OBJECTION TO POLICY GB2

1. Paragraph 19 of PPS7 (Sustainable Development in Rural Areas) states: -
"The Government is also supportive of the replacement of suitably located, existing
buildings of permanent design and construction in the countryside for economic development purposes. The replacement of buildings should be favoured where this would result in a more acceptable and sustainable development than might be achieved through conversion, for example, where the replacement building would bring about an environmental improvement in terms of the impact of the development on its
surroundings and the landscape. Local planning authorities should set out in their LDDs the criteria they will apply to the replacement of countryside buildings. These should take
account of the considerations set out in paragraph 17 that apply to the conversion and
reuse for economic purposes of existing buildings in the countryside. Authorities should
also set out the circumstances where replacement would not be acceptable and clarify the permissible scale of replacement buildings."

2. There appears to be no consideration in policy GB2 of the possibility of the
replacement of countryside buildings for economic development purposes in accordance
with the requirements of PPS7. Even if a detailed policy on this matter is planned for a
later local development document, the Core Strategy should at least include an indication
that there is scope for the replacement of countryside buildings for economic
development purposes, subject to criteria that will be elaborated in a later LDD.

3. Lubards Lodge Farm contains an existing vibrant employment area of 3.5 hectares on
a rectangular site on the western side of Hullbridge Road, about 450m north of its
junction with Rawreth Lane. This site presently consists of a large number of former farm
buildings of various shapes and sizes and has gradually become established over the
years as an important reservoir of premises for local start up businesses. In other
representations to this Core Strategy document we argue for the designation of this large
area of "previously developed land" as an employment area, to enable the expansion and
redevelopment of the existing buildings within the confines of the site. The inclusion of a
policy along the lines suggested above, in accordance with paragraph 19 of PPS7, would
at least provide scope for limited redevelopment of existing buildings where this would
result in a more acceptable and sustainable development than might be achieved through
conversion.