Persimmon Homes would agree that separate visions for each settlement would help guide decision making and notes, for example, the wide character as detailed within the settlement profiles from page 71 onwards of the Spatial Options paper. This confirms that Rochford ranges from Tier 1 Settlements such as Rayleigh with 34,000 residents, to isolated hamlets such as Paglesham and Stonebridge of only 250 residents. Clearly, the type and level of development is going to differ and a set of visions for each settlement would provide clarity to developers on the type, and level, of development that would be appropriate. Such vision statements could usefully be informed by the following:

• Historic Environment Characterisation Studies;
• Heritage Impact Assessments;
• Settlement Capacity Studies;
• Transport Studies and Strategies;
• Green Belt Studies;
• Strategic Land Availability Assessment;
• Flood Risk Assessments;
• Design and Development Briefs; and
• Masterplanning Studies.