Having listened to the concerns of residents, Rochford District Council is pleased to announce that it has submitted a request to English Heritage to include Rayleigh House in the statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest.

A recent planning application to demolish Rayleigh House, a prominent building in the High Road, was refused by the Council.

The procedure for requesting a building to be considered for listing requires the submission of details to English Heritage; a copy of the list description that has been prepared for Rayleigh House is appended.

English Heritage will assess the request and make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who will then decide whether the building is worthy of listing.

Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation at Rochford District Council, Councillor Keith Hudson, said: “Rayleigh House is a prominent and well loved part of the historic fabric of Rayleigh. I very much welcome the submission of this request for it to be listed”

“I should also say that I am grateful to the Ward Member, Councillor Mrs Mavis Webster, for her diligence in assisting our officers to hopefully protect this important part of our heritage for the benefit of generations to come”