Rochford

Rochford

Make-up of the current administration 

• • Rochford District is in no overall control and is led by the Liberal Democrats who have 11 elected councillors. However, it is closely followed by the Conservatives and the Independents who are tied 2nd with 10 elected councillors each. There are then 8 elected councillors elected Rochford District Residents Group. The council is a coalition made up of Liberal Democrats, The Green Party, Rochford Residents and independents.

Date of the next elections 

• By-election on the 23rd of January 2025 
• Next election 1st of May 

Local plan status and next steps 

• The annual number increased from 356 to 675 in the first announcement, a 90% increase, and the consolidated total was 689 homes per year, and increase of 93%.

Current Five-Year Housing Land Supply 

• In 2019, Rochford’s Five-Year Housing Land Supply was 5.53.

Housing Delivery Test result 

• Rochford achieved a 135% figure for the Housing Delivery Test, significantly above its target.

Current position on devolution/ local government reform 

• Braintree, being in Essex is part of the Priority Devolution programme. They are scheduled to have Mayoral elections in May 2026. 

• • Rochford District have questioned what this could mean for more rural districts like themselves. Danielle Belton, a Conservative councillor for Hockley and Ashingdon, argues that if Rochford and Southend councils are merged as part of a devolution plan, there is a risk that much of the district’s rural areas could be developed and built on.