Plans have already been approved to demolish the former Grange Service Centre, which was a service station and car dealership, and transform the site into much-needed new homes.
Despite proposals being approved, no work has taken place on the site and it has now been listed on the market for a developer to take on the project and deliver the properties.
The Grange Service Centre, formerly a filling station, is set to be demolished in the approved plans (Image: Rightmove)The 26 new homes will feature private outside terraces and offer residents access to a secure underground car park. They were originally submitted by designers BDA Architects.
Danielle Belton, Conservative councillor for Hockley and Ashingdon, said: “It’s my opinion that this is the sort of development for housing we should be supporting.
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“If the business is no longer viable or the family want to retire or sell up, then converting this brownfield site into accommodation could be a positive thing for the area.
The new homes will be a mix of one, two and three bed properties (Image: BDA Architecture)
“As always, infrastructure needs consideration but I believe this was all looked at when the application was first approved along with some localised community investment in the form of section 106 money.
“We still have hundreds of local people waiting for homes in the district so if small brownfield developments can ease the pressure, that’s a positive step forward.”
Plans to develop the 17,693sq ft plot had previously been rejected on multiple occasions by Rochford Council.
However, in 2023 the plans were given the green light by the planning inspectorate after an appeal was lodged over the decision. CGI images show an eye-catching new look for the London Road site (Image: BDA Architecture)
The Rightmove listing for the development opportunity says the approved homes are “expected to appeal to first-time buyers, property investors, and those looking to downsize while staying within the local area.”
Lib Dem councillor for Downhall and Rawreth, Chris Stanley, mentioned the ongoing construction of a number of other housing developments in the surrounding area, but accepted that housing is needed.
He added: “There is a lot of development going on in that area, but if that’s what the owners want then there’s very little that can be done about it.”