Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed Rayleigh Area Action Plan, Issues and Options consultation.
EEDA receives a number of requests of this kind, as a statutory consultee, and our experience to date suggests a number of points on Development Plan documents which your authority may wish to consider.
EEDA's principal role is to improve the East of England region's economic performance. Our main concern with Area Action Plan is therefore that they will help deliver, and provide the spatial framework for:
* sustainable economic development and regeneration in the East of England, and in particular,
* the Regional Economic Strategy (Inventing the Future - Collective Action for a sustainable economy, 2008).

Planning Policy Statement 1 'Delivering Sustainable Development', 2005 reminds local authorities that in preparing local development plans they should seek to provide a positive planning framework for sustainable growth in support of the Regional Economic Strategy (RES). The RES advocates a region that is internationally competitive with a global reputation for innovation and business growth that harnesses and develops the talents and creativity of all and is at the forefront of a low carbon and resource efficient economy.

In addition, Planning Policy Statement 12 'Creating Strong Safe and Prosperous Communities through Local Spatial Planning', 2008 recognises that spatial planning is a critical element in relation to economic growth and regeneration. The RES supports and complements the East of England Plan and EEDA supports the implementation of policies within that strategy.