(3) APPENDIX A: PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT

East of England Plan

The East of England Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS14) provides a spatial development framework for the East of England. The strategy aims to deliver a more integrated pattern of land use, movement and activities that achieves a balanced mix of housing and employment. New development should sustain and enhance the vitality and viability of town centres throughout the region, being places with high levels of service provision. Development plans within the region will make more use of previously developed land and buildings to protect Green Belt land, though in some districts a reassessment of such designation is needed.

Town centres, such as Rochford and Hockley, play a vital role in attracting investment and enhancing the environment through regeneration. The Plan aims to foster mixed-use economies throughout the region, with town centre development playing a key role in achieving brownfield development objectives and improving economic opportunities and quality of life for local people.

The region will see an overall growth in households largely through indigenous growth. Of the region's housing target of 421,500, the Thames Gateway South Essex sub-region has been allocated 55,000 dwellings from 2001-2021, with 4,600 allocated to Rochford District Council. New housing should be high quality and high density (where appropriate) to make most efficient use of land.

Rochford Futures Study 2007

This document conducts a baseline analysis of Rochford District's economic, social and environmental performance, identifies future drivers of change and challenges for the future.

The report notes that Rochford's economic performance is mixed, being a very small local economy with very limited growth. The district is 'well-off' socially, with relatively low social isolation and inequality. However, it has poor local services and amenities. Rochford's economy is relatively static and will need to grapple with globalisation and deindustrialisation more effectively in the future. The population is aging, with a large expansion of the elderly population expected. House prices are high and development restraints are equally high. There has been a decrease in employment workspace and the local infrastructure is overloaded.

Key agents of change in the future will be deindustrialisation, globalisation, stimulating enterprise growth and new migration and social cohesion. The study notes that the local authority will need to engage more effectively with the private sector to deliver economic growth in the face of public sector funding cutbacks. The aging population should be used as an asset rather than a burden, and there needs to be additional community facilities.

In terms of housing growth, there needs to be greater variety of housing types and more housing generally. Car dependence is problematic and is causing problems throughout the region.

Rochford District Replacement Local Plan

The Rochford District Replacement Local Plan was adopted in 2006. Some policies within the Plan expired on June 15th 2009, but the majority have been saved until superseded by policies within the emerging Local Development Framework. Through the Plan, the Council seeks to promote sustainable development patterns that minimise land take and reduce the need to travel, especially locally. The Plan supports town centres and industrial estate enhancement throughout the District. Rayleigh, Rochford and Hockley are the three designated town centres that are the primary retail areas of the District. Retail development outside these centres is not favoured.

Particular attention is given to the area's character and ensuring that new development respects the heritage and character of place throughout the District. The density of new developments will range between 30 and 50 dwellings per hectare, with higher levels permitted in town centres or places with good service provision. In developments of 25 units or more than one hectare in size, 15 percent of units must be affordable housing.

Rochford Core Strategy

Under the new Local Development Framework procedures, the Council is progressing its Core Strategy and has recently finalised the submission version for pre-submission public consultation. The emerging Core Strategy sees a vital role for its town centres in accommodating new growth. The retail strategy outlined in the draft submission document seeks to strengthen the role of the District's town centres. A sequential approach to the development of new retail provision is promoted as a means of ensuring the vitality and vibrancy of town centres.

The emerging Core Strategy seeks to improve the quality of the built environment as a result of growth. New development is expected to make a positive contribution to local character and all major applications will require a design brief. The emerging Core Strategy sets out a number of planning objectives against various themes. The key planning objectives in relation to retail and town centres set out in the Core Strategy are:

• To direct retail development to the District's town centres of Rochford, Rayleigh and Hockley
• To enhance the centres of Rochford, Rayleigh and Hockley ensuring they are vital and vibrant places containing a range of uses and activities for all
• To reduce the leakage of retail expenditure out of the District
• To ensure that village and neighbourhood shops provide a service for local communities, particularly for those with limited access to transport.

Urban Capacity Study (2000 & 2007)

Two Urban Capacity Studies have been conducted for Rochford District Council. The 2000 study found that intensification was unlikely to yield many housing units, that employment sites were generally too far removed from town centres to be suitable for housing, that car parks are of mixed quality and potential for housing because of the economics of structured parking and that living above the shop offered most promise in Rochford town centre.

The updated 2007 study generally found less scope for housing capacity than the 2000 study. The earlier projections for housing through intensification, subdivision and above shops did not materialise as expected. The 2007 study similarly reduced expectations for development within town centres by excluding car parks in Rochford town centre, citing high usage.

Employment Land Study (2008)

In parallel to this Area Action Plan the Council has also commissioned an Employment Land Study. This was published in September 2008, addressing current supply and quality, future need and demand. The Employment Land Study forms a technical background report to the Councils emerging Local Development Framework. It will be used to help understand what and how much employment land is required in the District and whether there is any potential to release existing land supplies.

Given the need for additional employment land in the District the Employment Land Study recommends that the Council adopts strong policies to protect existing employment land. On a strategic level it is recommended that land to the west of the District is considered as viable to be developed as employment land. It is strategically best placed to house such uses due to its relatively good connectivity to Southend and London.

The eastern parts of the District, on the other hand, are not strategically good locations for employment land. The Employment Land study recommends that Rochford District Council consider the east as a more appropriate location for housing and other uses when planning for future land use requirements.

Retail and Leisure Study (2008)

The Retail and Leisure Study undertaken for the District states that Rochford is performing poorly in terms of expenditure retention. It notes that it is the second largest town centre within the District, has strong comparison and service sectors and benefits from a unique layout and shopping environment. It is also easily accessible by a range of transport modes.

The study does though identify a number of weaknesses. Comparison goods floor space is lacking and there is a high proportion of small units which restricts potential occupiers. There is also a lack of retailers at the higher end of the market.

The state of Rochford's environment is generally very good although there are opportunities for improvement. For example the Market Square, which has the potential to act as a strong focal point, suffers from low amenity and is dominated by vehicle parking. The study comments extensively on opportunities to pedestrianise the Market Square to provide a pleasant, accessible hub and focal point for the town centre and dovetailing with opportunities to develop a 'cafe culture' within the town centre.