RDC have not considered national Green Belt Policy and the purposes of green belt as stated in .http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/155499.pdf

The "analysis" of sites and also the selection of "preffered locations" should have considered what the impact of developing in each of the areas would be against the stated purposes of Green belt. This is counter to national central government guidlines issued, specifically:

- "check unrestricted sprawl of large built up areas." Many of the sites selected are large and will therefore result in significant increase in urban sprawl to existing settlements. The number of potential dwellings for each site has been given higher prefference over the sprawl impact. e.g North of London Road. Sites which would not result in significant additional urban sprawl have not been selected.

- "to prevent neighbouring towns and settlements from merging." Some of the sites selected, and the "preffered locations" identified as "best" by RDC will result in the merging of neighbouring settlements. e.g. Rayleigh and Rawreth and the proposed North London Road sites in Rayleigh. Sites which will not result in neighbouring towns and settlements from merging have been submitted but have not been selected.

- assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment. RDC have selected greenbelt sites that have a large part to play with regards this objective, yet have not selected other sites play no, or contribute little to this objective.