PPS4: Planning for Sustainable Economic Growth

This document was published in December 2009 and is material to the extent that it is likely to alter the extent to which RDC can rely on redeveloping its existing employment sites for alternate uses as set out in the SCS. In this context making the most efficient and effective use of sites within the Green Belt is important and justifies the need to plan flexibly by allowing scope for additional housing on identified Green Belt sites.

Policy EC2 of PPS4 provides direct policy advice on planning for sustainable economic growth. Criterion a) seeks a positive approach through identifying priority areas where there is deprivation and where regeneration is urgently required. This is not the case with the majority of the Star lane Industrial area, albeit the brickworks part of the site would be suitable. Criterion b) seeks support for existing business sectors and planning for their expansion and contraction. A strategy for the the removal of existing businesses would be at odds with PPS4. Criterion i) only encourages alternative uses if it is on vacant or derelict buildings (this relates only to the brickworks). This is not the case at the bulk of the Star Lane Estate at Great Wakering.

Star Lane Industrial Estate and Brickworks, Great Wakering, page 58 to 60: The site includes a disused brickworks to the south and to the north a range of employment uses. It has been acquired by Inner London Group who specialise in local authority partnerships, healthcare, key worker and other homes provision. There are no proposals for this site. The brickworks part of the site in question has been cleared of all buildings. I note that any delivery is contingent on a replacement employment site being found which would presumably be on Green Belt land as noted in the SCS at Policy ED4. The employment area is adjacent to Great Wakering and near the north eastern edge of Southend On Sea. The occupied employment area provides a valuable economic base in an outlying rural area. Most of the units are occupied. The complete removal of a business use from this location would not be something that should be encouraged as it would run contrary to the recently issued PPS4 which 'looks to build prosperous communities in urban and rural areas'. If this site were redeveloped completely for residential it would potentially require longer commutes from those living locally.

The brickworks part of the site is vacant and derelict buildings have been cleared. It provides potential for employment land but its character and derelict state would align with PPS3 and PPS4 and some housing could be included on this.