the Masterplan. This was previously positioned on the eastern part of the site north of Burnham Road.

What is the extent of open space within the scheme and will this be publicly accessible?

• A minimum requirement of 8.28ha of open space is needed across the whole Masterplan area, including 3.96ha of formal recreation space, i.e. sports pitches.
  
  
• The approved Masterplan secures a total of 12.7ha of publicly accessible open space.
  
  
• Play spaces are distributed around the site for ease of walking access. Use of natural materials will be encouraged.

How will the landscape proposals help to integrate the scheme?

• The open space to the north completes the parkland arc around the town. Key views from Bushy Hill and Mill Hill would be protected.
  
  
• Most existing trees and hedgerows are retained and incorporated into the scheme.
  
  
• Significant numbers of new trees will be planted across the site, with at least one new tree for every new resident.  
  
  
• Suitable footpath links created through the scheme would reduce pressure on sensitive routes around the estuary.

What are the measures to improve ecology and wildlife across the site?

• Protecting and enhancing habitats has been a key consideration in developing the Masterplan and our planning application.
  
  
• Bushy Hill Wildlife Site is an important ecological location. Additional grassland areas and new ponds will be created around it.
  
  
• The existing stream across the site, mature trees and hedgerows will be retained and enhanced across the site – with a grassland buffer provided to improve species habitat.
  
  
• A lasting management regime will be established to ensure habitats maintained. We are working with The Land Trust, a specialist land management charity, as our partner to help manage the open spaces across our planning application area.

Land use, layout and design

What are the main uses being applied for as part of the outline planning application?

• Up to 1,020 new homes, including 35% affordable homes.
  
  
• A residential care home with up to 88 bedrooms.
  
  
• Neighbourhood centre including a multipurpose community centre.
  
  
• Land for a new primary school with two forms of entry and two 56 place nurseries.
  
  
• Up to 1,200 square metres of commercial / business floorspace.
  
  
• Five serviced plots for travelling show people.
  
  
• All associated formal and informal open space.
  
  
• All associated highways, utilities, and drainage infrastructure.

How many houses are going to be built on the site?

• A maximum of 1,200 homes will be provided across the whole Masterplan site, with up to 1,020 being proposed as part of the Countryside planning application.

What type of houses will be provided and will some of it be affordable?

• A full range of new homes will be provided, from 1&2 bedroom properties to a small number of 5 bedroom homes.
  
  
• 35% of homes will be affordable, in accordance with the Local Plan.
  
  
• An 88 bedroom residential care home is also proposed.

What is the reasoning for the location of the preferred travelling show people site?

• Three potential locations have been considered, with the preferred location to the east of the site, off Burnham Road / Ferrers Road roundabout.
  
  
• A number of factors have influenced the preferred location, including: ease of vehicle access; avoidance of flood risk areas; need for a clearly defined area; sensitivity to existing and proposed residential areas; and minimising visual impact.

When will the school be built and what is its capacity?

• Countryside will secure the use of a rimary school and early years facility through the planning application. The proposed location is close to the Sainsbury’s supermarket and health centre to create an easily accessible central hub, with other new community facilities.
  
  
• The capacity and delivery of the school would be subject to the requirements of (and ongoing dialogue with) ECC Education and will be secured through the s106 Agreement. 
  
  
• If ECC Education confirm that the school will be required then Countryside will make the land available for Essex County Council to bring the school site forward.

CCC has declared a climate emergency. How will the plans address this issue?

• The planning application reflects current and future planning policy and regulations in respect of climate change.
  
  
• In particular, Countryside is considering a range of sustainable development initiatives to ensure the scheme reflects current carbon-neutrality requirements. This would include initiatives such as;

1. No gas boilers in the new homes, with alternative electric and low carbon renewable energy options used to power new homes.
2. Measures to ensure resilience to climate change, including reduced water consumption; minimising flood risk, overheating risk and risk to habitats through enhanced biodiversity.
3. All homes to be constructed to future building regs requirements, including consideration of passive house design options.
4. Electric vehicle charging to reflect Local Plan requirements (1 charge point per home; 1 charge point per 10 communal spaces; 10% charge points in non-residential development.

Timing and programme

What is the timetable for the planning application and when will construction start

• Summer 2021: Planning application submitted to CCC.
  
  
• 2022: Application likely to be decided by CCC.
  
  
• 2024: If application approved, work likely to begin on site.
  
  
• 2025: Infrastructure starts to be delivered and first homes on the market.

Countryside will remain as an active party throughout the construction of the project and we will continue to engage with the local community on key issues.