Object

Representation ID: 744

Received: 03/07/2007

Respondent: Pond Chase Nurseries Ltd

Agent: Boyer Planning Ltd

4.6.19 The text at paragraph 4.6.19 in identifying various constraints around Hockley/Hawkwell should be amended.

Hockley/Hawkwell is served by the existing road network and public transport in the form of bus and rail and therefore as such is accessible by alternative means of transport other than the private car.

Our client's site at Pond Chase Nursery lies within walking distance of bus routes and within 1.5km. of the railway station. It is also not effected by any constraints of the sort set out in the Core Strategy such as maintaining gaps between settlements or undermining key environmental designations.

These representations are accompanied by 3 plans as follows:

i) Site Accessibility Plan
ii) Hockley Constraints
iii) Planning Context Plan.

The Accessibility Plan shows the location of the site in relation to the existing built-up area and the facilities contained within it. The attached Constraints Plan shows the range of constraints that affect the Hawkwell urban area and it is noted that the comparative lack of constraints affecting the Pond Chase Nursery site.

The final plan showing the planning context indicates that housing developemnt would be proposed on the frontage part of the site where existing buildings are provided for mushroom production and also for light industrial and storage purposes with the open land to the rear being provided for public open space and also an area for nature conservation.

The text should be amended to identify that whilst Hawkwell may be a short distance to the Cherry Orchard Way link road it is also significantly constrained by environmental designations including Special Landscape Area designations to the south and north, various nature conservation and public open space designations to the north and the need to maintain a gap with Rochford to the east. Having regard to such constraints the paragraph should provide clearer guidance as to potential locations for new development which must include opportunities for development of previously developed land within the urban area and the potential for release of land on the northern fringes of Hockley where no such constraints exist and where there are opportunities for environmental enhancement through the re-development of existing sites that comprise buildings.

The constraints relating to Rayleigh and Rochford contained within the text are noted.