We are proposing a new residential development of 28 high quality homes, 23 parking spaces including 3 disabled spaces with new commercial uses on the ground floor on the site of the BP filling station at 529 Rayleigh Road. The site and its immediate surroundings are shown in the series of photographs below.

The site is opposite an area of mixed shops and commercial units including a Londis and a Nissa Local. Lollipops Pre-school and Edwards Hall Primary School are nearby. Surrounding buildings range from 1 - 3 storeys with a mix of residential houses and mixed-use developments with ground floor commercial.

The existing commercial centre is quite dated with low scale buildings which reflect the period of the time they were erected.

The team have discussed the emerging application with Southend-on-Sea City Council (SSCC). The focus has been on providing a high quality residential development with an active and engaging commercial provision at ground level. SSCC have said that they have no objection to the principal of a mixed use development with ground floor commercial uses and residential above.

The site presents a number of opportunities. These include:

 A much-improved visual outlook

 The provision of high quality accommodation

 A new commercial frontage that engages with community needs, creating an active and vibrant area

 Enhanced biodiversity through green roofs and perimeter landscpaing

 Sustainable strategies to minimise energy use and reduce carbon emissions

 The decontamination of the site after its use as a filling station

The floor plans for the ground, first, second and third floors and the roof plan are all shown below. Please click on each plan to enlarge it in order to see more detail.

  Click to open the floorplans

 There is no undercroft parking which will result in less construction disruption. There will be 23 car parking spaces, of which three are designed for use by Blue Badge holders. There will also be space for 30 bikes; 10 using ‘Sheffield Stands’ and 20 in two-tier bike racks. The main pedestrian entrance and exit will be from Belgrave Road.

 The ground floor has commercial active frontage onto Rayleigh Road, visible from the east and west approaches.

 The first floor is accessed via a lift and staircase on the western side of the building. This provides access to 9 flats which are either dual aspect or east or west facing, each with a balcony.

 The second floor has a similar arrangement, though there is no second floor on the area closest to Brook Lodge to the south.

 The third-floor accommodation has a similar arrangement but is set in at each end to provide communal roof terraces.

  A flat roof is proposed, offering potential for biodiverse roofs and photovoltaic panels.

Landscaping is proposed to each of the street frontages and along the southern boundary adjacent to the car park.

New sketches of how the building can appear are below. Firstly, north elevation from Rayleigh Road.

Next, the east view.

Finally, the view from the west.

After careful consideration the team is proud to bring forward a development of two commercial units and 28 high-quality new apartments.

In detail, the 28 new homes will be made up of the following:

 11 one-bedroom apartments

 13 two-bedroom apartments

 4 three-bedroom apartments

There will be two commercial units of 312 sqm and 46 sqm and 23 car parking spaces including 3 disabled spaces.

The formerly consulted plans had an access from Belgrave Road to the basement car park.  The new proposal now has 23 parking spaces all accessed off Pargat Drive.  Delivery vehicle servicing is via the dedicated loading bay on Rayleigh Road.

The team behind these exciting proposals are committed to achieving an exemplary development on this site, to contribute to the positive evolution of Rayleigh Road, and we look forward to developing this further before the plans are submitted to Southend on Sea City Council.