Chris and Ron have received advanced notice about something in Priory Chase that we’d like to pass on to residents – there’s going to be a new planning application from Project Coral for the land in front of Asda.
They are proposing a three-storey building with a mixture of flats and shops. At the moment the plans show 24 flats and 3 shop units. There would be parking for 33 vehicles.
We know that some residents have heard rumours about having a petrol station here – but there is NO petrol station in this scheme.
Project Coral are willing to accept a condition that there would be a maximum of 1 take-away. Also one of the shop units might be used a dental surgery.
It’s early days on this, the application hasn’t even been submitted yet, but we will try to keep nearby residents advised. The planning application would probably be decided at a council committee meeting in October. As always, as councillors we have to stay impartial in advance of the meeting, but we will be keen to hear your views.
…and should there be a community desire for a further discussion meeting with Coral representatives, as happened prior to the original proposals – then I would be more than happy to once again offer to host such a gathering at St Nicholas’, as a neutral space…
I thought Coral had their last application approved? That was an application without flats wasn’t it? I assume the credit crunch and the increase in empty retail units in Rayleigh – including Rawreth Lane – is the reason for this change of heart?
Personally I don’t have any issues with building affordable homes on this piece of land – as long as this 24, albeit a small number, is deducted from the total number of homes proposed for “North of London Road” AND there is adequate private parking for each of the flats AND there is adequate bin storage.
The design should also mirror or at least complement the existing flats on Priory Chase.
As for the revised proposal for three retail/business units – I still think that Coral would struggle to sell or even let them. However I have no issues with a Dental sugery here other than lack of parking – unless ASDA have no objections to their car park being used by non-patrons?
I still object strongly to a take-away food shop as this will do nothing to improve the growing problem with anti-social behaviour of the children and youths that have taken to hanging around Priory Chase, not to mention an unacceptable increase in litter.
Of course more younsters are going to be frequenting the area when the football pitches open and a take-away here will encourage these children and youths to hang around the area for even longer than necessary instead of dispersing…
Sadly It’s probably only a matter of time before the growing drug culture being suffered in Rayleigh High Street moves out to areas like ours that, by accepting these developments, actively encourage potential “customers” to hang around…
Why not just build affordable homes here and concentrate on building up businesses in Rayleigh Town for the benefit of everyone?
It goes without saying but BEFORE any futher development is considered Priory Chase and Temple Way should be adopted by County Highways and the road markings and signage planned properly and improved, including re-routing the dreadful bus and re-siting the bus terminus.
Any decision on this new application should be delayed until the Sure Start discussion has played out.
Anyone else seen the signs up advising the gravel area will be closed to parking cars as of Monday 18th, 8am? Just wondering if this is permanent and what will be happening with the land if nothing has been properly approved there as yet?
I see a wooden fence has been put across the gravel area now, it’s odd if they are still waiting for planning permission?
Unfortunately, I think it is the skatepark which is bringing in youngsters from as far away as Billericay and Shenfield and these are causing some problems!! I have noticed that, once again, the school has suffered some damage over the holidays with the glass panels at the front entrance having been totally smashed.