Chelmsford City Council (CCC) welcomes the opportunity to comment on Rochford District Council's Issues and Option Document 2017 to help influence the emerging document and monitor the key cross-boundary and strategic issues that affect CCC's administrative area.

The draft strategic objectives that Rochford District Council consider will help deliver its new Local Plan are set out at paragraph 5.11 of the Issues and Options Document. Strategic Objective 1 addresses housing delivery which is to be achieved by prioritising the use of previously developed land and working with neighbours in the South Essex. It is unclear if Rochford District Council intend to meet its local housing need in full or will be looking to other local authorities to meet some of its housing need.

Paragraph 47 of the NPPF requires local planning authorities to meet their full, objectively assessed needs for market and affordable housing in the housing market area, as far as is consistent with the policies set out in the Framework. Rochford District Council should be satisfied that it can justify the shortfall in housing numbers and should seek to make provisions to meet deficiencies within their Local Plan over the plan period. Any deficiencies and mechanisms to address unmet need should accord with the Essex Planning Officers' Association Guidance 'Mechanism for the Consideration of Unmet Housing Need' which has been agreed by authorities across Essex.

Equally, Rochford District Council should seek to meet employment needs of the district in full over the next 20 years.