Object
Rochford District Core Strategy Regulation 26 Draft
Representation ID: 348
Received: 02/07/2007
Respondent: H R Philpot & Sons (Barleylands) Ltd
Agent: Bidwells
The Preferred Option as set out is a statement of intent. It does not address the real issues of how the District will accommodate housing growth, other than setting out a percentage within certain locations. There is no robust evidence base provided to justify the percentages or the housing numbers set out. Both should be based on an Urban Capacity Study and Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment. There is little explanation as to why other options have been discounted particularly given the lack of sustainability appraisal for this document and there is no indication of how these percentages are to be taken forward. The Core Strategy should not leave the question of the general allocation of the level of housing to settlements open on the grounds that this can only be done once housing sites have been identified in a Site Allocation DPD. Strategic Core Strategy Documents should be sufficiently detailed to enable proper identification of the options or even progression of planning applications for strategic sites to be progressed in advance of the Site Specific Allocations Document. Neither the Key Diagram nor the text or policies achieve this objective. The Council have embarked on an exercise of identifying sites but this information has not been used to properly inform options for delivering growth for the Core Strategy. The Strategy should be driving the allocation of sites not the other way around. In this way, where it is clear that there are certain sites, key to the delivery of the overall Strategy, then it is entirely appropriate for such sites to be mentioned in the Core Strategy.Land West of HullbridgeIn relation to Para. 4.6.8 and Hullbridge in particular consideration should be given to an extension of the western end of the settlement identified as Site 15 in the sites put forward for consideration in the preparation of the Allocations Development Plan Document. 2.8 hectares of developable land can be made available to provide an appropriate extension to Hullbridge. The site is located with good links to a settlement that needs reinforcing with local facilities. There is an opportunity, as part of its release from the Green Belt to assist with local housing need and much needed rural affordable homes within the District of Rochford. The proposed settlement expansion could provide elements of:- Residential land
Strategic open space
Potential site for local facilities Site for rural affordable homes
The Preferred Option as set out is a statement of intent. It does not address the real issues of how the District will accommodate housing growth, other than setting out a percentage within certain locations. There is no robust evidence base provided to justify the percentages or the housing numbers set out. Both should be based on an Urban Capacity Study and Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment. There is little explanation as to why other options have been discounted particularly given the lack of sustainability appraisal for this document and there is no indication of how these percentages are to be taken forward. The Core Strategy should not leave the question of the general allocation of the level of housing to settlements open on the grounds that this can only be done once housing sites have been identified in a Site Allocation DPD. Strategic Core Strategy Documents should be sufficiently detailed to enable proper identification of the options or even progression of planning applications for strategic sites to be progressed in advance of the Site Specific Allocations Document. Neither the Key Diagram nor the text or policies achieve this objective. The Council have embarked on an exercise of identifying sites but this information has not been used to properly inform options for delivering growth for the Core Strategy. The Strategy should be driving the allocation of sites not the other way around. In this way, where it is clear that there are certain sites, key to the delivery of the overall Strategy, then it is entirely appropriate for such sites to be mentioned in the Core Strategy.Land West of HullbridgeIn relation to Para. 4.6.8 and Hullbridge in particular consideration should be given to an extension of the western end of the settlement identified as Site 15 in the sites put forward for consideration in the preparation of the Allocations Development Plan Document. 2.8 hectares of developable land can be made available to provide an appropriate extension to Hullbridge. The site is located with good links to a settlement that needs reinforcing with local facilities. There is an opportunity, as part of its release from the Green Belt to assist with local housing need and much needed rural affordable homes within the District of Rochford. The proposed settlement expansion could provide elements of:- Residential land
Strategic open space
Potential site for local facilities Site for rural affordable homes