Thurrock Council notes the range of technical studies that have been prepared and those that are proposed to be updated as part of the evidence base for the New Rochford Local Plan. Thurrock Council supports the proposals to provide updated evidence in particular the Economic Development and Needs Assessment (EDNA) and Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA), the latter being produced in collaboration with the other local authorities in the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA).

Furthermore the range of evidence to be commissioned in the future to provide additional evidence for the Rochford New Local plan is also considered appropriate.

Thurrock Council also supports the continued collaboration and involvement of Rochford Council in the preparation of other technical work being prepared or proposed to be commissioned by the ASELA authorities to support local plans and the South Essex Strategic Framework. This additional evidence includes updates to retail evidence and role of town centres together with the possibility of commissioning a South Essex Strategic Green Belt Review. Rochford Council should consider how this future evidence work will inform the preparation of its New Local Plan.