Whilst the plan recognises that there is a need to protect the Green Belt in Rochford, it is also acknowledged that the Green Belt boundaries will need to be amended in order to provide the amount of housing required within the plan period. At this stage of the LDF of course, the re-definition of Green Belt boundaries is not undertaken; it is however important that the policy Is drawn widely enough to permit a fair and open discussion of appropriate land releases at the next stage of the LDF.

We consider that policy GB1 provides sufficient scope for identifying land in Hockley for future development.