Part of Witham set for major redevelopment
The former Elm Rise Shopping Precinct is going to be knocked down and replaced with new shops and flats
Plans to redevelop a run down part of Witham town centre into shops and flats have been given the green light.
But Braintree District Council has been criticised for its “lack of ambition” to create more community facilities, including for health.
The Rickstones Neighbourhood Centre, formerly known as Elm Rise Shopping Precinct which currently accommodates shops and seven flats, is now set to be demolished and replaced with new retail space, a takeaway and 21 flats.
The site at the junction of Laburnum Way and Dorothy Sayers Drive has received little investment in recent years leaving the area run down.
The high number of commercial units standing empty and boarded up has added to the sense of neglect of the area, the council says.
The council has also said the plans do not strictly adhere to all the recommendations contained within the Rickstones Neighbourhood Centre Development Brief prepared in 2010 – especially given the 21 parking spaces for residents and 33 unmarked spaces for the shops is below the level normally required by the council’s adopted parking standards.
The council have deemed that a demand to provide a new community building that was part of the design brief would make the project unviable and have agreed to forego that aspect.
But that has been criticised by James Abbott, (Green, Silver End and Cressing) who wants Braintree District Council to designate more community money to Witham.
Speaking at the council planning meeting on Feb 9 he said: “Braintree District Council tells its members and the public how wonderful all the developments in Braintree are – the redevelopment of the bus station area, the town centre redevelopment, the Horizon 120, the I-Construct.
“And yet that level of ambition has not been applied here.”
The comments follow similar concerns raised in December 2021 that millions of pounds worth of investment is being focused too much on Braintree.
More than £70m has been invested into projects that will attract new businesses, support existing ones and create new jobs in Braintree, a level that has sparked concern that gearing is weighted too heavily on the district’s largest town.
He said: “I feel it is extremely disappointing and I know it’s a hobby horse but I do feel that it does provide a contrast to the approach taken elsewhere.”
Councillor David Mann (Lab, Bocking North) agreed the plans were a departure from the 2010 brief but that circumstances have changed.
He said: “We have not got what we wished for but it is better than what is there now and we have to accept that. It is not totally what we envisaged but it is an improvement.”
Councillor Gabrielle Spray (Cons. The Colnes) said: “There are some things to be sorry about about – no community centre but the viability test has demonstrated this is not a site big enough to make a more significant contribution to a community centre.
“I am not going to say too much about the lack of health care hub, we know all of us what the situation is in Witham but the NHS has got to play its part.”
“But all in all I think this development is to be applauded.”
The plans were approved with 10 for and one abstention.