The policy is unsound in that the 35% affordable housing target does not appear to be supported by an assessment of viability
as required by the Blyth Valley BC - v - Persimmon Homes (North East) Ltd (2008) High Court case.

The policy can only be made sound by undertaking a viability assessment of affordable housing levels in the District.

It is considered that our participation at the oral part of the public examination would assist the Inspector for two main reasons

- Sellwood Planning has a detailed knowledge of the Rochford area, appeared at the last Local Plan Inquiry and was a participant at the RSS public examination. This direct knowledge of the local area and the statutory Development Plan may be of assistance to the Inspector

- Sellwood Planning has experience in promoting major schemes through Core Strategies (eg. 7,000 dwellings in Ashford, 5,750 dwellings in Dover, 2,500 dwellings in Horsham and 1,200 dwellings in Newmarket) and the emerging
body of evidence of what constitutes a sound Core Strategy and what is unsound. Our experience indicates that, in a number of respects, the submitted Core Strategy is unsound in its present form.