Our Emerging Proposal

High-quality new homes

Hillside Enterprises will deliver a high-quality development that will stand the test of time. Their proposal seeks to provide up to 160 high-quality and energy efficient new homes, including affordable homes.

The emerging housing mix will accommodate the needs of first-time buyers, growing families, and those looking to downsize. Through this, Hillside Enterprises will improve housing choice for people in Daws Heath and Hadleigh and support the aspirations of local people to get on the housing ladder and own a home of their own

Location, location location

Local shops, schools and transport links are within walking distance of the site. The site is also well located near existing local amenities and services, from Westwood Academy to West Wood and John Burrows. Bus stops are located directly by the site providing services to Hadleigh, Chelmsford, Rayleigh and Southend.

Hillside Enterprises will improve local connectivity by linking their proposed new pedestrian and cycle links on site to existing Public Rights of Way to the south of the site to improve access to West Wood for all residents. There is further potential to create a new pedestrian-cycle link to The Gill to help promote active transport across the development.

Affordability

According to Rightmove, the average house price in Daws Heath last year was £422,199.

As a result, Daws Heath and Hadleigh’s young people are being priced out of the area they grew up in and have little choice but to move away to make their dream of home ownership come true.

Hillside Enterprises’ proposal will increase the local supply of starter homes and improve housing choice to help local people to stay and raise a family in the area they call home.

Highways

The emerging masterplan includes one vehicular access via Selby Wood and will be characterised by a tree-lined avenue to complement the existing landscape.

Hillside Enterprises is working closely with the Essex Highways to ensure the surrounding road network can accommodate the additional traffic and that the scheme is joined up with other planned or emerging developments across Castle Point.

As a result, Hillside Enterprises’ design process is informed by an up-to-date traffic study and, where necessary, mitigation measures will be put in place to upgrade the local road network.

Landscape-led

Hillside Enterprises’ landscape-led approach means new high-quality green open space is at the heart of the design. That is why their proposal is characterised by a central green corridor to safeguard the strategic green gap between Daws Heath and Hadleigh.

The design looks to maximise street tree planting to further enhance the landscaping and street scene throughout the development.

Of the open space proposed, Hillside Enterprises will plant wildflower meadows and new native trees, while also retaining and enhancing existing vegetation, hedgerows and trees where possible.

Community Infrastructure

Hillside Enterprises is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of local residents. That is why they have placed leisure and activity at the heart of their design to create strong community bonds.

The emerging proposal features a central community meeting point, which integrates inclusive equipped areas of play, which includes inclusive equiped areas of play and explorative woodland trails to encourage active lifestyles and improve access to nature.

Castle Point Borough Council currently operates a long waiting list for allotment space, which means residents could wait years to get their green fingers on an allotment. Hillside Enterprises’ proposal will provide new space for allotments for residents to follow their passion for food growing for all ages

Drainage

Flood mitigation underpins Hillside Enterprises’ proposal, and this aspect of the proposal will be prepared in consultation with the Lead Local Flood Authority. That’s why sustainable urban drainage systems will be woven throughout the design.

The drainage strategy will seek to attenuate surface water at the source an include will include roadside swales integrated into the street design and a network of small attenuation features across the site.

Emerging Timeline

Hillside Enterprises is committed to working with the local community throughout the planning process to deliver the best scheme possible for Daws Heath.

Feedback received from the Public Consultation will help inform their final submission to Castle Point Council.

  • Public consultation - Summer 2025

  • Application submission - Late Summer 2025

  • Expected decision - Spring 2026