Comment
Allocations DPD Discussion and Consultation Document
Representation ID: 18498
Received: 14/04/2010
Respondent: Mr R Lambourn
Agent: Savills
Land to the rear of Southview Close (see attached location plan) should be included within the Allocations Development Plan Document for residential development, with South/South East Rayleigh identified as an additional general location for housing.
Appendix 1 of the Allocations document dismisses land to the rear of Southview Close as a potential housing allocation site. The reasons given are that the site would not contribute to a balanced approach to housing and that there is a need to avoid the coalescence of Rayleigh with Eastwood. We disagree with this conclusion and would like to reiterate that land to the rear of South View Close is in a sustainable location, within walking distance of local schools, public transport and close to Rayleigh Town Centre, employment locations and other local amenities. The site is therefore suitable for housing. The site does not clearly contribute to the five functions of including land within the Green Belt as set out in Planning Policy Guidance 2 Green Belts January 1995. The release of this site for housing will not lead to the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas. There is a stream running across the site which creates a natural barrier and could become the defensible boundary to the Green Belt. The release of this site would therefore not undermine the Council's approach of protecting the town's identity and preventing coalescence with Eastwood. This land can contribute to housing units by 2015 and is deliverable and viable.
The site is most suited for residential development taking into account the proximity to existing residential, local schools and urban area of Rayleigh. It is considered that approximately 40 dwellings could be provided on the north part of the site. Access can be achieved off Eastwood Road and Southview Close addressing the existing access constraint. Housing is therefore achievable.
The site complies with a) to d) above and necessary infrastructure improvements can be secured by Section 106 Obligations as part of a specific application. The inclusion of this site as a housing allocation will help to ensure that the Council has a flexible and deliverable supply of achievable sites to meet its housing supply requirements.
We object to the current residential allocations as we are not convinced that these are the most suitable sites for housing in accordance with Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3) Housig 2006. There are other sites which are equally if not more appropriate for residential development and these should be considered in place of some of the current options or as well as. This will enable a flexible approach to the delivery of housing and ensure that the Council meets its housing requirements.
Within the options for West Rochford, the Council acknowledges for Options WR2, WR3 and WR4 that the sites do not 'afford a good opportunity for the creation of a strong defensible green belt boundary'.
Appendix 1 refers to Land to the Rear of Southview Close (Call for Sites Allocations 43) and although this highlights that the site is well related to Rayleigh town centre and services it states that the site would not contribute towards a balanced approach to housing and there is a need to avoid the coalescence of Rayleigh with Eastwood. However, we disagree with this conclusion and would like to reiterate that land to the rear of South View Close is in a sustainable location, within walking distance of local schools, public transport and close to Rayleigh Town Centre, employment locations and other local amenities. The site does not clearly contribute to the five functions of including land within the Green Belt as set out in Planning Policy Guidance 2 Green Belts January 1995. The release of this site for housing will not lead to the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas. There is a stream running across the site which creates a natural barrier and could become the defensible boundary to the Green Belt, unlike the sites referred to above. The release of this site would therefore not undermine the Council's approach of protecting the town's identity and preventing coalescence with Eastwood. This land can contribute to housing units by 2015.
The Allocations Development Plan Document should therefore include South/South East Rayleigh as a general location with land to the rear of Southview Close allocated for housing.