MM17

1. We act on behalf of the Co-operative Group ("the Co-op") and have been instructed to submit
representations and objections to the Main Modifications consultation on the Hockley Area Action Plan
("the AAP"). This follows the submission of previous representations in January 2013, a Hearing
Statement dated August 2013 and appearance at the Hearing Sessions held in September 2014. This
representation should be read in the context of our previous comments.
2. The Co-op's previous comments focused primarily on the allocation of a circa 3,000 sq m gross foodstore on the Eldon Way Site, under Policy 6 of the emerging AAP. During the Hearing Sessions and in its Hearing Statement, no evidence was provided by the Council to demonstrate that the proposed allocation of a foodstore of up to 3,000 sq m gross was justified against the evidence base, or was consistent with the NPPF. It could not therefore be considered sound. This view was supported by the Inspector in his letter to Rochford District Council dated 17th October 2013 which found that the proposed Policy 6 was unsound as there was no justification for a foodstore of 3,000 sq m gross.

3. Against this background, we set out below our comments to the Main Modifications to the AAP, and the AAP's performance against the soundness tests contained within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) at paragraph 182.