Southend planning news
Southend planning news, newest first: applications, appeals and committee decisions, each story linked back to the council file.
Top story
Greater Essex Growth Plan: Southend Asked to Start Work
Cabinet is asked on 16 November to start a plan setting how many homes go where across Greater Essex. Southend may have to find up to £250,000 towards it.
More stories
Planning
Rochford Local Plan Consultation Could Run Over Christmas
Rochford's Local Plan has been frozen by ministers since October. The leader says its final consultation may now run over Christmas unless the deadline moves.
Shoeburyness
Shoeburyness Bellway Homes: Affordable Cut From 65 to 21
Officers back cutting affordable homes at Bellway's Shoeburyness site from 65 to 21. Councillors refused cuts twice, but Bellway can now appeal. Vote: 11 Nov.
Local Plan
Southend Local Plan: Comments Open to 21 December
Cabinet agreed the draft plan unanimously, and comments are open until 5pm on 21 December. It allocates 14,700 homes to 2045, 4,900 of them at Bournes Green.
Planning
Rochford Planning Call-Ins End: 21-Day Gateway Instead
From 31 October Rochford councillors cannot call in planning applications. Instead they, or a parish council, get 21 days to ask for a gateway assessment.
Local Plan
Southend Local Plan: Minister Orders Consultation by 6 Nov
The housing minister has ordered Southend to publish its draft Local Plan, site BG1 included, by 6 November and submit it by March 2027. The council is taking legal advice.
Planning
KFC Greyhound Way Gets 3am Drive-Thru, for 9 Months Only
Councillors approved KFC's 3am drive-thru on Greyhound Way as a nine-month trial. A licence bid for the same hours is open to objections until 18 November.
Council
Southend council this week: toilets, KFC, a £500k CCTV deal
Cabinet approved a £500,000-plus CCTV deal with Castle Point, KFC won a nine-month 3am trial and the £805,608 minibus call-in failed. What each meeting decided.
Planning
Southend Planning: 7-Bed HMO Above London Road Offices
All eight applications validated in Southend in the week of 5 October: a seven-bed HMO over offices on London Road and a bungalow replaced on Tankerville Drive.
Planning
Woodgrange Drive HMO Wins Appeal After Councillors Say No
Councillors have reversed their stance on the 8-bed HMO at 43 Woodgrange Drive after an inspector allowed it on appeal: on 14 October they said they would have granted it.
Local Plan
Southend Local Plan: Minister Orders Draft Handed Over
The housing minister has used legal powers to make Southend hand over the Local Plan it paused, citing a 2007 plan and a 20% housing delivery score.
Planning
Southend Planning: 1,422 Solar Panels on the Short Street Depot
All 19 applications registered in Southend in the fortnight to 25 September: 1,422 solar panels on the Short Street Post Office roof, fire-safety recladding at Hamlet Court Mews, a roof terrace on Eastern Esplanade.
Planning
Bournes Green Chase: Refusal Reworded on Legal Advice
Councillors refused 2,000 Green Belt homes on 27 August. Officers want the reason reworded on Counsel's advice, warning extra reasons risk a costs award.
Planning
Southend Planning: Councillor Call-Ins End 31 October
From 31 October no Southend councillor can force a planning application to a public committee. Two people will decide what gets heard. Council votes on Monday.
Local Plan
Southend Local Plan Paused Days Before Green Belt Vote
Southend has paused its Local Plan and will ask government for more time past 31 December. It does not change Wednesday's decision on 2,000 Green Belt homes.
Planning
Bournes Green Chase: Officers Back 2,000 Green Belt Homes
Officers recommend granting 2,000 Green Belt homes at Bournes Green Chase on 26 August, two days after full council is asked to reaffirm the Green Belt.
Planning
Southend Green Belt: Extraordinary Council Meets 24 August
All 51 councillors sit at 6.30pm on Monday 24 August, two days before the planning committee and a week before the 2,000-home Bournes Green Chase outline is due a decision. What is on the table, and what is not.
Planning
Southend Planning News: 14,700-Home Local Plan Due in Sept
Southend's draft Local Plan proposes 14,700 homes to 2045, with public comments from September 2026. Plus Fossetts Farm's 805 homes and Queensway's latest.