Core Strategy Preferred Options (Revised October 2008)

Ended on the 17 December 2008

Implementation, Delivery and Monitoring

(1) Introduction

The Local Development Framework is meaningless unless the strategies, policies and actions contained within it are realised.

This section of the Core Strategy outlines how each of the Core Strategy Preferred Options will be implemented and delivered. It also outlines how we will monitor the success of the Core Strategy to ensure it is having the desired impact on the development of the District.

(4) Implementation, Delivery and Monitoring of the Preferred Options

We will ensure a number of the Core Strategy's actions are delivered through its development control process, i.e. through the handling of planning applications. However, the Core Strategy covers spatial issues which are beyond the direct influence of development control and, as such, partnership working - with public, private and voluntary organisations - will be key to delivering the successful development of the District.

The following table identifies how each of our Preferred Options will be implemented, delivered and monitored:

Preferred Option	Implementation and Delivery	Monitoring
Housing
H1 Distribution	We will prioritise the use of previously developed land (PDL) and use of town centres for development, whilst resisting the intensification of residential areas through the allocation of land as part of the Local Development Framework and by exercising development control. Deliverability of alternative development locations will be assured through consultation with land owners and agents, including the 2007 'call for sites' exercise, in addition to other evidence base documents such as the Urban Capacity Study.	The proportion of dwellings developed on PDL is recorded by us and will be included in the Annual Monitoring Report, as is the density of residential developments.
H2 General Locations and Phasing	We will work with local landowners, agents and developers to ensure that development in these areas is viable. The 'call for sites' exercises has ascertained that there are sites within these locations which developers are willing to develop. We have worked with service providers and its partners to ensure that development within these locations is feasible. The completion of dwellings will be carried out by developers having regard to our adopted policies in the Local Development Framework, enforced through the Development Control process. The phasing will be controlled through the Development Control process and delivered by working with developers and landowners to ensure there is a constant five-year supply of available land that will be delivered.	As part of the Annual Monitoring Report, we record planning permissions granted and completions of residential development. This is translated into a housing trajectory which includes an assessment of the five-year supply of land. In the event that sites can no longer be delivered, alternative sites scheduled to be developed later will be brought forward.
H3 General Locations Post-2021	Land will not be allocated for development until post-2021. Land will be prevented from development until an appropriate time through the Development Control process. Post 2021, The completion of dwellings will be carried out by developers having regard to our adopted policies in the Local Development Framework, enforced through the Development Control process.	As part of the Annual Monitoring Report, we record planning permissions granted and completions of residential development.
H4 Affordable Housing	Affordable housing will be delivered in conjunction with developers, who will be required to enter into legal agreement with us to ensure that the requisite proportion of affordable units come forward as part of a development. In addition, we have an agreement with Rochford Housing Association whereby they will aim to provide at least 50 additional affordable units per year. The policy makes allowances to ensure that this approach does not undermine the deliverability of schemes.	As part of the Annual Monitoring Report, we record the tenure of dwellings completed, allowing us to ascertain whether the target for affordable housing is being met. In the event that insufficient affordable housing is being developed, we will have to consider revising its policies.
H5 Dwelling Types	The mix of dwelling types will be delivered by developers and enforced through the Development Control process.	The size of dwellings (in terms of the number of bedrooms they contain) is recorded as part of the Annual Monitoring Report, enabling an assessment of the mix of house types coming forward
H6 Lifetime Homes	The delivery of dwellings meeting the Lifetime Homes standard will be through developers, enforced by the Development Control process. The policy makes allowances to ensure that this approach does not undermine the deliverability of schemes.	We will monitor the proportion of dwellings meeting the Lifetime Homes standard as part of the Annual Monitoring Report.
H7 Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation	Gypsy and Travellers sites will be allocated by us but developed by private landowners. The development of sites will be enforced through the Development Control process.	We will monitor the granting of planning permission for Gypsy and Traveller sites, and their development, as part of the Annual Monitoring Report.

Preferred Option	Implementation and Delivery	Monitoring
Green Belt
GB1 Green Belt Protection	The Green Belt will be protected through the allocation of land and enforced through the Development Control process.	The proportion of the District allocated as Metropolitan Green Belt can be ascertained through examination of allocations.
GB2 Rural Diversification and Recreational Uses	Rural diversification will be undertaken by landowners and enabled through a more permissive Development Control process.	The number of change of use applications permitted on land designated as Metropolitan Green Belt, and the nature of those uses, will indicate whether rural diversification is being undertaken.

Preferred Option	Implementation and Delivery	Monitoring
Economic Development
ED1 London Southend Airport and Environs	We will produce a Joint Area Action Plan in conjunction with Southend Borough Council that will set out how we will ensure the airport's economic potential is realised in a manner that balances environmental and social considerations. Stakeholders will be engaged with as part of the Joint Area Action Plan.	Employment uses developed in and around the airport will be recorded by us.
ED2 Employment Growth	We will work with landowners and businesses representatives and will produce an updated Economic Development Strategy which, in conjunction with land use policies, will ensure economic development in appropriate locations.	Employment levels in the District will be used as an indication of success. The proportion of employment development within 30 minutes public transport time is recorded as part of the Annual Monitoring Report.
ED3 Existing Employment Land	Existing employment allocations will be protected from inappropriate development which would undermine their function in providing job opportunities through the Development Control process.	The use and development of employment land is monitored as part of the Annual Monitoring Report.
ED4Future Employment Allocations	We will allocate future employment land through the Allocations Development Plan Document. We will work with landowners, developers, business representatives and other stakeholders (including infrastructure providers) to ensure the successful delivery of employment development.	The development of future allocations with appropriate employment-generating uses will be monitored by us as part of the Annual Monitoring Report. Employment levels within the District will be used to indicate success.
ED5 Eco-Enterprise Centre	Land within an employment allocation will be allocated specifically for the business incubation centre. We will secure public funding which in turn will be used to lever private sector investment. In terms of delivering services on an ongoing basis, we will work in partnership with other key stakeholders and partners whose remit is to support and develop businesses in the District.	The number of businesses within the centre, and the proportion of these sustained within the District once they have left the centre, will be used to measure the success of the Eco-Enterprise Centre.

Preferred Option	Implementation and Delivery	Monitoring
Environmental Issues
ENV1Protection and Enhancement of the Natural Landscape and Habitats	We will prevent development that would be of harm to areas of international, national and local nature conservation importance through the Development Control process. The enhancement of existing sites owned by us will be achieved by the positive management of them. In the case of other sites, we will encourage owners to do likewise. The Crouch and Roach Estuary Management Plan will be delivered in partnership with stakeholders.	As part of the Annual Monitoring Report, we record the condition of the District's SSSIs, enabling us to review whether the PSA target is being met.
ENV2 Coastal Protection Belt	The Coastal Protection Belt will be protected from harmful development through the Development Control process.	The success of this approach will be measured by the quality of the landscape in the Coastal Protection Belt, as well as its biodiversity. We will include reports on development within the Coastal Protection Belt in the Annual Monitoring Report.
ENV3 Flood Risk	The Environment Agency (EA) is a statutory consultee on all planning applications where potential flood risk or water quality issues may arise. We will work with the Environment Agency to ensure that flood risk is reduced.	As part of the Annual Monitoring Report, we monitor its performance against flood protection targets.
ENV4 Sustainable Drainage Systems	We will work with developers to ensure sustainable drainage systems are incorporated into new developments. This will be enforced through the Development Control process.	The Annual Monitoring Report will record the proportion of applications in which sustainable drainage systems are incorporated.
ENV5 Air Quality	AQMAs will be designated where necessary. Development within AQMAs will be restricted through the Development Control process. AQMA status will be removed once the air quality is deemed acceptable.	Air quality will be monitored by us, as required by the 1995 Environment Act, on a periodic basis. Air quality and development within AQMAs will be recorded.
ENV6Large Scale Renewable Energy Projects	The development of large scale renewable energy projects will be regulated through the Development Control process.	The development of large scale renewable energy projects will be monitored as part of the Annual Monitoring Report.
ENV7 Small Scale Renewable Energy Projects	Some small scale renewable projects such as domestic photovoltaic cells do not require consent from us. However, those that do require approval will be regulated through the Development Control process.	Where possible, we will monitor the implementation of small scale renewable energy projects in the Annual Monitoring Report.
ENV8 Code for Sustainable Homes	This will be delivered in partnership with developers and enforced through the Development Control process.	We will monitor the proportion of dwellings meeting the Code for Sustainable Homes standard as part of the Annual Monitoring Report.
ENV9 BREEAM	This will be delivered in partnership with developers and enforced through the Development Control process and building regulations.	We will monitor the proportion of dwellings meeting the BREEAM standard as part of the Annual Monitoring Report.
ENV10 Contaminated Land	Development on contaminated and suspected contaminated land will be controlled through the Development Control process.	Development on contaminated land, together with measures to mitigate decontamination, will be recorded in the Annual Monitoring Report.

Preferred Option	Implementation and Delivery	Monitoring
Transport
T1 Highways	We will work with the Highways Authority to improve sustainable alternatives to the car, and improve network connections across the District.	Annual Progress Reports/Delivery Report - gives km of cycleways delivered, footpaths enhanced etc. May need to contact ECC for district data.
T2 Public Transport	We will work with developers and service providers to ensure public transport provision is in place. We will ensure development is well located in relation to public transport provision through the Local Development Framework and enforce this through the Development Control process.	The proportion of new development within 30 minutes public transport time of various facilities is recorded and reported in the Annual Monitoring Report.
T3 South Essex Rapid Transport (SERT)	We will work closely with Essex County Council to ensure the smooth implementation of SERT.	The implementation of SERT will be monitored by Essex County Council, and Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership (Rochford District Council is one of the partners).
T4 Travel plans	We will work with developers to ensure travel plans are implemented where required. This will be enforced through the Development Control process.	We will report on the number of planning applications accompanied by travel plans as part of the Annual Monitoring Report
T5 Cycling and Walking	We will work with developers, Essex County Council and Sustrans to ensure, through the use of contributions and the designing in of facilities at the planning stage, cycling and walking provision is delivered.	In conjunction with Essex County Council, we will monitor the provision of cycling and walking infrastructure.
T6 Greenways	Greenways will be implemented by us in conjunction with landowners and Essex County Council.	The delivery of Greenways identified in the Core Strategy will be recorded by us and reported in the Annual Monitoring Report.
T7 Parking Standards	We will enforce the provision of the requisite parking provision through the Development Control process.	We monitor the provision of car parking on completed developments within the District as part of the Annual Monitoring Report.

Preferred Option	Implementation and Delivery	Monitoring
Retail and Town Centres
RTC1 Retail	Development will be directed towards the District's town centres through the allocations process and by making the town centres more attractive to shoppers (see other RTC options). Small-scale retail development in out of town centres will be delivered in partnership with developers as part of the Allocations process.	The retail use of the town centres is included as part of the Annual Monitoring Report. Success of the policy will be indicated by a high proportion of retail uses and new retail development being located in town centres.
RTC2 Village and Neighbourhood Shops	The loss of village and neighbourhood shops will be resisted through the Development Control process. We will help maintain the viability of village and neighbourhood shops by ensuring that village communities continue to thrive - this will be achieved through a variety of actions, including ensuring there is adequate housing and service provision to support smaller settlements.	Annual surveys of the retail units within villages will be undertaken and reported in the Annual Monitoring Report.
RTC3 Rayleigh Town Centre	Intensification of existing retail areas will be delivered through partnership working with developers and retailers, and enabled through the Development Control process.	Surveys of retail areas are carried out on an annual basis and will be reported in the Annual Monitoring Report.
RTC4 Rochford Town Centre	The Area Action Plan for Rochford town centre will be produced by us with the input of specialist consultants, using masterplanning work already undertaken, and taking on board the views of local stakeholders. The Area Action Plan will be implemented in partnership with local developers and landowners. We will consider using a specialist delivery body to assist redevelopment if, depending on the exact nature of the Area Action Plan, it is required. Compulsory purchase is a tool that is available to us, but we will seek to avoid using it. Compulsory purchase will only be used to enable development that will deliver significant benefits to the community and all other alternatives have been exhausted.	Surveys of retail areas are carried out on an annual basis. A drop in the number of vacant units and a rise in the total number of shops and facilities will indicate success. Revised retail and leisure studies will be carried out. Improvements in the town centre's health assessment will be seen as an indicator of success. Other indicators of the performance of the Town Centre Area Action Plan will include levels of anti-social behaviour reported in the area.
RTC5 Hockley Town Centre	The Area Action Plan for Hockley town centre will be produced by us with the input of specialist consultants, using masterplanning work already undertaken, and taking on board the views of local stakeholders. The Area Action Plan will be implemented in partnership with local developers and landowners. We will consider using a specialist delivery body to assist redevelopment if, depending on the exact nature of the Area Action Plan, it is required. Compulsory purchase is a tool that is available to us, but we will seek to avoid using it. Compulsory purchase will only be used to enable development that will deliver significant benefits to the community and all other alternatives have been exhausted.	Surveys of retail areas are carried out on an annual basis. A drop in the number of vacant units and a rise in the total number of shops and facilities will indicate success. Revised retail and leisure studies will be carried out. Improvements in the town centre's health assessment will be seen as an indicator of success. Other indicators of the performance of the Town Centre Area Action Plan will include levels of anti-social behaviour reported in the area.

Preferred Option	Implementation and Delivery	Monitoring
Character of Place
CP1 Design	The design of developments will be regulated through the Development Control process. Developers will be expected to utilise, where relevant, the following: the Essex Design Guide, and the Urban Place Supplement as guidance for good design.	The success of the implementation of this policy will be monitored by recording the proportion of appeals of our decision to refuse planning applications based on character of place which are dismissed.
CP2 Conservation Areas	Recommendations within the Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plans will be implemented through a collaborative approach with our partners, and seeking legal advice and acquiring consent from the Secretary of State.	The Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plans will be reviewed and updated on a regular basis to ensure conservation boundaries are preserved and continue to enhance the local character.
CP3 Local List	The Local List SPD is currently being updated, and will be adopted. Buildings listed within this document will be protected by us through Development Control policies.	The Local List will be updated on a regular basis and the buildings contained within it examined as part of the update to ensure they are being protected.

Preferred Option	Implementation and Delivery	Monitoring
Community Infrastructure, Leisure and Tourism
CLT1 Planning Obligations and Standard Charges	Planning obligations and standard charges will be imposed on developers, where necessary, and regulated through the Development Control process.	We will monitor the provision of contributions and, together with service providers, the infrastructure that is being delivered.
CLT2 Primary Education	Increased primary school provision will be delivered, where necessary, in partnership with Essex Country Council and developers, and enforced through the Development Control process. Planning obligations and standard charges will be used to deliver the requisite educational provision.	We will work with Essex Country Council to monitor the balance between the supply and demand of schools in the District. Essex County Council monitors the present and future provision of school places within the County within The Essex School Organisation Plan which has been updated on an annual basis since 2003.
CLT3 Secondary Education	Additional land for the expansion of school sites (for example the King Edmund school) may be identified within the Allocations Development Plan Document. Secondary school expansion will be delivered in partnership with Essex Country Council and developers, and enforced through the Development Control process. Planning obligations and standard charges will be used to deliver the requisite educational provision.	We will work with Essex Country Council to monitor the balance between the supply and demand of schools in the District. Essex County Council monitors the present and future provision of school places within the County within The Essex School Organisation Plan which has been updated on an annual basis since 2003.
CLT4 Healthcare	Developers will be required to work with us, Primary Care Trust and other stakeholders to address any deficiencies identified by the Health Impact Assessment. New healthcare facilities will be delivered in partnership with the South East Essex Primary Care Trust and developers, and regulated through the Development Control process. We will use contributions from developers, through standard charges to provide healthcare facilities where necessary.	The provision of adequate healthcare facilities will be reported by us using data from the Primary Care Trust.
CLT5 Open Space	The provision of new open space and the protection of existing open space will be regulated through the Development Control process.	The provision of open space will be monitored by us.
CLT6 Community Facilities	Additional community facilities will be delivered by working in partnership with service providers, including the voluntary sector, and developers. Planning obligations and standard charges will be used to finance the implementation of community facilities.	The needs for community facilities will be monitored using the 'barriers to housing and service domain' as an indicator from the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD).
CLT7 Play Space	We will deliver additional play space where required, in conjunction with developers as part of new residential sites where necessary. We will use planning contributions from developers to implement play space where necessary. The protection of existing facilities will be regulated through the Development Control process.	The implementation of play space will be monitored and recorded as part of the Annual Monitoring Report.
CLT8 Youth Facilities	We will engage with young people through existing community groups and schools to ascertain their needs. We will work with other partners, including within the voluntary sector, and developers to ensure the delivering of appropriate facilities. We will use planning contributions from developers to implement play space where necessary.	The provision of youth facilities, together with measure to ensure their long-term viability, will be recorded by us.
CLT9 Leisure Facilities	We have adopted the 'Play Strategy 2007-2012' which will focus the resources available, and in turn create, a successful play 'offer' are captured in the acronym VITAL - Value based, In the right place, Top quality, Appropriate and Long term. We will use contributions from developers, through standard charges to provide leisure facilities where necessary.	The provision of leisure facilities may be monitored using the Sport England Sports Facility Calculator. The proportion (m�) of both completed and outstanding leisure development within the District is recorded within the Annual Monitoring Report.
CLT10 Playing Pitches	The Playing Pitch Strategy SPD is currently being updated, using the guidance created by Sport England, the purpose of the SPD is to assess current playing pitch supply and demand so that an adequate supply can be maintained. The provision of playing pitches within the Green belt will be regulated through the enforcement of Development Control policies. Sport England is a statutory consultee on all planning applications which have an impact on playing pitch provision (i.e. development of playing fields) and, as such, advise us on relevant issues.	Our evidence base work on the Playing Pitch Strategy will be updated on a regular basis. Planning applications regarding playing fields are monitored by Sport England. We will report on these as part of the Annual Monitoring Report.
CLT11 Tourism	Appropriate tourism opportunities will be regulated through the Development Control process.	The number of visitors is monitored as part of the "Economic impact of tourism" report by the East of England Tourist Board. We will report on relevant District matters as part of the Annual Monitoring Report.

Preferred Option	Implementation and Delivery	Monitoring
Upper Roach Valley and Wallasea Island
URV1 Upper Roach Valley	We will expand Cherry Orchard Jubilee Country Park through the use of land owned by us and the acquisition of land where necessary. We will only use compulsory purchase powers as a last resort where all other alternatives have been exhausted.	The expansion of Cherry Orchard Jubilee Country Park will be monitored as part of the Annual Monitoring Report.
URV2 Wallasea Island	We will work with RSPB to deliver the Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project. Other stakeholders will also be engaged, including Essex County Council with regards to the sites accessibility, and the Environment Agency, given the physical constraints in the locality.	The delivery of the Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project will be monitored as part of the Annual Monitoring Report.

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