Q53. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver new transport connections, such as link roads or rapid transit? What routes and modes should these take? [walking, cycling, rail, bus, road etc.]

Cycle lanes and encouraging walking will not ease the traffic through Rayleigh and onto Hockley, Ashingdon, Rochford, Canewdon etc.
Most traffic is passing through Rayleigh. If the A127 is blocked, Rayleigh becomes blocked.
There should be plans for a bypass, through the land South of Battlesbridge, South of Hullbridge and through to Southend Airport and beyond.
This would create a relatively traffic free high street and Rayleigh, improving air quality and making the roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
Also, as a byproduct, it will create a corridor for more potential developments in the future.

There should be an alternative link to the A127, A13 and A12 for traffic from Hullbridge , Hockley, Rochford etc without if having to all funnel thru Rayleigh to link to this roads an single lane urban roads but have a relief road for these areas.

Hullbridge needs a new road out of the village, the simplest way of doing this would be to make Watery lane a proper road, wide enough for all to use.

I'd like to see an improvement and with strategy one adapting what we have gives us the most options to improve roads albeit I am unsure what this looks like and how it can be done

A bypass of current Southend roads is needed for the east of Rochford to get to out of the area.

Determining new transport options needs to follow an analysis of current transport. Specifically identify routes used for shopping ,commuting, school runs etc and the see what impact the various housing options have on these.

All of the above once the pavement is repaired and obstructions like delivery vans, scooters and cars are given correct off the road spaces

walking and cycling on the main roads is unsafe due to polution and shear volumn of traffic a complete rethink of the roads through the District is required as they are not up to current volumns and no further building should be done until adequate roads exist a road bypassing hockley and rayleigh is required and national government need to be made aware and the Council should refuse to undertake further development until this is done.

The proposed new link road from A130 to the road between Carpenters Arms and Fairglen is a BIG BIG mistake. That road is already at a standstill the whole length in rush hour - to put lights half way down and expect to feed traffic from the A130 into the north of Fairglen will make this impassable as an exit out of Rayleigh (including the vast new estates proposed in Rawreth, West of Wolsey) and the additional HGV’s from Michelins Farm.

Keep building houses and there will be no options to put the infrastructure in. The area will suffocate and people will move away and the area will die.

If more housing is built in the area of Rochford and the surrounding areas, the road infrastructure would have to be over hauled completely.
There is constant traffic jams now on the roads leading to Southend and Rayleigh. Cycle paths should be made , so that vehicles are not held up by them.

Avoid improved road connectivity unless it encourages electric cars otherwise it will only worsen climate related issues. Rail connectivity would be nice if it didn't require travelling all the way to Shenfield to then go up to Chelmsford etc i.e. new branch line to go north. However I recognise that's probably not going to happen due to cost!

With reference to, our site at Western Road, Rayleigh (ref. CFS087), the site is within a very sustainable location being walking distance to local amenities including schools (0.6 miles) and a train station (1.1 miles). A main bus route also runs in very close proximity to the site. The wider main road network is also easily accessible.

The development will provide betterment to existing footpaths, creating enhanced foot and cycle links to services and employment areas for new and existing residents. The existing PROW could be upgraded into a cycle link and a formal path that can connect to an east/west foot/cycle link that runs from Western Road to Weir Farm Road. This will allow a good connection to High Road and therefore services/employment/further transport networks. As previously stated, existing footpaths running through the site are informal and could be upgraded as part of the redevelopment proposals for the site to provide permanent, sustainable connections for existing and new residents.

Access to the wider countryside can also be promoted through the development as existing footpaths can be improved and maintained.

Currently overgrown but there is access from Rectory Avenue to Grennsward Surgery.
Further there used to be access from Ashingdon Heights to White Hart lane - currently both blocked.
all of the routes such as these need to be surveyed, marked and communicated to residents.
With regard to link roads and alternative route to the Ashingdon Road needs to be considered for Baltic wharf and through traffic in order to both reduce congestion and air quality

Q1.
Are there any other technical evidence studies that you feel the Council needs to prepare to inform its new Local Plan, other than those listed in this section?
I would expect to see reference to:
• The Infrastructure Delivery and Funding Plan
• Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment
• Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan
These plans are needed to assess the long-term sustainability of any proposed sites. Without these I find it difficult to make any comments.
Evaluation of the impact of current development on Hullbridge
I cannot comment on the suitability of the sites in the plan without the Infrastructure Delivery and Funding Plan which I have been told is being undertaken at present. In my opinion it is premature to consult without these.
I would expect it to see reference to
i) the main Roads and the principal junctions and exit points to Hullbridge on Lower Road, Watery Lane and Hullbridge Road as well as the junction with Rawreth Lane.
ii) Consultation with the schools in Hullbridge, Hockley and Rayleigh to accurately asses capacity, too often there are no places in specific school.
iii) Consultation with Doctors and Pharmacies as well the local Healthcare Trust, currently the Riverside Medical Centre are not moving forward with expansion proposals due to high costs.
iv) Air Quality Management - too many parts of the District have poor CO2/CO readings
Any such Plan would need agreement with Rochford District Council, Essex County Council, and Southend Borough Council as they are all affected.
Q2.
Do you agree with our draft vision for Rochford District? Is there anything missing from the vision that you feel needs to be included? [Please state reasoning]
Mostly. Although you have not included enough information on how you might achieve housing for the hidden homeless (sofa surfers) or those on low incomes, schemes to allow the elderly in large houses to be able to downsize or how you plan to provide suitable commercial units of varying sizes, to allow businesses to up or downsize into a suitably sized premises without them needing to relocate into another area. No provision for emergency housing.
Q3.
Do you agree that we should develop a range of separate visions for each of our settlements to help guide decision-making? [Please state reasoning]
Yes, as each settlement has its own characteristics and needs.
Q4.
Do you agree with the strategic priorities and objectives we have identified? Is there anything missing from the strategic priorities or objectives that you feel needs to be included? [Please state reasoning]
No comments.
Q5.
Do you agree with the settlement hierarchy presented? If not, what changes do you think are required? [Please state reasoning]
Broadly yes. But it is important that the hierarchy is not changed through developments and cross boundary development must be carefully planned.
Q6.
Which of the identified strategy options do you consider should be taken forward in the Plan? [Please state reasoning]
Creating a new town would enable all the infrastructure to be put in place, allowing more scope for cycling routes and pedestrianised areas. This will stop the urban sprawl which is currently happening in the larger town (and proposed in option 1), creating traffic havoc and pollution. A single large urban development, possibly shared with Wickford could allow a more environmentally friendly development. A development that allows the infrastructure to be developed in advance of the housing.
Q7.
Are there any reasonable alternatives to these options that should be considered instead? [Please state reasoning]
Small development and windfall developments should be included in housing count.
Q8.
Are there any key spatial themes that you feel we have missed or that require greater emphasis? [Please state reasoning]
Yes: Cultural and Accessibility.
Q9.
Do you agree we should take a sequential approach to flood risk and coastal change in our plan, locating development away from areas at risk of flooding and coastal change wherever possible? How can we best protect current and future communities from flood risk and coastal change? [Please state reasoning]
Yes. You must ensure the district has a suitable plan to protect not only the towns and village communities, houses, and businesses but also natural areas as well. The district needs good defences to limit flooding in all areas, protecting people and wildlife. Maybe these could be incorporated in the “natural” landscape theming. New developments not only need to address their carbon footprint but also the design of the housing they build so that they limit flood damage; raised floors, bunded gardens etc. All building should be carbon neutral.
Q10.
Do you agree that the Coastal Protection Belt and Upper Roach Valley should be protected from development that would be harmful to their landscape character? Are there other areas that you feel should be protected for their special landscape character? [Please state reasoning]
Yes. All coastal areas and areas of special interest, especially where there is a risk of flooding and harm to the environment need careful consideration.
The Ancient woodlands such as Kingley Woods, Hockley Woods and Rayleigh Grove Woods and all natural parks, not just the actual woodlands but also the surrounding areas and the proposed Regional Park to the West of Hullbridge.
Q11.
Do you agree we should require development to source a percentage of their energy from low-carbon and renewable sources? Are there other opportunities in the district to supply low-carbon or renewable energy?
Yes.
New developments should be able to produce all energy requirements from zero carbon sources.
Q12.
Do you agree we should require new development to achieve energy efficiency standards higher than building regulations? What level should these be set at? [Please state reasoning].
Yes. The World is suffering a climate crisis, without higher standards we will not be able to reduce carbon sufficiently to avoid the crisis.
Q13.
How do you feel the plan can help to support the local generation of low-carbon and renewable energy? Are there locations where you feel energy generation should be supported? [Please state reasoning]
Solar and heat pumps in all new development as standard.
Incentives to encourage existing developments to install solar onto their properties as well as any commercial buildings to be fitted with solar to their roofs; there are many flat roofed buildings all over the district that could accommodate solar panels without damaging the landscape. Explore tidal energy and seek out suitable locations in order to ascertain whether it is viable. Retrofitting existing housing and commercial buildings.
Q14.
Do you consider that the plan should include a place-making charter that informs relevant policies? Should the same principles apply everywhere in the district, or should different principles apply to different areas? [Please state reasoning]
The district has some very distinct areas and a “one shoe fits all” would be detrimental to some smaller communities. The place-making charter should be bespoke, with each area being considered in its own right. The rules on building should be strict so as to enhance the areas of development and needs to consider the wider picture in respect of amenities, open spaces, retail, schools, services, pollution, character and accessibility (to name but a few). There should not be deviation of plans unless there are exceptional circumstances. Time and again, SPD2 documents are ignored and ugly extensions and dormers are built to the detriment of the area.
Q15.
Are the principles set out in the draft place-making charter the right ones? Are there other principles that should be included? [Please state reasoning]
Yes, but they must be kept to.
Q16.
a.
Do you consider that new design guides, codes or masterplans should be created alongside the new Local Plan?
Yes.
b.
If yes, do you think it is more appropriate to have a single design guide/code for the whole District, or to have design guides/codes/masterplans for individual settlements or growth areas? [Please state reasoning]
You need different design guides as this district is both unique and diverse and the “one shoe fits all" would be detrimental to its character and charm.
c.
What do you think should be included in design guides/codes/masterplans at the scale you are suggesting? [Please state reasoning].
You need to ensure that the character and heritage of the settlements are adhered to whilst allowing for some growth, in order to rejuvenate the smaller settlements if needed.
Q17.
With reference to the options listed above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best plan to meet our need for different types, sizes and tenures of housing? [Please state reasoning]
By working closely with planners and developers, as well as different charities and communities, residents and businesses. You will then get a better understanding as to what you need and what will be achievable.
Q18.
With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there areas or sites in Rochford that you feel require a specific approach to housing types, size and tenure? What is required to meet housing needs in these areas? [Please state reasoning]
The district has a large number of houses, existing and approved that have four or five bedrooms. The number of homes available with two or three bedrooms is small, which increases their price and availability. The smaller properties are the ones that need to be affordable for families. You must ensure that the “affordable“ properties are not all flats and that minimum or higher standards are met for gardens and recreational space. There are sure to be single, elderly residents that would like to downsize from their large family homes, into a smaller, more manageable one but do not wish to go into an assisted living, residential or retirement homes. They may want a one or two bedroomed property, maybe one storey, or low-rise apartment that they own freehold.
We should safeguard the number of smaller bungalows available and make sure that the existing stock is preserved and a suitable number are provided in the housing mix. You need to consider that some residents may need residential care and you should be looking at ways to cope with the rising number of elderly and provide accommodation for them also.
Consideration should be given to the provision of house for life, bungalows and other potential buildings for downsizing families .
The plan makes no reference to social housing quotas.
The district desperately needs to meet the needs of the hidden homeless. People like the adult children on low wages who have no hope of starting a life of their own away from their parents. By living in these conditions, even if the family unit is tight and loving, it will cause mental health issues, stress and anxiety. You also need accessible properties for the disabled members of our community, where they are assisted in order to fulfil a normal as possible life. All these issues, and perhaps many more, need be addressed.
Q19.
Are there any other forms of housing that you feel we should be planning for? How can we best plan to meet the need for that form of housing? [Please state reasoning]
Housing for the hidden homeless – those “sofa surfing”, or adult children living at home with parents as they are on low wages or wages that would not allow them to move out to rent or buy somewhere on their own. Adapted homes for the disabled. Smaller, freehold properties for the older generation to enable them to downsize from large family homes. Emergency housing.
Q20.
With reference to the options listed, or your own options, what do you think is the most appropriate way of meeting our permanent Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs? [Please state reasoning]
You need to find a permanent site that has a little room to expand but not exponentially. The “Traveller” life has changed over the years and you should revisit the criteria for the traveller community to meet the legal requirements. Strong controls are needed to prevent illegal building work and to ensure the site populations do not exceed capacity.
Q21.
With reference to the options listed, or your own options, what do you think is the most appropriate way of meeting our temporary Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs? [Please state reasoning]
See answer to Q20
Q22.
What do you consider would need to be included in a criteria-based policy for assessing potential locations for new Gypsy and Traveller sites? [Please state reasoning]
See answer to Q20.
Q23.
With reference to the options listed above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best ensure that we meet our employment and skills needs through the plan? [Please state reasoning]
The council should stop developing existing commercial land into housing. Too many sites have already been lost and many more are planned to go. Consider how the plan can help those businesses wanting to expand. Work with local schools and colleges, as well as businesses and the job centre, to see what sustainable employment is needed in the district. Incorporate ways to assist in schemes to train all ages get back into work or upskill. Developers should be encouraged to use local labour.
Q24.
With reference to Figure 30, do you consider the current employment site allocations to provide enough space to meet the District’s employment needs through to 2040? Should we seek to formally protect any informal employment sites for commercial uses, including those in the Green Belt? [Please state reasoning]
No. The current employment site allocations on Figure 30 do not provide enough space to meet the district’s employment needs through to 2040. There are eighty-seven thousand people in the district. There is no data on the form to suggest how many of these are in employment and how many are looking for work but the council need to reassess its future needs in order to future-proof our residents’ opportunities. The plan should only formally protect sites the that have a future and a potential to expand or continue effectively.
Q25.
With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver new employment facilities or improvements to existing employment facilities?
Option 3 could deliver new opportunities for employment as it would be a new site completely. Industrial units of various sizes, with room for expansion plus retail, hospitality and other employment could be included in the criteria for the development.
Q26.
Are there any particular types of employment site or business accommodation that you consider Rochford District is lacking, or would benefit from?
Environmental services - woodland conservation and management. Improve manufacturing base and revisit the JAAP to make the airport Business Park a technological park.
Q27.
Are there other measures we can take through the plan to lay the foundations for long-term economic growth, e.g., skills or connectivity?
Other forms of sustainable transport (Tram), gigabit broadband and Wi-Fi. Apprenticeships or training for all ages with jobs at the end of training. No new roads.
Q28.
With reference to the options listed above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best manage the Airport’s adaptations and growth through the planning system? [Please state reasoning]
The airport brings little to the economy, It could be better used as an expanded technological park or for housing.
Q29.
Do you agree that the plan should designate and protect areas of land of locally important wildlife value as a local wildlife site, having regard to the Local Wildlife Sites review? Are there any other sites that you feel are worthy of protection? [Please state reasoning]
Yes. You should conform to and improve existing policies for protecting wildlife areas. Everyone should be doing all in their power to protect wildlife sites. All wildlife is important and has been neglected, sites have been slowly lost over the years. Wildlife now enters suburban areas as their own habitats have diminished and they can no longer fend for themselves adequately from nature. Badgers and hedgehogs as well as rabbits, frogs, newts, voles and shrews are declining and are seldom seen apart from dead at the roadside. Bat numbers are declining as their habitats are lost. Designating initial sites is a step in the right direction but more must be done. It is proven that mental health issues can be relieved by nature and keeping the sites sacred is more important now than it ever was.
Keeping a biodiverse environment, with wildlife and the environment in which it relies is paramount. You mention that Doggett Pond no longer meets the standard but are there no steps to improve its status instead of dismissing it? It is obviously an important site for the wildlife in that area. To lose it would be to our detriment. You should be looking at creating new sites with every large housing development, and protecting them to improve our district and our own wellbeing. Private households should not be allowed to take over grass areas and verges or worse, concreting the verges over for parking and cost savings.
These areas, although small are still areas for wildlife. Bees and butterflies are also in decline, as are the bugs which feed our birds. The plan should create new wildlife meadows to encourage the pollinators in order to future proof our own existence. You should be exploring smaller sites that could be enhanced, managed and protected to give future generations a legacy to be proud of.
Q30.
Do you agree that the plan should designate and protect areas of land of locally important geological value as a local geological site, having regard to the Local Wildlife Sites review? Are there any other sites that you feel are worthy of protection? [Please state reasoning]
Yes. The plan must protect them for future generations and teach our children their history and importance so that they can continue to keep them safe.
Q31.
Do you consider net gains for biodiversity are best delivered on-site or off-site? Are there specific locations or projects where net gain projects could be delivered?
On site. You can then assess in real time and sort out any issues you would not have known about off site.
Q32.
With reference to the options above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best deliver a quality green and blue infrastructure network through the plan? [Please state reasoning]
You need to retain what we already have by ensuring the necessary links are in place to join as many as possible, and ensuring that public rights of way are not blocked by land owners and are kept free from debris. You also need to assess some paths to make them accessible to the disabled so that all is inclusive. There are some green areas that do not have public facilities and it would be advantageous to look into offering this in the larger spaces. For example, a small toilet block and hand washing facilities in the car park. Obtaining funding from new developments that can enhance existing areas as well as providing new spaces and facilities. The sites should be well-maintained.
Q33.
Do you agree that the central woodlands arc and island wetlands, shown on Figure 32 are the most appropriate areas for new regional parklands? Are there any other areas that should be considered or preferred? [Please state reasoning]
They are a step in the right direction, but you need to assess periodically in order to be able to add further links to any new parkland that may be created in the future. The map is unclear as it does not show exact routes.
Q34.
With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to help deliver new strategic green and blue infrastructure? [Please state reasoning]
Enhancing existing areas and ensuring developers include green space and recreational facilities within their developments. A new, separate development would be able to deliver this within their plan layout. Ensuring there are suitable links, access and footpaths. Making sure some of these footpaths are maintained and accessible for the disabled.
Q35.
With reference to the options above, or your own options, how can we address the need for sufficient and accessible community infrastructure through the plan? [Please state reasoning]
Assess the shortfall of facilities and networks before plans are approved so that adequate planning and funding can be secured before any building takes place.
Q36.
With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver new or improved community infrastructure? [Please state reasoning]
A new town would have this infrastructure built into its plans. Funding for improvements must otherwise come from developers if an area is already overpopulated.
Q37.
Are there areas in the District that you feel have particularly severe capacity or access issues relating to community infrastructure, including schools, healthcare facilities or community facilities? How can we best address these? [Please state reasoning]
Most of the District feels overcrowded; the road network is no longer fit for purpose, some schools are near to capacity, it is difficult to obtain a GP or dental appointment. There is little to no disabled play areas or play equipment. There are often issues with waste collections, drain and road cleaning and verge trimming. The District Council does not have the staff to deal with all these issues. The council should either build another waste recycling site, or develop a better waste collection program which allows extra waste to be collected next to the bin. The current recycling site at Castle Road is no longer capable of expanding to meet the needs of an ever-growing population. The plan should also identify a site to accommodate commercial waste facilities to stop fly tipping.
Q38.
With reference to the options above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best meet our open space and sport facility needs through the plan? [Please state reasoning]
Improve what we already have. The tennis courts on Fairview Park needs improvement. Safeguard our open spaces to protect wildlife and recreation. Develop different types of sporting facilities. We need to offer free recreation.
Q39.
Are the potential locations for 3G pitch investment the right ones? Are there other locations that we should be considering? [Please state reasoning]
All-weather facilities should be considered.
Q40.
Are the listed potential hub sites and key centres the right ones? Are there other locations that we should be considering? [Please state reasoning]
They look suitable. They will probably need funding.
Q41.
With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to help deliver improvements to open space or sport facility accessibility or provision?
A new development would be able to deliver this in their plans or fund improvements for existing facilities in line with national strategy and requirements.
Q42.
Are there particular open spaces that we should be protecting or improving? [Please note, you will have an opportunity to make specific comments on open spaces and local green spaces in the settlement profiles set out later in this report]
The sites will be specific in each parish. You must protect all of these recreational spaces and improve them, if necessary. Once lost to development, they can never come back. There are too few areas of accessible open space.
Q43.
With reference to the options listed in this section, or your own options, how do you feel we can best address heritage issues through the plan? [Please state reasoning]
You should reassess the planning policies regarding alterations made to the buildings on the heritage list, especially those in conservation areas. There have been a few occasions where buildings of “interest” (or other) have been altered, and that places in conservation areas have been allowed canopies, shutters and internal illumination of signage without challenge. Any building work should be sympathetic to the area and you should require corrections to unauthorised changes, even if they have been in place for some time. Shop fronts are huge areas of uninteresting glass with garish colours. No objections are raised to signage and advertising that is out of character with a conservation area in a heritage town. Ensure statutory bodies are consulted and heeded.
You should take effective actions to manage the footways, ‘A’ boards and barriers are obstructions to those with impaired sight or mobility.
Q44.
Are there areas of the District we should be considering for conservation area status beyond those listed in this section? [Please state reasoning]
You should not take areas of precious woodland to make way for housing.
Q45.
Are there any buildings, spaces or structures that should be protected for their historic, cultural or architectural significance? Should these be considered for inclusion on the Local List of non-designated assets? [Please state reasoning]
Yes there are many sites of historic importance which should be included.
Q46.
With reference to the options listed above, or your own options, how do you think we can best plan for vibrant town centres in Rochford, Rayleigh and Hockley? How can we also ensure our village and neighbourhood centres remain vibrant? [Please state reasoning]
You can only have a vibrant town centre if there are shops to go to. If these units are subsequently changed to residential then our town centres will be fractured and uninviting. The new Use Class E will mean it will be even more important for the council to protect our retail outlets. You need to work actively with premises owners in order to assist in the re-letting of any empty shops. Maybe offer a reduced rent to new businesses as a start-up scheme. You could contain this as a “local” business only – allowing the entrepreneurs in the Rochford District a chance to showcase their businesses. You also need to be able to negotiate with the owners of empty shops how they can best strive to fill these premises and if not, then have some visual displays in the windows, perhaps photos of the old towns or useful information, to make them more attractive. Explore business rates levies.
Any plan should be reviewed frequently; at least every 4 years
It is a well-documented fact that independent businesses have done better than large chains during Covid as they are able to diversify at short notice. RDC need to incentivise new small or micro businesses into our town centre, either through grant support or another mechanism. Occupied premises create employment, increase footfall and reduce vandalism. Landlords should be engaged with to ensure quick turn-arounds, or for more flexible lease agreements where for example a new business can take on a shorter lease to test the market.
Good public transport links are crucial for our villages, neighbourhoods and town centres.
Q47.
Do you agree with the local centre hierarchy set out in Figure 36? If not, what changes would you make? [Please state reasoning]
Yes.
Q48.
With reference to Figures 38-40, do you agree with existing town centre boundaries and extent of primary and secondary shopping frontages in Rayleigh, Rochford and Hockley? If not, what changes would you make? [Please state reasoning]
Yes.
Q49.
Should we continue to restrict appropriate uses within town centres, including primary and secondary shopping frontages within those centres? If yes, what uses should be restricted? [Please state reasoning]
Yes. A mix of retailers is essential as a lack of variety will eventually kill off the high streets. We need to have a balance of outlets that keep the area viable as you would lose the vibrancy you are hoping to achieve.
Q50.
With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver improved retail and leisure services in the District? [Please state reasoning]
Unfortunately, there has been a tendency to switch from commercial outlets to residential, where smaller retail areas have been sold off and housing development has been allowed. In a new development there would be scope to add a small, medium or large retail precinct, depending on the development size.
Retail parks, leisure areas and outlets are proving in many cases, the preferred option for consumers, normally as a result of having everything in one place, free on-site parking and maximum choice. We feel that some of the sites, whilst not suitable for large housing developments, may be suitable for something of this type. It would create much needed employment, opportunity and tourism for the area. Retail parks, leisure areas and outlets are proving in many cases the preferred option for consumers, normally as a result of having everything in one place, free on-site parking and maximum choice. I feel that some of the sites out forward in Rayleigh, whilst not suitable for large housing developments, may be suitable for something of this type. It would create much needed employment, opportunity and tourism for the area.
Q51.
With reference to the options above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best address our transport and connectivity needs through the plan? [Please state reasoning]
The council needs to follow the rule “No development before infrastructure”. Houses are being built without adequate road, pedestrian and cycle networks in place. New developments should be planned with cycle paths and walkways that link up with existing paths. The existing paths need updating and attention.
Q52.
Are there areas where improvements to transport connections are needed? What could be done to help improve connectivity in these areas?
More work needs to be done on the A127 and The Carpenters Arms roundabout. The feeder lanes proposed some years ago to link the Fairglen interchange with The Rayleigh Weir in both directions is now essential as this is a bottleneck. Hockley needs another access. Connecting the cycle ways into a proper cycle network as part of the plan. A tram system. No new roads should be built.
Q53.
With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver new transport connections, such as link roads or rapid transit? What routes and modes should these take? [Walking, cycling, rail, bus, road etc.]
Better links to the Chelmsford perhaps through a tram system, new roads must not be built. Designated cycling paths that are separated from existing roads and pavements, but adjacent to our road networks would help improve traffic flow. Ensure the cycle network links with public transport as part of a complete review of sustainable transport.
Q54.
Do you feel that the plan should identify rural exception sites? If so, where should these be located and what forms of housing or employment do you feel need to be provided? [Please note you may wish to comment on the use of specific areas of land in the next section]
This may be a suitable option for a retirement village that could be restricted to single storey dwellings only, and could include community facilities such as convenient store, community centre and so on.
Q55.
Are there any other ways that you feel the plan should be planning for the needs of rural communities? [Please stare reasoning]
Better public transport and sustainable transport links.
Q56.
a.
Do you agree with our vision for Rayleigh? Is there anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]
No Comment
b.
With reference to Figure 44 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the promoted sites should be made available for any of the following uses? How could that improve the completeness of Rayleigh?
No Comment
c.
Are there areas in Rayleigh that development should generally be presumed appropriate? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
No. Large scale residential development in Rayleigh should be resisted in the new Local Plan. So called windfall development should be incorporated in the overall development targets thereby reducing large scale development.
d.
Are there areas that require protecting from development? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
Conservation areas and green belt and sites subject to the exclusion criteria on the call for sites should be protected. Proposed sites within Rayleigh and on the Western side should not be considered for development. Only an infrastructure plan would provide evidence that the chosen sites are sustainable in the long term, and greenbelt and environmental policies should be adhered to in relation to open spaces on the edge or within the town.
e.
Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 44 hold local significance? Are there any other open spaces that hold particular local significance?
All green spaces, no matter how small, hold some significance, especially to those who use them for recreation. They are of particular community value and should not be developed. They must be seen as the vital green area not the next place along the line to be built on. It is reasonable for RDC to encourage the development of a garden village away from existing communities to accommodate the Governments home building targets.
Q57.
a.
Do you agree with our vision for Rochford and Ashingdon? Is there anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]
No Comment
b.
With reference to Figure 45 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the promoted sites should be made available for any of the following uses? How could that improve the completeness of Rochford and Ashingdon?
c.
Are there areas in Rochford and Ashingdon that development should generally be presumed appropriate? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
d.
Are there areas that require protecting from development? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
Hockley Woods
Rayleigh Town Council. Spatial Plan Response 17 V 2.0 Published 13th September 2021
Q60.
a.
Do you agree with our vision for Hullbridge? Is there anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]
No. This has been written by someone with no awareness of Hullbridge. I support the Parish Council Vision.
b.
With reference to Figure 48 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the promoted sites should be made available for any of the following uses? How could that improve the completeness of Hullbridge?
The biggest issue with further development in Hullbridge is the distinct lack of infrastructure – whether that be roads, schools, transport and other general services – and so, without even mentioning the fact that many sites lay within the projected 2040 flood plains, the suggestion that further development can take place on any considerable scale is untenable. Any consideration of commercial or community infrastructure, such as youth services, care facilities, or local businesses would equally need to be subject to the same discussion and scrutiny.
Housing [market, affordable, specialist, traveller, other]
c.
Are there areas in Hullbridge that development should generally be presumed appropriate? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
All of the areas lie within the green belt, and many will be within the projected 2040 flood plains, and so general appropriateness is not met with any; numerous promoted sites are outside walking distance of the majority of services and as such would increase residents using vehicles and increase reliance on our already stretched local infrastructure.
d.
Are there areas that require protecting from development? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
Significant portions of Hullbridge remain vital for local wildlife, its habitats, and the natural environment. As such, any and all developments along the River Crouch, the surrounding areas of Kendal Park and those that lie north of Lower Road should be protected from development.
e.
Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 48 hold local significance? Are there any other open spaces that hold particular local significance? [Please state reasoning]
All green spaces, no matter how small, hold some significance, especially to those who use them for recreation. They are of particular community value and should not be developed. They must be seen as the vital green area not the next place along the line to be built on. It is reasonable for RDC to encourage the development of a garden village away from existing communities to accommodate the Governments home building targets.

On behalf of Thorpe Estate Limited (my client), please find our comments on the Rochford Local Plan Spatial
Options Consultation (SOC). My client is the owner of some 90 hectares of land to the north of Bournes
Green Chase and to the east of Wakering Road. It lies to the south west of Great Wakering. It is identified
on the plan attached.
The majority of the site falls within the administrative boundary of Southend on Sea Council (SoS) apart from
a small part of the site in the north east corner which falls within the administrative boundary of Rochford
District Council.
My client is in the process of producing an illustrative masterplan for their site, which will be supported
technical analysis on key topic areas, including transport, flood risk and ecology. This will be provided to the
Council in due course.
This masterplan for the site will be produced in conjunction with a wider masterplan and promotion of
neighbouring parcels of land by Cogent Land LLP. A collaborative approach is being taken with Cogent, which
includes co-ordination in respect of transport and other critical infrastructure.
These representations are made in the context of not having had the opportunity to engage with officers at
the Council and we would welcome a meeting at the earliest opportunity.
My client is the owner of the land, which should assure the Council that it is a site which is deliverable and
that there are no legal or ownership hurdles to overcome.
The legislative requirements for the production of Local Plans are set out in Part 2, Local Development, of
the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and in national guidance within the National Planning Policy
Framework 2021 (NPPF).
Paragraph 11 of the NPPF requires that ‘plans should promote a sustainable pattern of development that
seeks to meet the development needs of their area; align growth and infrastructure…..’.
It also requires that ‘strategic policies should, as a minimum, provide for objectively assessed needs for
housing and other uses, as well as any needs that cannot be met within neighbouring areas’.
Chapter 3 of the NPPF then goes onto set out the detailed requirements for plan making, including the
requirement set out in paragraph 24, that each authority is under a ‘duty to cooperate’ with each other on
strategic matters that cross administrative boundaries.
The objective of the plan making process is to be able to put forward a plan that is ‘sound’ and meeting the
requirements set out in paragraph 35 which are:
1. Positively prepared – to meet the area’s objectively assessed needs; and is informed by agreements
with other authorities, so that unmet need from neighbouring areas is accommodated;
2. Justified – an appropriate strategy, taking into account the reasonable alternatives, and based on
proportionate evidence;
3. Effective – deliverable over the plan period, and based on effective joint working on cross-boundary
strategic matters that have been dealt with rather than deferred, as evidenced by the statement of
common ground; and
4. Consistent with national policy – enabling the delivery of sustainable development in accordance
with the policies in this Framework and other statements of national planning policy, where relevant.
Whilst we note that the plan is at a very early stage, we do not consider that the plan is heading in a direction
where it is likely to be considered to accord with the four requirements of soundness and therefore is not
likely to be found ‘sound’.
Our overarching concern is that the Council does not appear to be discharging its responsibilities under the
duty to co-operate in respect of strategic/ cross boundary matters and specifically in relation to my clients’
interests, with SoS Council in respect of housing and infrastructure.
At this stage we would note the number of plans that have been rejected by Inspectors at submission/
examination stage on this very issue, including Sevenoaks District Council, St Albans City and District Council
and Wealden District Council.
We would urge the Council to review its approach to ensure that the Local Plan that gets put forward for
examination accords with the requirements of paragraph 35 of the NPPF.
Our comments below focus on the high-level strategic issues, although, my client will wish to comment on
policies not addressed below at later stages in the plan making process.
The National Picture
The Council are bringing forward their Local Plan at a time of significant challenges facing the country,
particularly because of the Covid-19 pandemic which has exacerbated historic issues of under-delivery of
housing over the past few decades.
This lack of supply is causing substantial issues in the housing market, particularly in relation to affordability
and suitability. The government has estimated that housing need in England is 345,000 homes per year.
The government has therefore set its ambition to achieve 300,000 homes per year.
Whilst the supply of housing has been increasing year on year, only 244,000 homes were delivered in 2019-
20, according to a Government research briefing, ‘Tackling the under-supply of housing in England’.
Housing Need in the Region
At a regional level, there are six South Essex authorities, which are listed below, along with their performance
against the Governments Housing Delivery Test, which measures delivery against housing requirement over
the previous three monitoring years:
1. Basildon – 45%;
2. Brentwood – 69%;
3. Castle Point – 48%;
4. Rochford – 95%;
5. Southend – 36%; and
6. Thurrock – 59%.
Not one of the six authorities have met their target and these delivery rates are amongst the lowest in the
Country and, on average, are delivering only slightly more than half (59%) of the regions housing need.
Clearly this is an issue that needs addressing urgently to avoid disastrous social and economic consequences
for the region.
We note from the SOC that Rochford is likely to have sufficient available land to accommodate its OAN which,
for now, we take at face value, albeit that we are aware of a recent refusal of planning permission on an
allocated site. It may be the case that my client decides to challenge the Council’s supply against the tests
set out in Annex 2 of the NPPF.
It is very clear from the draft SoS Local Plan, that they do not have a supply of homes that gets anywhere
close to meeting their OAN without the release of Green Belt land within their own administrative boundary,
see further commentary below. For SoS’s OAN to be met in full, neighbouring authorities, would need to
accommodate the shortfall estimated to be in the region of 3,550 to 4,300. However, given the historic
undersupply within the neighbouring authorities, who have their own challenges, it is difficult to see how
this could realistically be accommodated.
Clearly radical steps are required to address this issue.
Strategic Plan Making
It is not clear what the latest position is with the South Essex Plan. It is disappointing that this doesn’t appear
to be moving forward to allow strategic policies and growth requirements across the six neighbouring
authorities to inform and lead Local Plan production.
We are also disappointed that the Joint Part 1 Local Plan between Rochford and SoS appears to have now
been abandoned. We do not believe that an update to the November 2019 Statement of Common Ground
(SoCG) with SoS has been prepared setting out what the approach is in relation to cross boundary strategic
matters and this clearly should have been agreed before publication of the SOC.
We would particularly note the statements made at 4.3 and 4.5 of the November 2019 SoCG, which stated:
Providing Sufficient Homes – housing need is high across the area and a large amount of land is being
promoted for development either side of the Rochford/Southend administrative boundary. There is a need to
ensure that preparation of a spatial strategy, site assessment and selection is consistent across both authority
areas;
Transport Infrastructure and connectivity - Developing appropriate integrated and sustainable transport
networks to support the efficient movement of people and goods, including strategic transport corridors
(including A127, A13 and A130) recognising the requirements of both Essex and Southend local transport
plans, including modal shift, sustainable travel, new technology, rail franchisee investment plans, footpath
and cycle networks, and any access mitigation to enable strategic scale development across administrative
boundaries, and future proofed internet access to all new development;
We consider these to be two fundamental parts of the plan making process which require cross boundary
co-operation and yet seem to have been abandoned.
In the absence of this plan moving forward to take an overarching view of growth requirements for the
region, we would strongly contend that the Council should re-engage with SoS to update the SoCG as
required in paragraph 27 of the NPPF. These statements will need to demonstrate how strategic policy
making is being addressed and what steps are being taken to accommodate the significant un-met housing
need, because it is not at all clear how this requirement is satisfied in the draft version of the plan.
These statements should be updated and made publicly available for review at each stage of the plan making
process.
Release of Green Belt Land
Paragraph 140 of the NPPF sets out the tests for the release of Green Belt land and confirms that it should
only be altered where ‘exceptional circumstances are fully evidences and justified, through the preparation
or updating of plans’.
Paragraph 141 goes onto set out the steps that need to be undertaken as part of the justification for
‘exceptional circumstances’. These are:
1. makes as much use as possible of suitable brownfield sites and underutilised land;
2. optimises the density of development in line with the policies in chapter 11 of this Framework,
including whether policies promote a significant uplift in minimum density standards in town and city
centres and other locations well served by public transport; and
c) has been informed by discussions with neighbouring authorities about whether they could accommodate
some of the identified need for development, as demonstrated through the statement of common ground.
Given the scale of housing need in the region, it must be the case that there are exceptional circumstances
that would justify the release of Green Belt land.
Within the context of the above, we have set out our comments on the SOC below.
Spatial Options Map
The Spatial Options Map put forward with the SOC shows my clients land, and neighbouring sites, designated
as Regional Park, which is an interpretation of a concept set out in the South Essex Green and Blue
Infrastructure Study.
Whilst, my client would be content for some of their land to be provided as parkland as part of a
comprehensive masterplanned approach to release their site from the Green Belt for housing led
development, they would not release it solely for the purpose of it being used as parkland.
Critically, the failure to allocate their site would seriously compromise the ability for SoS to deliver homes to
be able to meet their Objectively Assessed Need.
The Spatial Options Map therefore fails all the tests set out in paragraph 35 of the NPPF in relation to the
allocation for my client’s site at parkland as it would not be deliverable.
Rochford in 2050
We agree with the thrust of the Draft Strategic Priorities and Objectives, particularly:
1. Strategic Objective 1 – provision of sufficient homes to meet local community needs in partnership
with South Essex neighbours;
2. Strategic Objective 2- provision of a mix of homes to support current and future residents;
3. Strategic Objective 9 – provision of infrastructure; and
4. Strategic Objective 10 – working with neighbouring authorities and the County Council to deliver
infrastructure.
The objectives identified above are consistent with the requirements of the NPPF, particularly in its
requirements to work strategically with neighbouring authorities to meet housing need and provide
appropriate supporting infrastructure.
However, for the reason set out below, we do not consider the SOC provides the necessary framework to
deliver on these objectives. We consider the reverse is likely to be the case and, as drafted, it would prevent
the current and future need of the area being met.
Strategy Options
It is difficult to properly understand what is proposed within this chapter. The spatial plans (Figures 18-21)
lack clarity and in the absence of a key we cannot be certain what the Council are proposing.
We would ask that at the next stage, much improved plans with a meaningful key are provided to make it
clear what is proposed and where to avoid ambiguity.

Our overarching concern with this chapter is that none of the development options set out in this chapter
take account of the development options that are being put forward within SoS’s ‘Refining the Plan Options’
version, which includes the release of my client’s land, and neighbouring parcels, from the Green Belt for a
residential led development.
Indeed, it would appear that it will only be possible for SoS to meet its OAN through the development of my
client’s land along with neighbouring parcels promoted by Cogent Land LLP and a neighbouring authority
(potentially Rochford) accommodating any shortfall. However, there may be pressure from the other three
South Essex Council’s for housing shortfalls to be accommodated beyond their administrative boundaries.
In order for SoS OAN to be fully addressed, section 2.3i – Requirement for New Homes of the SoS draft Local
Plan identifies that between 3,550 to 4,300 new homes would need to be accommodated either in Rochford
or another neighbouring authority.
At the very least the SOC should include this within its options, including taking account of provision of
strategic infrastructure, particularly roads.
Strategy Option C of the SoS draft Local Plan shows the development of my client’s land, with neighbouring
sites and associated infrastructure.
Strategy Option D shows this growth extending into Rochford, which would allow SoS’s housing OAN to be
met in full.
At the very least, the Council ought to be fully engaging with SoS about its housing need and under its duty
to co-operate required by paragraph 35 a) of the NPPF and testing these options at consultation stage as
part of its SOC. Not to do so is a serious failure of proper planning in this region.
The options currently being promoted within the SOC would likely prevent SoS being able to deliver Options
C or D within its draft Local Plan and therefore prevent it from getting anywhere close to meeting its OAN.
Spatial Themes
My client is generally supportive of the thrust of this chapter and the principles to guide development coming
forward. In particular, the requirements for new development set out in ‘A Place-Making Charter for
Rochford’. We believe the 13 (or 14) points identified will enable the provision of good quality development
consistent with the NPPF.
We don’t have specific comments to make in respect of the questions raised, other than in respect of 16a to
16c. Whilst we feel that design codes will be helpful, these should be kept high level and not specific, unless
in relation to areas of very strong character or of heritage or landscape value. More specific design codes
could be readily formulated at outline permission stage.
Overly prescriptive codes at this stage in areas that are not constrained potentially stifle innovative design.
Housing for All
In relation to questions 17 to 19 It is important that the Council’s policies relating to housing units within
schemes are not overly prescriptive and take a flexible approach. We would expect a definitive policy is
likely to result in most developments being unable to meet that policy for a variety of reasons, such as site
constraints, viability, location, access to services/ public transport etc.
It is our experience that the unit mix that comes forward on each site, should be tailored to the individual
circumstances of that site, having regard to identified need.
We would therefore agree that a combination of Options 2 and 4 would be the most appropriate.
We agree that all homes should meet, or exceed, Nationally Described Space Standards, unless exceptional
circumstances prevent that from being possible, such as conversions or co-living schemes.
We agree that all homes should meet M4(2) of the Building Regulations, again, unless exceptional
circumstances prevent that from being possible.
Finally, we also agree that a ‘suitable’ proportion of new homes should be built to M4(3) of the Building
Regulations. However, we would strongly suggest that evidence ought to be produced to identify and justify
any prescriptive requirement set out in policy to ensure is is not overly onerous and proportionate to the
likely level of need.
Green and Blue Infrastructure
Our comments in relation to this chapter concern my clients’ landholdings which are shown in Figure 32 as
providing Regional Parkland. As the majority of this land is within the administrative area of SoS, we would
recommend that the Council’s immediately look to co-ordinate their approach. Not to do so, risks any
positive conclusions in respect of the duty to co-operate. The approach suggested within the SOC is at odds
with that shown within SoS’s draft plan, particularly in relation to the options that show my clients land being
released from the Green Belt for housing led development.
At no stage has my client put forward its land for regional parkland and, even if it is not released from the
Green Belt for development, it would remain in private ownership. This proposal is therefore not deliverable
and not consistent with paragraph 35 of the NPPF.
We would therefore strongly suggest that the Council review this chapter with the relevant landowners to
understand what is capable of being delivered.
My client would however be prepared to dedicate some of their site to parkland as part of a wider master
planned approach, but only as part of a residential led scheme.
Community Infrastructure, Questions 35 to 37
We agree with the Council’s approach, that it is critical that appropriate infrastructure if planned for to take
account of future growth. However, where we do not agree with the approach taken by the Council is in
relation to the concerning apparent lack of cross boundary discussions with neighbouring authorities about
their future growth and how infrastructure provision may need to be planned for to take account of those
requirements.
Consistent with comments made above, we would strongly urge the Council immediately engage with its
neighbouring authorities so that a cross boundary approach is taken to infrastructure provision that will
address future needs.
Infrastructure should be provided for as part of a cross boundary approach and as part of ‘walkable
neighbourhoods’ to ensure communities have facilities on their doorstep.
Transport and Connectivity
We enclose comments from Arup who are my clients transport and highways advisors in respect of this
chapter of the SOC.
The Wakerings and Barling, Questions 59a to 59e
We do not agree with the vision for The Wakerings and Barling shown in the SOC for reasons previously
explained. It would prejudice the ability for SoS to meet its housing need and the Council should be
discussing the potential release of surrounding Green Belt sites and other strategic cross boundary matters
to facilitate this.
Summary and Recommendations
Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to comment on your SOC. Whilst there are a great many aspects
of the plan that my client fully supports, for the reasons set out above, it does not meet the requirements
for plan making set out in national guidance. If it were to move forward on this basis, we do not believe it
would be capable of being found ‘sound’ in accordance with the tests set out in paragraph 35 of the NPPF.
Chiefly amongst our concerns is that the Council appear to have abandoned its engagement with SoS, and
taking a co-ordinated approach to strategic policy making to meet the need for the region, particularly in
relation to housing growth.

As identified above, the South Essex region is catastrophically failing to deliver homes to meet need and has
produced only slightly more than half of its requirement. It is difficult to see what further ‘exceptional
circumstances’ would be required to justify the release of Green Belt land and to use the plan making process
to take a co-ordinated approach to housing and infrastructure delivery.
We would strongly encourage the Council engage with its neighbours and key stakeholders, including my
client, to agree a strategic approach to accommodating housing need in the area and associated
infrastructure. This is a requirement confirmed in paragraph 25 (and elsewhere) of the NPPF. Ideally, the
Council should re-engage with SoS and produce a joint Part 1 plan to deal with cross boundary strategic
issues. Failing that, we would request that the Council provide an up-to-date Statement of Common Ground
prior to the publication of each plan making stage (in accordance with paragraph 27 of the NPPF) to clearly
set out how it is looking to work with its neighbour on cross boundary strategic issues moving forward.
We note that the Council plans to undertake a transport study that will look at, amongst other things, any
requirements for new road infrastructure. It is essential that this happens only once there is a better
understanding of cross boundary issues, particularly housing, so that this infrastructure can be planned in a
way that facilitates the growth required for the region.
We would very much welcome an opportunity to discuss my client’s land and the strategic growth in the
region with officers at a meeting in the near future. As currently formulated – this plan is seriously flawed
and requires amendment.

Dear Sir / Madam,

Please find below my comments regarding the Spatial Options Consultation for your analysis.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.

Kind Regards,
Jane

Q1. Are there any other technical evidence studies that you feel the Council needs to prepare to inform its new Local Plan, other than those listed in this section?
I could not confirm what were the studies you conducted in order to determine the young people’s needs for leisure activities other than sports. In addition, could you please make available the studies conducted.
Q2. Do you agree with our draft vision for Rochford District?
In a matter of principle, yes, I agree, but there should be a greater highlight to creating new jobs through the establishment of business incubators and support to traditional and new outdoor markets to support local farmers.
Q3. Do you agree that we should develop a range of separate visions for each of our settlements to help guide decision-making?
I don’t agree with the separate visions as it will divert the resources from a global vision for Rochford District in terms of number of houses and the respective infrastructure. As such I think it would be detrimental to have a narrower vision which can overlook the effects that the increase of population in one area will have on the remaining parts of the district.
Q4. Do you agree with the strategic priorities and objectives we have identified?
As principles, yes, but I have several objections in the way they are supposedly achieved.
Strategy Options
Q5. Do you agree with the settlement hierarchy presented?
Yes.
Q6. Which of the identified strategy options do you consider should be taken forward in the Plan?
It is my understanding that Option 4 would be preferable, but the more the building is concentrated into one area, the less green belt would have to be released. I will detail my concerns in Q17.
Q7. Are there any reasonable alternatives to these options that should be considered instead?
Please refer to Q6 and Q17.
Spatial Themes
Q8. Are there any key spatial themes that you feel we have missed or that require greater emphasis?
Yes, I was not able to verify what would be the dedicated areas for the construction / improvement of roads and other public transport infrastructure. In addition, I could not confirm where will the new waste management facilities (dumps or recycling centres) will be placed, the way the options are presented it does not allow the public to have a detailed understanding of it.
Q9. Do you agree we should take a sequential approach to flood risk and coastal change in our plan, locating development away from areas at risk of flooding and coastal change wherever possible? How can we best protect current and future communities from flood risk and coastal change?
Yes. No infrastructure or housing development should be authorised to be built in high floor risk areas or coastal change areas. As the plan is omits what would be the estimated costs in terms of the additional infrastructure that would be required for building in these areas, it doesn’t allow for a risk/benefit analysis of allowing to build in risk areas versus costs that would have to be paid in rates by the general public.
Q10. Do you agree that the Coastal Protection Belt and Upper Roach Valley should be protected from development that would be harmful to their landscape character? Are there other areas that you feel should be protected for their special landscape character?
Yes. In addition, Hockley Woods, Rayleigh Mount and Grove Woods should also be preserved from development.
Q11. Do you agree we should require development to source a percentage of their energy from low-carbon and renewable sources? Are there other opportunities in the District to supply low-carbon or renewable energy?
I agree, provided that the energy production equipment produces a relevant amount of energy.
There are plenty of opportunities to establish micro-production with community funding. I am not an expert, but please refer to the work done in Manchester in this regard http://www.gmcr.org.uk/ .
Q12. Do you agree we should require new development to achieve energy efficiency standards higher than building regulations? What level should these be set at?
I agree that energy efficiency should be an important consideration in any development, and they should be above the bear minimum, but I lack the technical knowledge to comment any further.
Q13. How do you feel the plan can help to support the local generation of low-carbon and renewable energy? Are there locations where you feel energy generation should be supported?
The Council should encourage companies, charities and individuals to come up with projects and provide administrative and financial support whenever needed to help them see it through.
Considering the availability of surface water and rain in the UK but the lack of natural elevations in the Essex region, consideration should be given to hydro-electric micro-production facilities.
In addition, solar and wind energy should also be encouraged wherever possible.
Q14. Do you consider that the plan should include a place-making charter that informs relevant policies? Should the same principles apply everywhere in the District, or should different principles apply to different areas?
Yes. The principle should be applied by areas.
Q15. Are the principles set out in the draft place-making charter the right ones? Are there other principles that should be included?
Yes, 1) there is no point regarding public transport (bike lanes and walk paths alone are nowhere near the needs of the community) and 2) there is no point regarding the minimization of the impact that new roads will have in the fabric of the places they will go through.

Q16a. Do you consider that new design guides, codes or masterplans should be created alongside the new Local Plan?
I do not understand the question, this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Q16b. If yes, do you think it is more appropriate to have a single design guide/code for the whole District, or to have design guides/codes/masterplans for individual settlements or growth areas?
I do not understand the question, this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Q16c. What do you think should be included in design guides/codes/masterplans at the scale you are suggesting?
I do not understand the question, this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Housing for All
Q17. With reference to the options listed above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best plan to meet our need for different types, sizes and tenures of housing?
I do not believe that in an area where young people have very few cheap options to buy a house, the option to primarily develop detached or semi-detached housing (80% of the planned houses) would be adequate as the house prices will still be too high, even with the affordable option.
In order to achieve the same number of houses in a significantly smaller development site, the option to increase the number of terraced houses and flats to 50% of the new builds would decrease the overall cost of providing these new houses, regardless of the affordable housing conditions.
In terms of the number of bedrooms, I agree with it, only the distribution between the house size seems too focused in large and expensive properties with a negligible discount that will not suffice to cover the current or future housing needs. A 20% discount on a £700,000 detached house for a family who can only afford a £250,000 terrace house is not an acceptable trade-off.
Q18. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there areas or sites in Rochford that you feel require a specific approach to housing types, size and tenure? What is required to meet housing needs in these areas?
In the specific case of Rayleigh where I reside, there is a significant shortage of terraced houses and flats which are by design cheaper than the other options, so in order to meet the new housing needs, development should focus on these rather than creating huge new areas of detached and semi-detached houses that will not meet current housing needs.
Q19. Are there any other forms of housing that you feel we should be planning for? How can we best plan to meet the need for that form of housing?
I could not confirm in the plan what areas are being specifically allocated to house rough sleepers and other people in homeless situations.
Q20. With reference to the options listed, or your own options, what do you think is the most appropriate way of meeting our permanent Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs?
Provided that they are willing to pay for their own accommodation and this does not implicate any increase on the council rates, I do not have any specific input in the solution.
Q21. With reference to the options listed, or your own options, what do you think is the most appropriate way of meeting our temporary Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs?
Provided that they are willing to pay for their own accommodation and this does not implicate any increase on the council rates, I do not have any specific input in the solution.
Q22. What do you consider would need to be included in a criteria-based policy for assessing potential locations for new Gypsy and Traveller sites?
Provide that they pay for the land they spend their time on and the facilities and amenities provided by the council and this does not implicate any increase on the council rates through the clear-up of their sites, I do not have any specific input in the solution, although I would think that they would be better placed outside urban areas without sacrificing any green belt area.
Employment and Jobs
Q23. With reference to the options listed above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best ensure that we meet our employment and skills needs through the plan?
I could not verify if the council is planning or willing to assist new businesses by providing any reduction in business rates for the first years. Considering the crisis that high-street local businesses are facing to establish themselves and thrive, this would be an incredible tool to employ. I am also not aware of any mention to the creation of new business hubs for creative industries, farmers markets and technology start-ups outside of the airport site. When considering the local importance of informal business sites, such as Battlesbridge Antiques Market, the creation of small business hubs would be extremely effective.
Q24. With reference to Figure 30, do you consider the current employment site allocations to provide enough space to meet the District’s employment needs through to 2040? Should we seek to formally protect any informal employment sites for commercial uses, including those in the Green Belt?
As a principle yes, but this has to have a case-by-case analysis of the impacts, namely in terms of polluting employment sites and the needs for infrastructure.
Q25. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver new employment facilities or improvements to existing employment facilities?
When establishing the new sites for development, there is an opportunity to require the property developer to establish a commercial presence proportional to the size of the site in order to create basic shopping amenities or go further if the site so justifies in order to attract more retail. For that purpose, the planning must include loading bays in order not to disturb residents and to supply the shops.
Q26. Are there any particular types of employment site or business accommodation that you consider Rochford District is lacking, or would benefit from?
Considering that the two main villages in Rochford District are traditionally market towns, it is strange that there aren’t any plans to incentivise more street market initiatives, both seasonal and farmers markets.
Q27. Are there other measures we can take through the plan to lay the foundations for long-term economic growth, e.g. skills or connectivity?
I think more public transport to formal and informal employment sites would greatly stimulate the growth or those sites.
Q28. With reference to the options listed above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best manage the Airport’s adaptations and growth through the planning system?
The current road infrastructure is already insufficient to move the traffic from the businesses and people going to and from the area adjacent to the airport. In order to increase the ability of the airport to be a major employment site, the roads must be able to allow the circulation of the increased traffic. It is already clear that the construction of an alternative to the A127 or the increase to a dual carriage capacity of an existing road is essential.
Biodiversity
Q29. Do you agree that the plan should designate and protect areas of land of locally important wildlife value as a local wildlife site, having regard to the Local Wildlife Sites review? Are there any other sites that you feel are worthy of protection?
Yes, it should include the whole of Hockley Woods.
Q30. Do you agree that the plan should designate and protect areas of land of locally important geological value as a local geological site, having regard to the Local Wildlife Sites review? Are there any other sites that you feel are worthy of protection? [Please state reasoning]
I am not aware of it, but this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Q31. Do you consider net gains for biodiversity are best delivered on-site or off-site? Are there specific locations or projects where net gain projects could be delivered?
I am not aware of it, but this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Green and Blue Infrastructure
Q32. With reference to the options above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best deliver a quality green and blue infrastructure network through the plan?
I am not aware of it, but this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Q33. With reference to the options above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best deliver a quality green and blue infrastructure network through the plan?
I am not aware of it, but this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Q34. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to help deliver new strategic green and blue infrastructure?
I am not aware of it, but this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Community Infrastructure
Q35. With reference to the options above, or your own options, how can we address the need for sufficient and accessible community infrastructure through the plan?
I could not verify where the schools are going to be built and what is going to be increased in terms of the public transport infrastructure.
Q36. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver new or improved community infrastructure?
Depends on the number of houses built and where they are built. I agree that there has to be an increase, but this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Q37. Are there areas in the District that you feel have particularly severe capacity or access issues relating to community infrastructure, including schools, healthcare facilities or community facilities? How can we best address these?
There is an absolute absence of any facilities for young teenagers that don’t involve organised sports or are not paid.
Regarding the schools and healthcare, the current infrastructure is stretched, and doctors are already struggling to keep up with their appointments as it is and this is a nationwide problem. With new houses being built, this should be addressed before the problem gets even worse, but this is a specialist subject I cannot provide further input on.
Open Spaces and Recreation
Q38. With reference to the options above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best meet our open space and sport facility needs through the plan?
I am not aware of it, but this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Q39. Are the potential locations for 3G pitch investment the right ones? Are there other locations that we should be considering?
I am not aware of it, but this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Q40. Are the listed potential hub sites and key centres the right ones? Are there other locations that we should be considering?
I am not aware of it, but this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Q41. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to help deliver improvements to open space or sport facility accessibility or provision?
I am not aware of it, but this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Q42. Are there particular open spaces that we should be protecting or improving?
I am not aware of it, but this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Heritage
Q43. With reference to the options listed in this section, or your own options, how do you feel we can best address heritage issues through the plan?
I am not aware of it, but this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Q44. Are there areas of the District we should be considering for conservation area status beyond those listed in this section?
I am not aware of it, but this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Q45. Are there any buildings, spaces or structures that should be protected for their historic, cultural or architectural significance? Should these be considered for inclusion on the Local List of non-designated assets?
I am not aware of it, but this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Town Centres and Retail
Q46. With reference to the options listed above, or your own options, how do you think we can best plan for vibrant town centres in Rochford, Rayleigh and Hockley? How can we also ensure our village and neighbourhood centres remain vibrant? [Please state
Ensure that new types of retail and other businesses are encouraged to establish themselves in the town centres, namely through the reduction or exemption of council rates to give them a chance to survive the initial period. Other than restaurants and beauty services, no new businesses have opened in Rayleigh High Street. This reduces the overall margin of the existing businesses, the attractiveness to the installation of new businesses and the ability to attract visitors to shop in Rayleigh.
Q47. Do you agree with the local centre hierarchy set out in Figure 36? If not, what changes would you make? [Please state reasoning]
I don’t have an issue with the hierarchy per se, but there should be some protection to the local centres and local parades to ensure that they don’t disappear.
Q48. With reference to Figures 38, 39 and 40, do you agree with existing town centre boundaries and extent of primary and secondary shopping frontages in Rayleigh, Rochford and Hockley? If not, what changes would you make? [Please state reasoning]
Yes.
Q49. Should we continue to restrict appropriate uses within town centres, including primary and secondary shopping frontages within those centres? If yes, what uses should be restricted? [Please state reasoning]
Yes. In the town centres the primary use must be commercial as the unchecked conversion to housing developments would create many problems with noise complaints and others where they didn’t exist before.
Q50. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver improved retail and leisure services in the District? [Please state reasoning]
Yes, as I mentioned before, considering the market town pasts of Rayleigh and Rochford, it would greatly benefit local businesses to incentivise street market initiatives as it would not only provide a greater variety of goods to residents, but it would also provide local businesses the foot traffic.
Transport and Connectivity
Q51. With reference to the options above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best address our transport and connectivity needs through the plan?
The plan has to have appropriate measures in place to secure those roads and railways are built ahead of the conclusion of the developments and not after they are concluded, as it is common sense that once the houses are built, any compulsory purchase of space to build infrastructure will be more expensive.
From what I could understand, any plans to increase the transportation network are left to chance or delegated to other entities.
The increase of the housing without transport will further exacerbate the problems that the road infrastructure is currently facing and there are no plans whatsoever to increase public transportation to places which are already lacking, such as Hullbridge which is almost entirely dependent on Rayleigh’s infrastructure.
It is strange that the Beaulieu Estates managed to have a new train line and the people of Rochford District can’t either get appropriate roads, let alone more train connections. I cannot understand how Chelmsford is able to plan these developments to have transport connectivity and Rochford cannot plan a road.
Q52. Are there areas where improvements to transport connections are needed?
Yes, the A127 needs increasing and there is a lack of an alternative route to this road going into Rochford and Southend.
Q53. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver new transport connections, such as link roads or rapid transit? What routes and modes should these take? [walking, cycling, rail, bus, road etc.]
Yes. All of the above, the increase in the demographics and the expected establishment of new businesses should account for an increase primarily focused on roads, rail and buses that serves as an alternative to the current routes that are massively overrun.
Green Belt and Rural Issues
Q54. Do you feel that the plan should identify rural exception sites? If so, where should these be located and what forms of housing or employment do you feel need to be provided?
I am not aware of it, but this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Q55. Are there any other ways that you feel the plan should be planning for the needs of rural communities?
I am not aware of it, but this seems to be a specialist subject I cannot provide input on.
Planning for Complete Communities
Q56a. Do you agree with our vision for Rayleigh? Is there anything you feel is missing?
No. I cannot see this translated in the detailed plan.
Q56b. With reference to Figure 44 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses?
I cannot understand the allocation between commercial and housing properties as well as infrastructure, as there are nowhere near enough roads or overpasses in the image provided.
Q56c. Are there areas in Rayleigh that development should generally be presumed appropriate?
No, unless infrastructure is put in place. A simple example is the development in Daws Heath Road, where all these plots are meant to be made available for development, but the end of the road, approaching the A127, is not able to take two cars at the time.
Q56d. Are there areas that require protecting from development?
New developments in the Town Centre that either reduce green areas or affect the Mill Hall and any development that reduces the area of Hockley woods.
Q56e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 44 hold local significance? Are there any other open spaces that hold particular local significance?
The legend to Figure 44 does not allow for enough detail to understand the changes to the green spaces and the purpose of them.

Q57a. Do you agree with our vision for Rochford and Ashingdon?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q57b. With reference to Figure 45 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q57c. Are there areas in Rochford and Ashingdon that development should generally be presumed appropriate?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q57d. Are there areas that require protecting from development?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q57e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 45 hold local significance?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q58a. Do you agree with our vision for Hockley and Hawkwell?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q58b. With reference to Figure 46 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q58c. Are there areas in Hockley and Hawkwell that development should generally be presumed appropriate?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q58d. Are there areas that require protecting from development?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q57e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 46 hold local significance? Are there any other open spaces that hold particular local significance?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q59a. Do you agree with our vision for the Wakerings and Barling? Is there anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q59b. With reference to Figure 47 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q59c. Are there areas in the Wakerings and Barling that development should generally be presumed appropriate? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q59d. Are there areas that require protecting from development? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q59e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 47 hold local significance? Are there any other open spaces that hold particular local significance? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q60a. Do you agree with our vision for Hullbridge?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q60b. With reference to Figure 48 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q59c. Are there areas in Hullbridge that development should generally be presumed appropriate?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q59d. Are there areas that require protecting from development?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q59e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 48 hold local significance?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q60a. Do you agree with our vision for Canewdon? Is there anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q61b. With reference to Figure 49 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses? How could that improve the completeness of Canewdon?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q61c. Are there areas in Canewdon that development should generally be presumed appropriate? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q61d. Are there areas that require protecting from development? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q61e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 49 hold local significance? Are there any other open spaces that hold particular local significance? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q62a. Do you agree with our vision for Great Stambridge? Is there anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q62b. With reference to Figure 50 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses? How could that improve the completeness of Great Stambridge?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q62c. Are there areas in Great Stambridge that development should generally be presumed appropriate? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q62d. Are there areas in Great Stambridge that development should generally be presumed appropriate? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q62e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 50 hold local significance? Are there any other open spaces that hold particular local significance? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q63a. Do you agree with our vision for Rawreth? Is there anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q63b. With reference to Figure 51 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q63c. Are there areas in Rawreth that development should generally be presumed appropriate? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q63d. Are there areas that require protecting from development? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q63e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 51 hold local significance? Are there any other open spaces that hold particular local significance? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q64a. Do you agree with our vision for Paglesham? Is there anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q64b. With reference to Figure 52 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q64c. Are there areas in Paglesham that development should generally be presumed appropriate? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q64d. Are there areas that require protecting from development? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q64e. Are there areas that require protecting from development? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q65a. Do you agree with our vision for Sutton and Stonebridge? Is there anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q65b. With reference to Figure 53 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses?
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q65c. Are there areas in Sutton and Stonebridge that development should generally be presumed appropriate? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q65d. Are there areas that require protecting from development? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q65e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 53 hold local significance? Are there any other open spaces that hold particular local significance? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q66. Do you agree that our rural communities do not require individual vision statements? Are there communities that you feel should have their own vision? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q67. Do you agree with our vision for our rural communities? Is there anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]
I cannot provide meaningful input.
Q68. Are there other courses of action the Council could take to improve the completeness of our rural communities?
I cannot provide meaningful input.

Please see below our supportive comments on the Council’s Spatial Strategy Consultation, forming part of the new Local Plan process.

Q. 6. Balanced Option 4 .

Land North of Southend CFS 260 ( including the linked lettered sites ) is supported and should be able to provide a large tranche of new development that is required. The need for substantial land release is acknowledged, both for residential as well as employment. This site helps to fulfil the numbers for both Rochford DC and Southend BC. The site is large enough and capable of contributing to highway improvements to improve accessibility to the eastern end of the District and east Southend. Proximity to Temple Farm and Purdeys Industrial estates as well as the Airport is an advantage.

We would like to point out what could be misleading in the Site Appraisal Papers, …. CFS 261, Land to the East of Oxford Road, 147 Ha. is included in the North of Southend Cluster, instead of the East of Rochford Cluster. For clarification, our comments above on Q6 Option 4 do not refer to CFS 261.

As part of the Balanced Option, we support smaller schemes which can be brought forward whilst the larger strategic site is being worked up. They also have the benefit of a more diverse style of homes, spreading the commute journeys and meeting the demands of the market in terms of location. In particular we support…

CFS 126, North of Brays Lane. Besides proximity to The King Edmund School and Golden Cross Retail, this site has ready made access to Brays Lane. With release from Green Belt restrictions, construction could be undertaken at an early phase. Please note that under the Water Apparatus scoring that the main sewer passes through the site with 3 manholes accessible.

CFS 217 Land at Doggetts Chase, Rochford. Wedged between existing housing in Doggetts Close and the Public Open Space this site lends itself for development as sympathetically designed retirement housing.

CFS 218 Land at Oxford Road, Rochford . A small site at the end of Oxford Road and with two sides adjacent to the playing fields of the King Edmund School, this can no longer be accessed for agriculture. It is also compromised by manholes for the main sewer. Therefore its release from the Green Belt would be justified.


Q 53 Roads. In conjunction with Cluster North of Southend, CFS260, a new road could resolve a long-standing problem by linking the A 127 at Tesco /RBS roundabout, the Airport and eastwards towards Fossetts Farm and the east of the District.

Q 51. Connectivity. To improve the economic activity in Rochford Town Centre, especially for retail, efforts should be made to create a foot / cycle path more directly between Dalys Road and the Square. Currently the only way is via North Street where the pavements on both sides are very narrow as is also the road. When the development of the old hospital site took place, the NHS was reluctant to enter into a dialogue which would have created some community benefits out of this major development in the centre of Rochford. As a result there is a barrier across the town which should be addressed.

We live in Barling Magna and have done so for 35 years and never have we been so concerned about an issue.

I have serious concerns around the consultation document itself, it uses place names like ‘Stonebridge’ rather than a ward name, it has omissions of current ongoing developments , which when completed will add to the general congestion on some roads. Because, I was informed, they have consent they do not need to be shown as this reflects a call for new land. But surely we need to now about them to assess the overall amount of development in an area before we can assess if we can accept more.

It says, and Rochford has confirmed, ‘infrastructure first’, but there is no indication as to how or where this infrastructure would be - whether it be first or last, so how can one assess a site without knowing where the new road would go to get there?

The Council should not reach any conclusions until Government Housing Policy and numbers to be found has been confirmed.

The consultation has divided large swathes of offered land up into small parcels and invites comments on the parcels rather than the overall principal of a development in that area. This contributes to a very difficult to follow consultation made far worse by poor software running the consultation.

On the above points alone I question the validity of this consultation.

The consultation invites comments on the future categorisation of land, residential, employment, green etc. However, most of the land that has been put forward is currently green belt land, and it’s development would be against current RDC policies.

“The land in question forms part of the Metropolitan Green belt. Such land can only be developed for ‘Exceptional circumstances’ as detailed in the Planning Policy Guidance Note 2 (PPG2), and states in para 143 that Inappropriate development is by definition harmful to Green Belt’’ and in Para 145 that ‘’A local planning authority should regard the construction of new buildings as inappropriate in the Green Belt.” There are exceptions but these do not include house building on anything other than a minor scale.

I suspect that most of the residents would wish it to remain green belt. What is the point of having green belt land if, just because it is easier to build on than brownfield it becomes an option in the next consultation etc. Government policy has indicated that the use of green belt land should not be assumed and indeed this classification could be sufficient to rule out its use other than for minor applications.

Now, more than ever, development should look to be sustainable, indeed it is beholden on our Cllrs and our Council Planning Dept to ensure that it is.

Sustainability comes in many shapes, from the loss of a land use, through the materials used for building plus a plethora of issues like heat pumps, solar, glazing etc and this must include the sourcing of such items, through to accessibility, congestion, new roads needed and reliance on various forms of transport, easy access to work, education, health etc. Economic sustainability must also be assured and this goes beyond economic delivery but also includes the longer term economic viability for both new and current residents.

Based upon the above I would make the following comments-

• No housing development, from Rayleigh eastwards, in the current green belt or on agricultural land should be permissible on sustainability grounds other than small infill of ribbon development areas, extension to existing dwellings in green belt and ‘granny flats’ where space and neighbour privacy permits etc. Allow residents to make the most of their properties rather than needing to move.
• All current green belt land adjoining woodland, parkland, ancient copses etc should be retained and reinforced as protected green space and backfill towards these important wildlife havens and CO2 catchments should be prohibited.
• The destruction of arable land should not be permitted. We need to be as self sufficient in food matters as we can be, importing from Canada or France for example is far less sustainable and could become more difficult in the future.
• Access to and through Hockley, Ashingdon and Rochford is beyond capacity and cannot be expected to take any more traffic. A journey that 15 years ago took 15 mins now takes 30 minutes minimum and often more. Traffic around Rochford is often at a standstill due to parking, deliveries etc and at the morning and afternoon busy times it is totally snarled up.
• Brown field sites and intensification of existing dwelling areas should only be developed with a very light touch unless easy access to jobs, schools etc without adding to road congestion can be imposed and maintained.
• Rochford should not accept development that is accessed by highways that are not within the district or where necessary facilities including jobs are not able to be provided within close proximity preventing the need for more vehicle movements on already over congested roads.
• Reliance on Southend facilities, the A127 within Southend and Bournes Green Chase etc. should not be countenanced. Southend has high unemployment in many wards and high deprivation in the central wards, good jobs that provide good incomes are scarce in Southend, Shoebury, Rochford, Wakering, Barling, Paglesham etc. Thus any new residents moving into the area will be driving in and out each day or trying to access trains with limited parking.
• The lack of suitable employment the further east you go is also a major factor in the sustainability of the economic issues. Barling on good run is 30 mins from Rayleigh Weir, more development can only slow this even more.
• All construction materials will have to get to the east of Rayleigh via already tired and congested roads causing yet more delays, polluted air and disruption for residents and importantly businesses in the east of Southend. The greater the congestion into Southend the fewer returning tourists and the fewer jobs in Southend!

On a more positive note and in recognition that RDC, BDC and SBC all have to provide some new dwellings that will probably not be able to be fully accommodated within the town centres or brown field sites there are a few areas where I consider development would be sustainable,
• Along the north side of the A127, accessed by a new slip road off the A127.
• Land adjoining or close to the A130 in the south Rawreth area, (CFS146,147,167,144,168,145,137,055,121 ) here sufficient development could take place in conjunction with Basildon and Southend to absorb much of the dwelling numbers currently required by Government whilst at the same being large enough to sustain education facilities, healthcare, small retail and supermarkets etc alongside leisure and sports. Good access is here for work with A130 to Chelmsford, A127 to Basildon and Rayleigh, A13 to Thames corridor etc and those commuting by train can access Rayleigh Station relatively easily (or even a new station). As when and if the A127 is ever upgraded into Southend adequately and as when and if their unemployment rates improve then more work opportunities will open up.

• I support strategy option 3a a massed development west of Rayleigh, indeed I see a small new garden town as the only sensible, sustainable and long term economic option. This would not destroy the country side around existing villages nor lead to more traffic and congestion issues east of Rayleigh. It also allows for co-operation from different authorities to work together for benefit of their residents.
• I do not support the other strategy options as a means to provide any significant numbers of dwellings.

More specifically


CFS064, CFS264, CFS040, CFS161, and any further development along or requiring access to the roads Church Road, Folly Lane, Folly Chase, High Road, Main Road, Aldermans Hill etc and all the way through to Rochford Town Centre via Hall Road and Stroud Green should be considered as over-development and an undesirable change of use.
These roads cannot be improved to accommodate the already excessive traffic. Some sites along or close to these roads are encroaching on potential wildlife areas and others are on the periphery of woodland etc. None of these sites would generate enough to provide the necessary highway improvements, even assuming this were possible, Rayleigh has singularly failed to sort out its traffic congestion problems despite many attempts to do so. Nor would they generate sufficient for the other infrastructure contributions that would be needed to make these areas better, more attractive areas to live in for both new and existing residents. The result would be a significant loss of amenity and worsening living conditions for the existing residents.

CFS004, Barling, this site could take a few houses as extension of ribbon development but the land would be better suited to be used as woodland or wild flower meadow to the rear, and form parking for the school to the front of the site if agriculture is no longer viable. The numbers suggested to be built on this site are way more than sensible, not least due to the location near a school, the specifics of the road there, the very difficult parking in the area and the risk of flood. 29 new homes means at least 29 if not far more vehicles going into and out of the village each day, more school places etc,.

All development in Barling, Little and Great Wakering on greenfield or agricultural sites should not be considered further. I have already discussed the sustainability of areas to the east of the district and here more than ever that is important. Also, however, this land offers a real buffer against the muddling of Southend and Rochford, which is intrinsic to the identity of the 3 areas and also offers open space and leisure for Southend residents in the east of the borough . Green space is hardly prolific in this sector of Southend. I also disagree with the ‘convenient’ adding of these three areas together to form a tier, Barling is not part of nor similar to the Wakerings and should be considered along with tier 4 villages.

The roads in the Barling area are small narrow roads often without pavements, there are sharp bends and ditches etc, these are rural roads and should remain so.

Most of us live in these areas and especially in Barling because we like the rural feel of the area. We want to preserve that way of life and major developments
taking years to build and then thousands of residents with cars causing congestion and poorer air quality will destroy it forever. Given the way the estuaries divide up our district we need to preserve the countryside within each estuary sector. Thames - Roach and Roach - Crouch.

I trust you will carefully consider the above points when deciding the outcome of the consultation and that you realise the strength of feeling of residents.

Thank you for taking the time to read our concerns and suggestions

Strategy Options.
Q6. Option 3a should be the preferred option as it naturally produces the required supporting infrastructure and is the least likely of all options to increase pressure on the existing infrastructure in the rest of the district. It could possibly be combined with a small amount of development elsewhere but that should be restricted to providing local employment opportunities and the housing needs of an ageing population, both of which should have less effect on infrastructure than general housing. However, it should be remembered that most of that ageing population are owner-occupiers who have spent their lives in houses with gardens and may not wish to move to apartments. If there were no bungalows developed for them with at least minimal gardens, they may be likely to stay where they are and so not free up family homes for others. This problem has already been exacerbated by the conversion of many bungalows in the district to chalets or houses.

Transport and Connectivity.
Q51. Option 1 is clearly the only way to minimise environmental damage.
Q53. The A127 should be the main East-West route and there may be potential to widen it from 4 to 6 lanes from the M25 to as far East as The Bell without major impact on more than a few adjoining properties. Additional traffic should not be encouraged on Lower Rd due to congestion at Hullbridge and the previously-suggested Rochford Outer Bypass or any similar proposal should continue to be rejected as it would increase pressure for development in greenbelt along its route, particularly where it linked to local routes.

Planning for Complete Communities.
Hullbridge.
Q60a. While I generally agree with the vision, I do not consider it practical for Hullbridge to be more accessible by river-based transport or for the coastline to be opened up without damage to the river’s environmental importance.
Q60b. It might be possible to develop a small business park for offices and light industrial uses on that part of site CFS100 on the West side of Burlington Gardens as that is a brownfield site, albeit in greenbelt.
Q60c. No other sites are considered suitable as most put forward are wholly or largely outside walking distance of the majority of services and are extremely unlikely to provide any additional services.
Q60d. If High Elms is included, Hullbridge will already have seen a20%+ increase in dwellings over the last 10-15 years so all other areas should be protected. Of the sites put forward, many are at least partly at risk of flooding, notably in Northern areas and along Watery Lane and its junction with Lower Rd/Hullbridge Rd and also Pooles Lane/Kingsmans Farm Rd. Those Northerly sites should also be rejected due to their proximity to the environmentally sensitive and protected River Crouch. Other sites should be rejected as they reduce the greenbelt distance between Hullbridge and Rayleigh/Hockley or are to the West of the High Elms development which RDC described as providing a ‘defensible greenbelt boundary’.

ECC Response to Rochford New Local Plan: Spatial Options Consultation July 2021

Thank you for consulting Essex County Council (ECC) on the Rochford New Local Plan: Spatial Options Consultation (SOC) published in July 2021. ECC has engaged with Rochford District Council (RDC) in the preparation of the new Local Plan, and our involvement to date has been proportionate at this early stage of plan preparation, building on the Issues and Options consultation in 2017/18. Once prepared, the new Local Plan will include the required strategies, policies and site proposals to guide future planning across the District, and will replace the current suite of adopted Development Plans up to 2040.

ECC welcomes the opportunity to review and comment on the emerging new Local Plan vision, strategic priorities and objectives, initial growth scenarios, spatial options, thematic themes and ‘Planning for Complete Communities’. As Plan preparation continues, ECC is committed to working with RDC through regular and on-going focussed collaborative discussions to prepare evidence that ensures the preferred spatial strategy, policies and site allocations are sound, viable and deliverable, where future development is aligned to the provision of required local and strategic infrastructure.

A Local Plan can provide a platform from which to secure a sustainable economic, social and environmental future to the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors. A robust long-term strategy will provide a reliable basis on which RDC, ECC and its partners may plan and provide the services and required infrastructure for which they are responsible. To this end, ECC will use its best endeavours to assist on strategic and cross-boundary matters under the duty to cooperate (Duty), including engagement and co-operation with other organisations for which those issues may have relevance.

It is acknowledged that RDC has engaged ECC under the Duty, during the past year, in addition to the joint and regular meetings established with the South Essex authorities, through specific South Essex strategic planning duty to co-operate groups for Members and Officers respectively to explore strategic and cross boundary matters.

ECC interest in the Rochford New Local Plan – spatial options consultation
ECC aims to ensure that local policies and related strategies provide the greatest benefit to deliver a buoyant economy for the existing and future population that lives, works, visits not only in Rochford District, but Essex as a whole. This includes a balance of land-uses to create great places for all communities, and businesses across all sectors; and that the developer funding for the required infrastructure is clear and explicit. As a result, ECC is keen to understand, inform, support and help refine the formulation of the development strategy and policies delivered by LPAs within and adjoining Essex. Involvement is necessary and beneficial because of ECC’s roles as:
a. the highway and transport authority, including responsibility for the delivery of the Essex Local Transport Plan; the lead authority for education including early years and childcare (EYCC), Special Education Needs and Disabilities, and Post 16 education; Minerals and Waste Planning Authority; Lead Local Flood Authority; lead advisors on public health;
and adult social care in relation to the securing the right housing mix which takes account of the housing needs of older people and adults with disabilities;
b. an infrastructure funding partner, that seeks to ensure that development proposed is realistic and does not place an unnecessary (or unacceptable) cost burden on the public purse, and specifically ECC’s Capital Programme;
c. major provider and commissioner of a wide range of local government services throughout the county (and where potential cross boundary impacts need to be considered);
d. Advocate of the Essex Climate Action Commissioner’s (ECAC) Report 2021 Net Zero – Making Essex Carbon Neutral providing advice and recommendations for action on climate change mitigation and adaption including setting planning policies which minimise carbon. This work has been tailored for use in the county of Essex; and
e. involvement through the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA) and Opportunity South Essex Partnership (OSE), promoting economic development, regeneration, infrastructure delivery and new development throughout the County.

In accordance with the Duty, ECC will contribute cooperatively to the preparation of a new Rochford Local Plan, particularly within the following broad subject areas,
• Evidence base. Guidance with assembly and interpretation of the evidence base both for strategic/cross-boundary projects, for example, education provision and transport studies and modelling, and wider work across South Essex as part of the joint strategic plan.
• ECC assets and services. Where relevant, advice on the current status of assets and services and the likely impact and implications of proposals in the emerging Local Plan for the future operation and delivery of ECC services.
• Sub-regional and broader context. Assistance with identification of relevant information and its fit with broader strategic initiatives, and assessments of how emerging proposals for the District may impact on areas beyond and vice-versa.
• Policy development. Contributions on the relationship of the evidence base with the structure and content of emerging policies and proposals.
• Inter-relationship between Local Plans. Including the Essex Minerals Local Plan (2014) and the Essex and Southend-on-Sea Waste Local Plan (2017).

To achieve this, ECC seeks a formal structure for regular and ongoing engagement with RDC through the next stage of Plan preparation. Of critical importance is the additional evidence required for the site assessment process at both the individual and cumulative level to refine and develop the spatial strategy, which will be informed by the provision of sustainable and deliverable infrastructure and services at the right scale, location and time, for the existing and future residents of Rochford. There are also challenges arising from COVID-19 and how these can be addressed through the Local Plan and the future growth ambitions for London Southend Airport.

Key issues and messages of the ECC response
The ECC requirements are set within the context of national policy and ECC’s organisation plan proposals within “Everyone’s Essex” and commitments for “Renewal, Ambition and Equality” based on ECC’s strategies, policies, objectives and evidence base. The ECC response therefore identifies where we support emerging options and proposals, and where we recommend further work and engagement with ECC in order to refine and inform the “Preferred Options”, the next iteration of the local plan preparation, scheduled for consultation in Spring 2022. The key messages in ECC’s response are summarised below.
1. ECC support RDC preparing a new Local Plan and will assist with the preparation of sound evidence and policies, that plan for long term sustainable infrastructure delivery.
2. It is still too early for ECC to provide detailed comments on the impacts, opportunities and requirements for the full range of ECC infrastructure and services, and additional evidence is required on a range of matters to inform the selection of a preferred strategy and sites, together with supporting policies. It is acknowledged that ECC has engaged with RDC on the preparation of the transport evidence base to date, which has been proportionate to this stage of plan preparation.
3. The preferred strategy and site allocations will need to ensure that the requirements of ECC infrastructure and services are met to secure their sound, viable and sustainable delivery at the right scale, location and time, that is commensurate with housing needs and growth aspirations.
4. This will include engagement with preparing additional evidence, that will include, but is not limited to,
o Transportation modelling (including sustainable transport) to develop a strategy to realise modal shift including analysis of existing active and sustainable travel infrastructure (including bus network and services). In collaboration with ECC, it is recommended that RDC prepare a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).
o Scenario testing for education provision including early years and childcare and the approach to Special Education Needs with Disabilities provision.
o Minerals and waste policy compliant assessments.
o Flood and water management assessments through revised Critical Drainage Areas (CDAs) and revisions to the South Essex Water Management Action Plan.
o Economic need and employment evidence including an up to date Economic Development Needs Assessment to refine the level of economic growth to be planned for.
o ECC will also contribute to the evidence in respect of skills, Adult Social Care, Public Health, climate change, and green and blue infrastructure to that can deliver safer, greener, healthier communities.
o There is also benefit in undertaking a Health Impact Assessment to ensure health and wellbeing is comprehensively considered and integrated into the Local Plan, including a strategic health and wellbeing policy, an area where ECC can advise and assist, and one successfully implemented and included in other plans across Essex.
5. RDC will need to engage and work closely with ECC to inform site selection and the range of preferred sites both individually and cumulatively, having regard to the evidence.
6. Spatial Growth Scenarios – the preferred scenario should meet national policy to deliver housing and other growth requirements; climate change resilience and adaptation; and environmental aspirations of RDC. As a minimum, the standard methodology should be met and any buffer to drive local economic growth or address unmet need from elsewhere is supported but will need to be based on sound evidence.
7. Spatial Strategy Options – the spatial strategy option to proportionately spread growth across the district would not deliver the necessary scale of growth to secure the viable and sustainable delivery of local or strategic infrastructure and services (most notably a secondary school) and would not be supported. Based on the information presented in the SOC, a preferable option is likely to see a combination of the options presented resulting in urban intensification, a focus on main towns, and concentrated growth in one or more locations (resulting in a new neighbourhood the size of a larger village or small town). The option will need to be informed by the evidence base and further site assessments.
8. ECC will need to be involved in any cross boundary development proposals. To this end, Option 3a would need to be delivered in the longer term given current constraints of the strategic road network (Fairglen Interchange) and have regard to emerging proposals and aspirations arising in Basildon and Castle Point Boroughs; and Option 3b will require close and formal working arrangements with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council.
9. It is noted that several of ECC’s comments and observations made in response to the Issues and Options consultation from 2017/18 continue to apply, given the early stages of Plan preparation. We therefore reiterate where important our previous comments and additional points where this is necessary to do so.

The ECC response is set out in table from page 5 onwards and reflects the order of the SOC paper including responses to specific questions; the Integrated Impact Assessment; supporting Topic Papers; and Site Appraisal Paper.

[Due to tabular format of submission, please refer to attached documents for full submission]

Dear Sir/Madam
Rochford District New Local Plan: Spatial Options: Consultation Paper 2021
Thank you for providing the opportunity for Southend Borough Council (SBC) to comment on
the above consultation plan. Set out below are officer level comments that relate principally
to cross-boundary issues and potential strategic scale developments.
SBC and Rochford District Council (RDC) should continue to co-operate on cross-boundary
issues, including through the Rochford and Southend Member Working Group and via the
Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA).
The effectiveness of joint working between the two authorities should continue to be
documented and as we continue to work together under the duty to co-operate, Statements
of Common Ground should be prepared and agreed in line with Government guidance.
General Approach
The Borough Council broadly welcomes the publication of the Consultation Paper and its
general approach to setting out the potential options for meeting Rochford District’s future
development needs, whilst delivering sustainable development and protecting the local
environment. Given Southend Borough’s acute challenge in finding sufficient land within the
Borough to meet its own development needs, it also particularly welcomes the recognition of
the importance of liaising with neighbouring local authorities to ensure wider cross-boundary
issues and development needs are fully addressed.
Coordination of Plans
SBC would wish to emphasise the crucial ongoing importance of coordinating the
preparation of the Rochford New Local Plan with the Southend New Local Plan, which has
reached a similar stage of consultation (the Southend New Local Plan also currently being
out to public consultation at a second Regulation 18 stage, ‘Refining the options’).
Progressing the plans in a collaborative, coordinated and timely manner will be essential to
the effective and sustainable planning for this part of south-east Essex.
As was identified in consultation paper, where it summarises feedback from the Rochford
New Local Plan Issues and Options Document (December 2017 – March 2018), ‘an
infrastructure-first approach to planning is required as there are existing issues with
infrastructure capacity’. (Rochford Local Plan Spatial Options Consultation Paper, page 102)
In seeking to meet future development needs for this part of south-east Essex, it will be
essential that infrastructure provision, particularly in relation to transport, is planned in such a
way to ensure that infrastructure improvements are clearly identified, are realistic and
achievable. In our view, this requires an effective coordinated, sub-regional and cross-
boundary approach, both through our inputs to ongoing ASELA work and through continued
duty of co-operate cross-boundary arrangements.
Question 1 (page 21): Are there any other technical evidence studies that you feel the
Council needs to prepare to inform its new Local Plan, other than those listed in this section?
- Given the number of important strategic cross-boundary issues already recognized
between our two authorities (e.g. housing needs, employment needs, transport
infrastructure, environmental protection, strategic green infrastructure provision,
climate change mitigation/adaption, the future of London Southend Airport etc.), we
strongly advocate that both authorities must continue to work closely together on the
preparation of evidence studies and other technical work to support our plan making.
Draft Strategic Priorities and Objectives (pages 40 – 43)
Question 4: Do you agree with the strategic priorities and objectives we have identified? Is
there anything missing from the strategic priorities or objectives that you feel needs to be
included? – Inclusion of reference to a new Country Park facility north-east of
Southend should be considered and potentially included as part of Strategic
Objective 15.
It has long been an ambition to deliver a new Country Park facility to the north-east of
Southend, as identified in the adopted Southend Core Strategy. If enabled through our local
plans, it would complement similar facilities at Hadleigh Castle and Cherry Orchard and
provide a much needed addition to informal recreation opportunities for the residents of and
visitors to south east Essex.
It is therefore recommended that the words ‘including a new Country Park facility to the
north-east of Southend’ are inserted after the word ‘coastline’. The revised Strategic
Objective would then read as follows:
‘To protect and enhance leisure, sport, recreation and community facilities and to support the
delivery of a multi-functional green infrastructure network across our district and along the
coastline including a new Country Park facility to the north-east of Southend, connecting to
neighbouring areas in South Essex and beyond, to promote healthy and active lifestyles, and
improve physical and mental health and well-being into old age’.
Growth Scenarios (pages 46 – 50)
The ‘Southend New Local Plan - Refining the Options’ consultation document (2021) sets
out that Southend is unable to meet all identified housing needs, as calculated using the
Government’s Standard Methodology, up to 2040. Even if Southend’s remaining Green Belt
was developed there would be a calculated shortfall of around 4,000 new homes. This rises
to around 9,000 new homes if Green Belt land within Southend Borough is not developed.
It is therefore appropriate that Rochford District Council should continue to explore the
options within its area to accommodate a level of housing development which is higher than
necessary to meet its own housing needs (as calculated by Government’s Standard
Methodology), so it is able to consider the potential, and possibly address at least some of
the unmet housing need evident from plan preparation to date in Southend, in line with the
requirements of Government policy.
Spatial Strategy Options (pages 51 to 62)
Question 6: Which of the identified strategy options do you consider should be taken
forward in the Plan? - Strategy Option 4 Balanced Combination. (Strategy Options listed
in footnote 1 below)
It is our view that Strategy Option 4: Balanced Combination, appears to offer the most
appropriate strategic approach, balancing Strategy Option 1 and 3. This option appears to
provide the best opportunity to provide sustainable communities that afford the critical mass
needed to secure transformational new infrastructure whilst seeking to make the best
possible use of existing brownfield sites. It also allows for a continuous supply of
development land to come forward over the plan period.
In supporting this approach, it is recognized that as part of Strategy Option 4, Strategy
Option 1: Urban Intensification must take priority and every effort should be made to ensure
new economic and housing growth is being optimized where this would lead to sustainable
development within urban areas (i.e. the use of brownfield land) before looking at
development in the Green Belt.
Subject to Green Belt considerations, the Borough Council welcomes the identification of
Option 3a: concentrated growth west of Rayleigh and Option 3b: concentrated growth north
of Southend within the consultation as possible sites for comprehensive development noting
that may provide the potential critical mass for achieving infrastructure improvements.
It should be noted that land west of Rayleigh is well served by the strategic highway network
(A130 and A127) whilst land to the north of Southend is less so. The potential for this option
to come forward well served by the strategic highway network would be dependent therefore
on a coordinated and planned approach with land to the south in Southend Borough and the
provision of a new highway and sustainable transport link partly on land within Rochford
District.
The consultation document also omits to note that Option 3c, concentrated growth to the
east of Rochford, would also be strongly dependent on new highway provision to the east of
Rochford, the existing Ashingdon Road being of an inadequate capacity to cope with the
increase in transport movements.
In this respect Figure 23 (Sustainability Appraisal of Strategy Options (AECOM, 2021))
which identifies Options 3a, 3b, 3c and 4 as providing a positive return in terms of transport
and movement is misleading.
Rochford District Council and Southend Borough Council would need to co-operate
effectively to explore the potential opportunity of comprehensive development to the north of
Southend (Option 3b) if this option were to be considered further. This joint work can then
inform both Councils’ next stage of plan making.
Any growth in this location is well placed to meet some of Southend’s unmet housing need,
however, if it were to come forward it must deliver significant new infrastructure which
ensures it’s development is sustainable and delivers advantages to neighbouring
communities, including neighbourhoods in Southend, which could benefit for example from
the close proximity of new accessible parkland, education, community and leisure facilities
delivered as part of development in this locality. It is also crucial that any development
provides for the additional road, active travel and public transport capacity necessary to
serve the development and mitigate fully any impacts which might arise.
A comprehensive development in this area appears to include most of the land necessary to
deliver the new road links necessary to facilitate development within both authority areas
and provide relief to the existing network. Development of this scale also has greater
potential to deliver the level of development finance required to help provide for those links.
SBC would not support development to the east of Rochford or south of river Roach without
significant mitigation and transport improvements both within Rochford District and Southend
Borough. SBC has delivered a rolling program of junction improvements along the A127 over
the last 20 years, however further improvements to increase capacity at pinch points are
likely to be required to facilitate growth. There are however constraints in increasing capacity
along the A127 given its urban context. As such, both Councils, along with Essex County
Council should explore strategic transport opportunities and funding mechanisms, including
a potential new link road/ sustainable transport corridor to the north of Southend, the option
of a new transport hub at Southend Airport Railway Station with improved access and further
improvements along the A127.
Strategy Option 2: Urban Extensions is unlikely to deliver the required transport
improvements necessary to facilitate accommodate the growth in trips on the network within
this area.
Spatial Themes
Question 8: Are there any key spatial themes that you feel we have missed or that require
greater emphasis? – Yes. Transport and Connectivity.
As a general rule, all the themes listed are self-contained in that they relate to specific
sites/areas of land and uses of land. The exception is ‘Transport and Connectivity’.
Transport infrastructure provision has a wider impact that relates to a range of transport
modes and is cross-boundary and sub-regional in its impact. As such the theme is
considered to require greater emphasis in the Plan.
Climate Change and Resilient Environments (pages 65 – 68)
Questions 9, 11 and 12 relating to whether a sequential approach to flood risk should be
taken, for development to source a percentage of their energy from low carbon and
renewable sources, and the provision of higher energy efficiency standards are supported.
Question 10: Do you agree that the Coastal Protection Belt and Upper Roach Valley should
be protected from development that would be harmful to their landscape character? – Yes.
These areas also provide important areas for informal recreation for the residents of southeast Essex including Southend.
Place Making and Design (pages 69 – 72)
Question 16a: Do you consider that new design guides, codes or masterplans should be
created alongside the new local plan? – Yes.
Question 16b: If yes, do you think it is more appropriate to have a single design guide/code
for the whole District, or to have design guides/codes/masterplans for individual settlements
or growth areas? – To have design guides/masterplans for individual growth areas.
It will be essential that any identified concentrated growth sites (Options 3a and 3b) are
planned and designed individually so that the sites can be effectively planned in a
sustainable manner that takes into full account their setting and local environment and
provides for well-designed places and spaces.
Employment and Jobs (pages 84 – 90)
Question 25: With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for
growth to deliver new employment facilities or improvements to existing employment
facilities? – Yes, land north of Temple Farm Industrial Estate.
Land north of the existing Temple Farm Industrial Estate provides the opportunity for an
extension of the estate to meet future employment needs as part of strategy option 3b:
concentrated growth north of Southend.
Future of London Southend Airport (pages 91 – 93)
Question 28: With reference to the options (listed as footnote 2 below), or your own options,
how do you feel we can best manage the Airport’s adaptations and growth through the
planning system?
SBC is currently consulting on options within its Local Plan ‘Refining the Plan Options’
document on how to continue to plan for London Southend Airport and would welcome
continued co-operation with RDC to ensure an effective policy framework remains up-to-date
to manage future development at the Airport, this could include consistent policies included
within respective Local Plans. It is crucial that any future growth that is facilitated, if that is
indeed the right course of action, should fully consider the environmental impacts of that
growth. It should also be noted that the existing planning permission allows a level of growth
beyond the level of operations being experienced pre-Covid, in 2019 and that level of
operation was in itself leading to local complaints associated with aircraft noise, airport
operations, on street car parking locally and night-flying in particular.
Green and Blue Infrastructure (pages 98 – 101)
Question 33: Do you agree that the central woodlands arc and island wetlands, shown on
Figure 32 are the most appropriate areas for new regional parklands? Are there any other
areas that should be considered or preferred? – Yes. See comments relating to question
34 below.
Question 34: With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for
growth to help deliver new strategic green and blue infrastructure? – Yes. Option 3b:
concentrated growth north of Southend.
The identified option of seeking concentrated growth north of Southend offers clear
opportunities to deliver new accessible green space including the provision of a new subregional scale Country Park facility aligning with the River Roach and incorporating land
within flood Zone 2 (Figure 8). A new Country Park in this location would provide informal
countryside opportunities to the benefit of residents within the eastern peninsula of southeast Essex and would complement the facilities at Hadleigh Castle Country Park and Cherry
Orchard Jubilee Country Park and the broader South Essex Regional Park concept.
Community Infrastructure (pages 102 – 105)
Question 36: With reference to your preferred strategy option, are there opportunities for
growth to deliver new or improved community infrastructure? – Yes. Option 3b:
concentrated growth north of Southend.
The identified option of seeking concentrated growth north of Southend offers the potential
to provide for a range of community infrastructure, including new school, leisure and health
facilities.
Transport and Connectivity (pages 123 – 126)
Question 51: With reference to the options (listed as footnote 3 below), or your own options,
how do you feel we can best address our transport and connectivity needs through the plan?
All four options need to be pursued as part of an integrated approach in partnership
with South Essex Local Authorities, Essex County Council and the Government.
As stated in the Rochford Local Plan consultation document: ‘it is clear that a more
ambitious approach is required to connectivity if we are to keep growing.’ A step change in
improving connectivity and accessibility is needed to accommodate growth if the local
economy is to remain attractive to investors, and highway congestion and air quality issues
are to be addressed.
The plan needs to recognise that significant volumes of traffic that have their origin or
destination in Rochford District will utilise highways within Southend Borough, particularly the
A127. A coordinated partnership approach to infrastructure provision is therefore essential.
The Rochford Local Plan should seek to ensure that the approval of any large development
proposals are subject to infrastructure triggers where developments are not permitted to
proceed until such time as the necessary infrastructure is committed. Individual development
sites cannot continue to be treated in isolation, the cumulative impact of development
schemes has and will continue to have significant impacts on the existing highway
infrastructure, which has impacts beyond Rochford District.
Question 52: Are there any areas where improvements to transport connections are
needed? What could be done to help improve connectivity in these areas?
Yes. A comprehensive integrated partnership approach to improving transport
connections is required across the whole sub-region.
Question 53: With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for
growth to deliver new transport connections, such as link roads or rapid transit? What routes
and modes should these take?
Yes. Option 3b: concentrated growth north of Southend.
The identified option of seeking concentrated growth north of Southend appears to offer the
potential to provide for improved transport connectivity. Such a development scheme would
be dependent on the provision of a new link road from east Southend to the A127 via
Warners Bridge, utilising land within the administrative district of Rochford, as well as a new
transport hub at Southend Airport Train Station.
Any such link road should also give consideration to the potential for a Rochford bypass to
the east of the town particularly if Option 3c: concentrated growth to the east of Rochford
were to be taken forward. This could provide the first phase in a potential opportunity to
deliver an outer strategic highway route linking to the A130 between Rayleigh and
Hullbridge.
Planning for Complete Communities
• Rayleigh (pages 133 – 134)
Question 56b: With reference to Figure 44 and your preferred strategy option, do you think
any of the promoted sites should be made available for any of the following uses (housing,
commercial, community infrastructure)? Yes. Option 3a: concentrated growth west of
Rayleigh.
The identified option of seeking concentrated growth west of Rayleigh offers the potential to
meet a variety of housing needs, mixed use developments and community infrastructure.
• Rochford and Ashingdon (pages 136 – 137)
Question 57e: Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 45 hold local
significance? Are there any other open spaces that hold particular local significance? Yes.
Edwards Hall Park
Edwards Hall Park serves the informal recreational needs of residents of Eastwood in
Southend Borough and provides an important pedestrian/equestrian gateway into the Cherry
Orchard Jubilee Country Park.
Question 57d: Are there any areas that require protecting from development? Why these
areas? Yes.
In considering the identified option 3b: concentrated growth north of Southend any future
development scheme that may be justified as constituting exceptional circumstances and
sustainable development should be carefully planned so as to avoid the coalescence of the
Rochford with Southend.
Wakerings and Barling (pages 142 – 143)
Question 59b: With reference to Figure 47 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think
any of the promoted sites should be made available for any of the following uses (housing,
commercial, community infrastructure)? Yes. Option 3b: concentrated growth north of
Southend.
The identified option of seeking concentrated growth north of Southend offers the potential
to provide for improved community infrastructure, transport and access improvements and
provision of public open green space.
Question 59d: Are there any areas that require protecting from development? Why these
areas? Yes. Preventing the direct coalescence of Great Wakering/Little Wakering with
Southend.
In considering the identified option 3b: concentrated growth north of Southend any future
development scheme that may be justified as constituting exceptional circumstances and
sustainable development should be carefully planned so as to avoid the direct coalescence
of the Great and Little Wakering with Southend.
Stonebridge and Sutton (pages 160 – 161)
Question 64b: With reference to Figure 53 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think
any of the promoted sites should be made available for any of the following uses (housing,
commercial, community infrastructure)? Yes. Option 3b: concentrated growth north of
Southend.
The identified option of seeking concentrated growth north of Southend offers the potential
to provide for improved community infrastructure, transport and access improvements and
public open green space.
Other Minor Comments
There are one or two typing and cartographical errors in the consultation document as
follows:
- Page 65 last paragraph, the third sentence is incomplete.
- Page 98 Figure 32: Map of Key Green and Blue Infrastructure Assets includes
land within the Southend Borough south of Great and Little Wakering. This should be
deleted from the map.
- Page 135 Figure 45: Map of Rochford and Ashingdon
should read Figure 44: Map of Rayleigh. In addition, the blue horizontal lines
defined on the map are not interpreted in the key.
Kind Regards
Mark Sheppard
Team Leader Strategic Planning
Southend Borough Council
_________________________________________________________________
Footnotes
Footnote 1: Page 51 summarises the 4 strategy options as follows:
• Strategy Option 1: Urban Intensification
• Strategy Option 2: Urban Extensions
- » Option 2a: Focused on main towns
- » Option 2b: Dispersed to all settlements based on Settlement Hierarchy
• Strategy Option 3: Concentrated growth
- » Option 3a: Focused west of Rayleigh
- » Option 3b: Focused north of Southend
- » Option 3c: Focused east of Rochford
• Strategy Option 4: Balanced Combination
Footnote 2: Question 28 refers – Options for planning for the future of London Southend
Airport (page 93)
Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the impact of Covid-19 on the aviation industry, it is not
currently possible to identify precise land use requirements for the airport’s growth. Nevertheless,
there are considered to be a number of options available relating to planning for the future of London
Southend Airport. These are:
1. To work alongside Southend-on-Sea Borough Council to prepare a new joint Area Action Plan, or
masterplan, alongside each authority’s respective new Local Plan, that contains a consistent policy
approach to managing the Airport’s long-term growth ambitions
2. To work alongside Southend-on-Sea Borough Council to ensure that policies contained within both
authority’s respective Local Plans maintain a consistent policy approach, as far as is practicable, to
managing the Airport’s long-term growth ambitions
3. To prepare a new Area Action Plan, or masterplan, to manage the Airport’s long-term growth
ambitions, with suitable partner engagement but without the status of a statutory document
4. To continue to make decisions based on the existing JAAP for the time being, but to consider
developing a new Area Action Plan, or masterplan, after the new Local Plan is adopted or when the
need arises
Footnote 3: Question 51 refers – Options for addressing Transport and Connectivity (page 125)
Non-exclusive options for addressing transport and connectivity through the plan are to:
1. Embed a sustainable movement hierarchy into the plan to ensure sustainable modes of transport
are prioritised in favour of private vehicles
2. Prepare an Infrastructure Delivery Plan alongside the plan to ensure new development delivers
meaningful improvements to transport networks, including to cycling, walking, public transport and
road
3. Prepare a Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan or Cycling Delivery Plan alongside the
plan to identify and deliver specific improvements to our walking and cycling networks, including
costed schemes highlighted in the Rochford Cycling Action Plan
4. Work with Government, Highways England, Essex County Council and neighbouring local
authorities to deliver meaningful new transport options, such as rapid transit solutions and a long-term
solution to the A12

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
There is a compelling case for the allocation of the subject landholding at Tithe Park, Poynters Lane
in the emerging Rochford Local Plan. The proposal at Tithe Park will deliver up to 525 homes, facilitate the provision of a secondary school including scope for SEND and also contribute towards green and blue infrastructure by way of enhanced connections through the site, along with the extension of Friars Park.
The subject site is available, suitable and achievable to deliver residential development in the short term, along with facilitating the delivery of community infrastructure. This site performs exceptionally well against housing market indicators which is evidenced by the strong interest from a multitude of housebuilders to build on this site. Consequently, this site will make a positive Contribution to housing delivery in the early years of the Local Plan.
The Rochford District Council (RDC) evidence base confirms that the site is deliverable; has no issues in terms of flood risk; has a medium to high capacity to accommodate development in landscape terms; will have no impact on any ecological designations; has no impacts in terms of air quality; is not sensitive from a heritage perspective; it is not restricted in terms of site conditions or topography; and it is in an area of deprivation. Furthermore, our client has undertaken a range of technical assessments in respect of the subject site which reinforce the Council’s evidence and
demonstrate that there are no impediments to this site in coming forward.
Crucially this area is assessed as being of medium to low landscape quality, value and sensitivity. It does not perform a strong Green Belt function. The development of this site will provide a logical planned extension which would be extremely well related to surrounding urban land uses, and would be contained by the route of Poynters Lane, to form a robust and consistent boundary to the redefined Green Belt.
The site is highly sustainable particularly given the high frequency local bus services which currently serve the site, with an average of 13 bus services per hour. Moreover, the provision of community infrastructure on this site would greatly enhance the sustainability credentials of the local area including Great Wakering.
The emerging Rochford Local Plan must meet their own housing needs, along with examining the potential to accommodate some of the unmet need arising from Southend-on-Sea Borough. Given the lack of undeveloped brownfield sites in RDC available for development, it is considered that there are exceptional circumstances in which to release land from the Green Belt in Rochford. The Framework requires that in such instances first consideration needs to be given to land well served by public transport, such as the subject site.

There are currently no secondary schools in the south-eastern part of Rochford District to serve the site and settlements such as Barling, Great Wakering and Little Wakering, indicating that pupils from these areas need to travel some distance to facilities in other parts of Rochford or Southend/Shoeburyness. Moreover, the schools that are in the wider locality are poorly performing. There are currently no specific Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND) facilities within
Rochford. While there are limited facilities in Southend, the school performance of these SEND schools is poor when compared to authority and national averages. The NPPF highlights the importance of ensuring a sufficient choice of school places is available to meet the needs of existing and new communities. Paragraph 95 states that local planning authorities should take a proactive,
positive and collaborative approach to meeting this requirement, and to development that will widen
choice in education. Local planning authorities should give great weight to the need to create schools
through the preparation of plans. In light of the above, there is a compelling case for the delivery of a Secondary school and SEND provision in this area.
The Consultation indicates that the subject site is covered by the ‘Proposed Regional Park’. Our client supports the delivery of the South Essex Estuary Park. However, it is considered that if this site is brought forward for a combination of uses namely new homes, education and open space it will make a positive contribution towards housing needs; address the current deficit in Secondary
and SEND education facilities in this locality and also can contribute towards green and blue infrastructure delivery including the extension of Friars Park.
In summary the key benefits of allocating the subject site include -
• Delivery of up to 525 homes which will make a positive contribution towards the Council’s housing
needs in the short term;
• Ensure a diverse range of tenures (market and affordable) and range of house types;
• Provision of the land to deliver a Secondary School along with scope for a SEND facility;
• Enhance connections and green links through the site improving green and blue infrastructure and extending Friars Park;
• Deliver a robust landscaping strategy which achieves biodiversity net gain;
• Enhancement of Public Rights of Way through the site;
• Support local highway improvements from the site and encourage sustainable transport behaviours.

INTRODUCTION
1.1 These representations have been prepared by Iceni Projects Ltd (“Iceni”) on behalf of Stolkin and Clements (Southend) LLP in respect of the Tithe Park, Poynters Lane, Great Wakering. Our clients
are the freehold owners of this site and are committed to working with the Council and key
stakeholders to deliver a sustainable residential scheme and facilitate the provision of community
infrastructure in this location.
1.2 For reference, enclosed with these representations is a Design Document prepared by Turner Architects which sets out the vision, key features and development potential of the site.
1.3 The preparation of a new Local Plan for Rochford provides an important opportunity in which to deliver positive growth for Rochford and the existing community, along with delivering new homes and infrastructure. This proposal at Poynters Lane is complementary to the Vision for Great Wakering
as set out in the Consultation and will assist the Council in meeting their strategic objectives including the delivery of a Secondary School.
1.4 The Rochford District Council (RDC) evidence base confirms that the site is deliverable; has no issues in terms of flood risk; has a medium to high capacity to accommodate development in landscape terms; will have no impact on any ecological designations; has no Impacts in terms of air quality; is not sensitive from a heritage perspective; it is not restricted in terms of site conditions or topography; and it is in an area of deprivation. The only considerations that the Local Plan evidence base raised in respect of this site relates to green belt; mineral safeguarding and agricultural land
classification and that the site is removed from a secondary school. These matters are considered in
further detail in these representations where it is demonstrated that there are no impediments to this
site in coming forward.
1.5 These representations in relation to Tithe Park are structured as follows:
• Section 2 provides an overview of the site location and context, along with the accessibility of the site to public transport and local services;
• Section 3 summarises the relevant national planning policy framework in so far as it relates to the subject site and proposals;
• Section 4 details housing and education needs in Rochford District;
• Section 5 sets out the evidence base prepared by the Council to date in relation to this site and also the technical reports prepared by our client which demonstrates the suitability of this site for development;
• Section 6 sets out the case for the allocation of the subject site at Tithe Park; &
• Section 7 contains the Conclusion and provides a response to the Questions contained in the Consultation.
SITE CONTEXT
Site Description
2.1 The site comprises a large, rectangular, open parcel of land to the south of Poynters Lane, with an area of 33 hectares, to the north-west of North Shoebury, within the administrative boundary of Rochford District Council. The site is located further south of Great Wakering High Street. The site wraps around a collection of farm buildings at Tithe Farm, and the properties at Tithe Cottages. The southern boundary of the site adjoins the borough of Southend-on-Sea.
2.2 The landholding is bound to the north by Poynters Lane and bordered to the west and south by postwar housing, and open space at Friars Park. To the east, lies an area of unmanaged scrub and grassland and a pocket of commercial development located at the junction of Poynters Lane and Wakering Road. North of this, on the opposite side of Poynters Lane is further residential and
commercial development at Crouchmans Cottages and Crouchmans Farm.
2.3 To the north of the site is an area of arable farmland, beyond which the settlement at Great Wakering
lies. The historic core of Great Wakering lies within the eastern part of the settlement. The village has grown in the latter part of the 20th Century, with housing estates extending the settlement to the north and south of the High Street. New development is currently ongoing at the southwestern edge of the village. Recent development has also occurred off Alexander Road, forming a cluster of housing, which extends someway south of the main part of the village.
2.4 The site is not covered by any statutory or non-statutory designations. The nearest listed building is
the Grade II North Shoebury House, which is located on Poynters Lane to the north-west of the Site. Foulness Ramsar site, Special Protection Area (‘SPA’) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (‘SSSI’) is situated to the east of the site.
2.5 There are a number of local services and amenities located within North Shoebury and Great Wakering including areas of open space, schools, shops, businesses and places of worship. A public footpath crosses the eastern part of the Site, linking Poynters Lane to Friars Park. A second public footpath follows the western boundary of the Site.
2.6 Views towards the site from the surrounding area are limited, due to its proximity to surrounding urban development. In terms of landscape character, the site is closely associated with the surrounding urban land uses, and it has an urban edge character. The site is assessed as being of medium to low landscape quality, value and sensitivity.
The site is exceptionally well located in terms of access to local bus services. The bus routes serving the subject site are detailed in the table below which illustrates that there are bus stops within 100 metres and 460 metres of the site providing a high frequency of services.
Table 2.1 Local Bus Services
Route Bus Stop Distance from Site boundary
Route 1 (The Renown to Rayleigh via Southend Bus
Station and Hadleigh (A13))
Shoebury
Renown
460m
Route 7 (Rayleigh to Great Wakering via Southend Bus
Station and Hawkwell)
Star Lane 100m
Route 8 ( (Rayleigh to Great Wakering via Southend
Bus Station and Ashingdon)
Star Lane 100m
Route 9 (Rayleigh to Shoeburyness East Beach via
Southend Bus Station and Eastwood).
Shoebury
Renown
460m
2.8 In addition, these services stop at Southend Central Bus Station which is a major public transport hub providing routes across Essex, including routes to Southend and Stansted Airports. An extract
of the local bus routes is shown in Figure 2.1.
[SEE DOCUMENT FOR IMAGE]

Both Routes 7 and 8 can be accessed from Poynters Lane, providing one and two buses per hour in the AM peak respectively. Route 1 and Route 9 can be accessed to the south of the site at the Renown on Constable Way with both routes each providing five buses per hour in the AM peak.
There are in the order of 13 buses per hour available to residents at the site and provide access to local train stations and major employment hubs.
2.10 The site is also well placed with a large number of local facilities with 1km of the site. These facilities include:
• Asda Superstore;
• Asda Pharmacy;
• Friars Park;
• Friars Primary School;
• St George’s Catholic School
• Convenience Store;
• North Shoeburyness Surgery;
• Eagle Way Surgery; and
• Parsons Barn Public House.
2.11 These local facilities, alongside the local bus services, highlight that the site is well located and
alternatives to car use are practical.

NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK
3.1 The National Planning Policy Framework was recently updated in July 2021. The purpose of this section of the representations is to highlight the key policy matters of relevance to the subject site.
Plan Led Approach
3.2 The National Planning Policy Framework (referred to herein as “the Framework”) states that the planning system should be genuinely plan-led. Plans and decisions should apply a presumption in favour of sustainable development. For plan-making this means that all plans should promote a sustainable pattern of development that seeks to:
• meet the development needs of their area;
• align growth and infrastructure;
• improve the environment;
• mitigate climate change (including by making effective use of land in urban areas) and adapt to its effects.
3.3 Strategic policies should set out an overall strategy for the pattern, scale and design quality of places, and make sufficient provision for housing, infrastructure, community facilities and conservation and
enhancement of the natural, built and historic environment. These policies should provide a clear
strategy for bringing sufficient land forward, and at a sufficient rate, to address objectively assessed needs over the plan period, in line with the presumption in favour of sustainable development. This should include planning for and allocating sufficient sites to deliver the strategic priorities of the area.
Green Belt Release
3.4 Para 141 of the Framework requires that before concluding exceptional circumstances exist to justify
changes to Green Belt boundaries, the strategic policy-making authority should be able to demonstrate that it has examined fully all other reasonable options for meeting its identified need for development. This includes maximising potential of brownfield land, optimising density within urban areas and discussions with neighbouring authorities about whether they could accommodate some of the identified need for development, as demonstrated through the statement of common ground.
3.5 Section 13 ‘Protecting Green Belt land’ identifies that Green Belt boundaries can be altered where exceptional circumstances are fully evidenced and justified, through the preparation or updating of plans. The required process is for strategic policies to establish the need for any changes to Green Belt boundaries and subsequently detailed amendments to those boundaries may be made through non-strategic policies. The Spatial Consultation and supporting evidence base recognises that RDC
are unlikely to have sufficient urban and brownfield sites to meet the need for housing, employment or community facilities, and neighbouring authorities have advised they are unlikely to be able to accommodate any of Rochford’s needs themselves. Given this context it is considered that there are exceptional circumstances in which to release land from the Green Belt in Rochford.
3.6 The Framework requires at Para 142 that “Where it has been concluded that it is necessary to release
Green Belt land for development, plans should give first consideration to land which has been previously-developed and/or is well-served by public transport.” The subject site benefits from a high frequency bus service which connects this site to the key local centres, and also provides connections to major rail stations in the locality. In this respect the Framework requires that sites such as Tithe Park should be given first consideration for release from the Green Belt.
30 Year Vision
3.7 The Framework requires for large scale developments such as significant extensions to existing
villages and towns ‘policies should be set within a vision that looks further ahead (at least 30 years), to take into account the likely timescale for delivery’. The Framework does not define what constitutes a significant extension and thus it is not clear whether the development of the subject site would require a 30-year vision. Given the scale of the proposal and the timescales for delivery, it is
considered that this policy is not applicable in this instance, nonetheless further clarity is expected
from the Government on this policy in due course.
Planning for Education
3.8 The cornerstone of the Framework is the pursuit of sustainable development. The most recent
revision includes reference to UK’s commitment to pursuing the 17 Global Goals for Sustainable
Development in the period to 2030. Goal 4 relates to quality education and ensuring inclusive and
equitable quality education and promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all.
3.9 In this vein, the Framework highlights the importance of ensuring a sufficient choice of school places is available to meet the needs of existing and new communities in the promotion of healthy and safe
communities. Paragraph 95 states that Local planning authorities should take a proactive, positive
and collaborative approach to meeting this requirement, and to development that will widen choice in education. Local planning authorities should give great weight to the need to create schools through the preparation of plans
HOUSING & EDUCATION NEEDS ANALYSIS
Housing Needs
4.1 In Rochford District, the housing crisis is stark. Rochford is one of the least affordable regions in
England and house prices are continuing to increase at an unprecedented rate. Many people who want to own a home in Rochford simply cannot afford to do so. The exorbitant increase in house prices and also rents indicates an imbalance between supply and demand. In addition, a growing population, including a largely elderly population, will place significant pressure on the demand for different types of housing and services over the next 20 years.
4.2 The ratio of local house prices to earnings is far in excess of historic levels and above the national average, creating real difficulties for local people to afford a local home, particularly for first time buyers. On this basis it is evident that the current status quo to housing delivery is not working and a bolder approach to housing is required, urgently.
4.3 Government Local Housing Need Standard Method identifies that a minimum 360 houses are needed annually, 7,200 new homes by 2040. To meet minimum local housing needs there needs to be an uplift of +60% on historic delivery rates. The RDC Spatial Options considers a further growth scenario comprising the Standard Method + 50% Buffer which would result in 10,800 new homes by 2040, which the Council states could help to drive local economic growth or address unmet need from elsewhere. Moreover, the SHMA highlights the need for 238 affordable homes a year. Only 1 in every 9 households on the housing register are likely to ever be rehoused based on current projections.
4.4 The Council is under a Duty to Cooperate, requiring plan makers to consider issues which affect not just Rochford but other neighbouring authorities. The Duty to Cooperate is a legal requirement. Southend-on-Sea Borough Council have published their Local Plan Consultation ‘Refining the Plan Options’ which confirms that they are unable to meet their full housing needs with an arising shortfall of 3,550 – 4,300 homes over the period to 2040. Given the close relationships between Rochford and Southend, with people moving home, commuting and travel to access education and services
between the two authorities, RDC needs to consider and test the degree to which it can contribute to meeting unmet needs from Southend in preparing the Local Plan.
4.5 Local Plans get independently examined before the Council can adopt them and must meet relevant legal and ‘soundness’ tests. A failure to effectively address these issues is the major reason why local plans are unable to progress or are found unsound at the Examination stage.
Set against this, the Council’s Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment considers the potential supply of land based on the application of current planning policies. It identifies potential land which is capable of accommodating 4,5001 dwellings over the plan period on sites which are currently deliverable or developable or through windfall development. This includes sites which have been allocated for development in previous plans, sites with planning permission and other sites identified within existing settlements in the District. This falls substantially short of the District’s
housing needs, meaning that the Plan must consider the potential review of Green Belt boundaries.
4.7 The table below illustrates that RDC will have a shortfall in the range of 2,700 – 6,300 homes. The
Council is duty bound to test whether there can accommodate this level of development, particularly
in view of Southend-on-Sea’s ability to meet their housing needs.
[SEE DOCUMENT FOR TABLE]
Education Needs
4.8 Iceni Projects has undertaken an assessment of the educational needs provision in Rochford and
Southend-on-Sea.
4.9 Figure 4.2 provides an overview in terms of the geographical spread of the secondary school
provision across the two authorities. As it can be seen, the majority of schools are concentrated to the west and centre of the two authorities, with no schools within 2km of the site and one within 5km.
4.10 There are currently no secondary schools in the southeastern parts of Rochford District to directly
serve settlements in these areas such as Barling, Great Wakering and Little Wakering, indicating that children from these areas would need to travel to facilities in other parts of Rochford or Southend/Shoeburyness. The closest secondary establishment in the southeastern areas is the Shoeburyness High School.
[SEE DOCUMENT FOR IMAGE]

The spatial coverage of the various Rochford secondary establishments indicates that settlements located in the south east of the District (e.g. Great Wakering and Little Wakering), are currently situated on the edge of King Edmund School’s catchment area. This could lead to potential difficulties for residents of these areas and their children to access secondary school facilities. In addition, the site falls within the Shoeburyness High School catchment area.
4.2 The Department for Education provides the latest school performance tables through the Find and
compare Schools Tool.
In Rochford, the King Edmund School, which is closest to the Site has a rating of Well below average (-0.79). The performance of the school in terms of Grade 5 or above in English & maths GCSEs is lower than national averages. There is thus a qualitative issue regarding
the choice of good quality schools for residents living in the Rochford and the south-eastern part of Rochford District.
4.3 Moreover, in Southend-on-Sea the Shoeburyness High School ranks at below average; as does the
Southchurch High School. The school’s performance in terms of Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs is lower than Southend-on-Sea and national averages.
4.4 There are currently no specific Special Education Needs & Disability (SEND) facilities within
Rochford, with some of the mainstream schools in Rochford offering special education needs settings
for limited number of pupils. While there are limited facilities in Southend the school performance of
SEND schools is poor when compared to authority and national averages. There is thus a qualitative
issue regarding the choice of good quality SEND schools for residents living in the Rochford and the south-eastern part of Rochford District
EVIDENCE BASE & TECHNICAL ASSESSMENTS
5.1 The purpose of this section is to consider both the evidence prepared by RDC to date in so far as it
relates to the subject site and also to consider the technical reports prepared by our client in order to
inform the plan making process and assist the Council.
5.2 In this section we provide an overview of the Rochford Site Appraisals Paper, along with the Green
Belt and Landscape assessments undertaken by RDC.
5.3 Our client has undertaken the following technical reports in respect of the site –
• Green Belt & Landscape Assessment
• Flood Risk Assessment
• Agricultural Land Assessment
• Minerals Assessment
• Ecological Assessment
• Highways, Public Transport & Connectivity Analysis
• Community Infrastructure Audit
• Education Needs Assessment
5.4 In the interests of ensuring these representations are as concise as possible it is not intended to submit these technical reports with the submission, with the exception of the Green Belt and landscape assessment prepared by CSA, rather we will provide an overview of the key findings. We would be pleased to share these reports with the Planning Authority at the appropriate juncture.
RDC Site Appraisals Paper
5.5 The Site Appraisals Paper (SAP) forms an assessment of land being promoted for development in
the District, providing a technical understanding of the sustainability of different sites to inform future
decisions about development as part of the Council’s emerging Local Plan. The Council have stated that it is not the purpose of the SAP to arrive at a list of preferred sites, nor ‘select’ a list of final sites for allocation. The site selection process could logically follow as a next stage.
5.6 The assessment has not flagged any significant issues to hinder the development of Tithe Park (minus being a GB site). Using this assessment potential concerns from the Council regarding development on this site could include the site being Grade 1-3 agricultural land and a minerals safeguarding area. Our client has commissioned technical assessments in relation to these issues which are summarised further below.
5.7 A key issue that needs to be clarified is that the RDC analysis is incorrect in relation to bus frequency which states “The Site is between 400m and 800m from a bus stop however, no bus services received at stops within 400m”. This is an error and needs to be clarified to ensure the site benefits from the correct scoring when assessed against other sites. As detailed above at section 2, the site is within 100 metres of bus stops served by Routes 7 and 8 which provide one and two buses per hour in the AM peak respectively. Route 1 and Route 9 can be accessed to the south of the site at
The Renown on Constable Way, 460 metres from the site, with both routes each providing five buses per hour in the AM peak. There are in the order of 13 buses per hour available to residents at the site and provide access to local train stations and major employment hubs.
5.8 The sustainability of the locality is raised due to the lack of access to major facilities such as a secondary school. However, it is recognised the scale of the site is capable of delivering services such as a school which the subject site could facilitate.
5.9 No notable constraints in terms of site conditions have been identified, there is also a lack biodiversity
and ecology features on the site. Also, the sites close proximity to the strategic road network and suitable vehicular access being possible from a private road are considerations in favour of development on this site.
[SEE DOCUMENT FOR TABLE]

Green Belt & Landscape Assessment
5.10 The Council’s Green Belt assessment considered that release of the site from the Green Belt would result in a high level of harm to the Green Belt purposes. The study noted its potential role in maintaining separation between Great Wakering and Southend-on-Sea, and in preventing sprawl and countryside encroachment. The assessment did however acknowledge that the parcel was contained by development on two sides and that Poynters Lane would be a stronger Green Belt
boundary than the current one. Moreover, the Council’s evidence base identified that the majority of site falls within medium-high capacity area to accommodate development.
5.11 CSA Environmental have undertaken their own independent review of the site’s contribution to the
green belt, attached at Appendix 2 of these representations, and found that “development of the Site could provide a logical planned extension, which would effectively infill an area of land at the north eastern edge of Shoebury. It would be extremely well related to surrounding urban land uses, and would be contained by the route of Poynters Lane, which would form a robust
and consistent boundary to the redefined Green Belt. There would be some reduction in the
separation between Southend-on-Sea and the smaller settlement at Great Wakering, however a clear visual and physical break would remain”.
5.12 This area is assessed generally as being of medium to low landscape quality, value and sensitivity. The is consistent with the Council’s published Landscape Character, Sensitivity and Capacity Study.
5.13 Views towards the Site from the surrounding area are limited, due to its proximity to surrounding
urban development. There are filtered views from the rear of properties which lie adjacent to the Site, and from the open space at Friars Park. There are also views from Poynters Lane, and from the footpaths which cross the farmland at the edge of Great Wakering.
5.14 The site’s performance against the first four Green Belt purposes is summarised in the table below.
Table 5.2 Assessment of the Site against the four Green Belt purposes
[SEE DOCUMENT FOR TABLE]
In light of the above, it is considered that the Council should assess the green belt contribution of
this site independent of the wider area, and thus will reach similiar conclusions as the CSA Environmental analysis.

Education Needs Assessment
5.16 An Education Need Assessment has been prepared by Iceni Projects with the key findings –
• The demographic analysis shows an expected notable increase in the population of secondary school age over the next 6 years to 2027;
• By 2027, the school age population is expected to increase by 2,200 – 2,600 pupils in Rochford and Southend;
• Estimated there is a residual shortfall of approximately 880 to 1,280 places for both Rochford
and Southend when considering school age population increase and planned provision;
• Moreover, the closest schools to these areas (in both Southend and Rochford) are currently
performing poorly, with below average performance when compared to local authority and national averages;
• Lack of good quality secondary school provision in the area for residents to easily access;
• Beyond 2027, the demographic analysis indicates that additional need could be generated as
family housing is delivered and attracts enhanced in-migration to Southend and Rochford. A total population of secondary school age children (relative to the 2020 baseline) of between 2,000 –
3,000. This implies an additional need of up to 400 pupils relative to that to 2027.
5.17 There is currently capacity deficit in the Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) facilities
closest to the Site. Moreover, the school performance of SEND schools within both Southend-onSea and Essex is poor when compared to authority and national averages. There is thus a qualitative issue regarding the choice of good quality SEND schools for residents living in the Rochford and the south-eastern part of Rochford District.
Community Infrastructure Audit
5.18 A Community Infrastructure Audit was also prepared by Iceni Projects, which presents an overview of current community facilities and services in the area where the Site is located. This assessment came to the conclusion the Local Impact Area where the site is located is considered to have a good range of community facilities. There is capacity in most existing facilities including sport and openspace, health care facilities and community facilities. However, it is likely that local education facilities
to experience some deficits if additional population is introduced into the area. The Report also identifies there is a shortage of allotments and young people’s provision in the District, therefore development on this site could address this need.

Highways, Public Transport & Connectivity
5.19 Iceni Projects undertook an initial Transport Assessment on the Site. The Assessment investigated
a number of potential options for the Poynter Lane / Star Lane Priority Junction to ensure sufficient capacity at this junction when the site is developed. The transport study demonstrates that there are a range of options in order to enhance Poynter Lane / Star Lane Priority Junction which include a new roundabout or a signalised junction.
5.20 There are currently no pedestrian frontages along Poynters Lane, but there are number of other
Public Rights of Way (PRoW) in the vicinity of the Site, including a pedestrian link to Great Wakering.
Local roads are commonly used by recreational cyclists albeit there are no formal cycle routes in the vicinity of the Site. There may also be an opportunity to improve recreational footpaths along the site boundaries to provide purpose-built routes to nearby local amenities.
5.21 As detailed above, the Site is also located in proximity to a number of bus routes in the vicinity of the
Site, serving routes across Essex including Southend and Stansted Airport. The nearest bus stops are located on Poynters Lane and Constable Way and there are up to 13 buses per hour available to residents at the Site which provide access to local train stations and major employment hubs.
Given its proximity to a number of local amenities combined with good connectivity to the public transport network, sustainable transport modes are considered feasible in this location.
Agricultural Land Assessment
5.22 An Agricultural Land Classification and Soil Resources Assessment has been prepared by Reading
Agricultural Consultants. This report set out the findings from an assessment of the Agricultural Land
Classification (ALC) and soil resources by means of a detailed survey of site and soil characteristics.
5.23 15.7 hectares (46%) of the site was identified as Grade 2 soil quality ‘Grade 2 is very good quality
agricultural land, with minor limitations which affect crop yield, cultivations or harvesting. The level of yield is generally high but may be lower or more variable than Grade 1’.
5.24 18.5 hectares (54%) was identified as Grade 3a ‘land has moderate limitations which affect the choice of crops, timing and type of cultivation, harvesting or the level of yield, it is subdivided into Subgrade 3a, which is land is capable of consistently producing moderate to high yields of a narrow range of arable crops or moderate yields of a wide range of crops’.
5.25 The majority of the district comprises Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land. It is clear that there will be a loss of BMV as part of RDC meeting their local housing needs. On this site, there is no Grade 1 and the majority of the land is Grade 3a. The benefits of the proposed development outweigh any minor harm as a result of the loss in this respect.

Ecological Assessment
5.26 An Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey was undertaken by Derek Finnie Associates in July 2021. The
Site was found to comprise a single arable field under a bean crop. On the northern, eastern and southern boundaries, outgrown, semi-mature hedgerows are present. There are no ecological constraints to developing the Site, with ample potential in any future landscape design to provide a net biodiversity benefit.
Minerals Assessment
5.27 A Minerals Assessment of the site was undertaken by Tetra Tech Environment Planning Transport Limited, this assessment concluded the majority of the site has previously been worked for minerals.
5.28 The report identifies that a small proportion of the site, approximately 5 hectares, are potentially still
suitable for mineral extraction, however it is not possible to state with any great level of certainty that mineral extraction could take place. Having found that the majority of the site has already been worked it is not considered that, in the case that any underlying economically viable minerals are proven, that this should be of any detriment to the site’s ability to be developed.
5.29 The site is of such a size that it would be possible to phase the development to incorporate the recovery of any minerals, sand or gravel in a timely manner. It is considered that the recovery of any sand and gravel could have sustainability benefits for the site. Depending on the quality of any resource that was proven, the sand and gravel could be used within the site’s construction.
Flood Risk Assessment
5.30 A Flood Risk and Drainage Note was prepared by Waterman to appraise the flood risk and drainage
opportunities and constraints at the Site. The key conclusions from this assessment are set out as, the EA Flood Map for Planning shows that the majority of the Site is located within Flood Zone 1, indicating a low risk of flooding from tidal and fluvial sources (less than 1 in 1,000 annual probability of river or sea flooding). Based on the proximity to the sea, it is understood that any flood risk to the Site would originate from tidal sources. The Map also indicates the majority of the Site is at ‘very low’
risk from flooding from surface water. There have been no recorded groundwater flooding incidents at or within the vicinity of the Site. The risk of flooding from artificial sources and sewers has also been assessed and is considered to be low.

THE ALLOCATION OF TITHE PARK FOR HOUSING & COMMUNITY
INFRASTRUCTURE
Spatial Strategy
6.1 RDC propose to take a positive approach to growth locally, helping to create a more inclusive housing
market, avoiding the emergence of housing-related issues including homelessness and concealed
households. A number of strategy options have been identified in the Local Plan Consultation that could form the basis of the plan’s approach to housing growth over the next 20 years and beyond.
6.2 These representations support growth in the Great Wakering area and more generally to the east of
Rochford. In terms of spatial options, Option 2 seeks to spread development across a number of development sites of between 10 and 1,500 homes adjoining existing towns or villages. The development of the subject site would accord with Option 2b: Urban extensions dispersed to settlements based on hierarchy. Essentially our client’s preference is Option 4: Balanced
Combination, which proposes growth in terms of urban intensification, urban extensions and concentrated growth. It is considered that this is the only way that the Council will be able to meet their housing needs in the future through a range of growth options which deliver homes and infrastructure in tandem.
6.3 The subject site is available, suitable and achievable to deliver residential development in the short term, along with facilitating the delivery of community infrastructure. This site performs exceptionally well against housing market indicators which is evidenced by the strong interest from a multitude of housebuilders to build on this site. Consequently, this site will make a positive contribution to housing delivery in the early years of the Local Plan.
6.4 The Consultation indicates that the subject site is covered by the ‘Proposed Regional Park’. Our client supports the delivery of the South Essex Estuary Park. However, it is considered that if this site is brought forward for a combination of uses namely new homes, education and open space it will make a positive contribution towards housing needs; address the current deficit in Secondary and SEND education facilities in this locality and also can also perform a role in the delivery of green and blue infrastructure.
Delivery of Homes & Community Infrastructure
6.5 The Consultation states that new development can also deliver community infrastructure stating that “It is therefore important that new growth is not simply seen as creating additional demand for community infrastructure but also as one of the most effective tools at creating additional supply”. The proposal at Tithe Park will deliver up to 525 homes, and also facilitate the provision of a
secondary school including scope for SEND and enhance connections between Southend and the
River Roach.
6.6 The Rochford Consultation is clear that while the Wakerings and Barling has a good range of core
facilities, these only serve local residents and ‘most town-scale facilities, such as a secondary school and large-scale job opportunities, are absent’. The Consultation further notes that ‘The population of the Wakerings and Barling skews slightly younger than the District average which may generate additional demand for housing and jobs in coming years’.
6.7 The proposed development comprising of new homes, provision of land for the delivery of a
secondary school and scope for SEND and open space is designed to be locally-responsive and aimed at meeting the ongoing needs of local residents. The nature of the development and the site location will ensure that the development of this site does not impact on the character of the existing settlements.
Design Principles
6.8 The proposal provides for landscape lead scheme which seeks to strengthen and enhance the
character of the area. The key design principles include :
• Residential development to be focused on the western and central parts of the Site, in close proximity to existing residential land uses.
• New pedestrian / cycle connections to connect into the adjacent residential areas and to Friars Park to integrate the proposals with the existing urban area at Shoebury;
• New planting and open space alongside the northern boundary with Poynters Lane to soften views of the new homes from the north and to provide a robust edge to the redefined Green Belt;
• Potential secondary school and SEND site and associated playing fields to be located to the east; and
• Existing rights of way to be retained and enhanced within green routeways.

CONCLUSION & RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS
7.1 In conclusion, and to summarise the main issues pertaining to these representations, a response to
the relevant questions relating to this site are set out below -
Q33. Do you agree that the central woodlands arc and island wetlands, shown on Figure 32 are the most appropriate areas for new regional parklands? Are there any other areas that should be considered or preferred? [Please state reasoning]
7.2 Our client fully supports the delivery of the South Essex Estuary Park, however the current location
and extent of the park needs to be reconsidered. At present, the entirety of the subject site is indicated as a Regional Park. If this position were to be maintained the site will not deliver any new homes or education facilities. It also would not provide publicly accessible open space as the site would remain in private ownership. Therefore, it is considered that to facilitate the delivery of the
parkland and key green connections from the south of the district / Southend -on- Sea up to the River Roach, this site should be allocated for housing and community infrastructure. Our client welcomes the opportunity to engage with the Council and their consultant team to ensure the design of the proposals maximises the potential of the Park and ensures it is deliverable.
Q59b. With reference to Figure 47 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the promoted sites should be made available for any of the following uses? How could that improve the completeness of the Wakerings and Barling?
i) Housing [market, affordable, specialist, traveller, other]
ii) Commercial [offices, industrial, retail, other]
iii) Community infrastructure [open space, education, healthcare, allotments, other]
iv) Other
7.3 As detailed in these representations, it is considered that the subject site should be allocated for
housing and community infrastructure comprising a secondary school. In addition the development
of this site will enhancement green and blue infrastructure including an extension to Friars Park.
7.4 The Consultation details a vision for the Wakerings and Barling which highlights that more services
need to be developed to reduce its reliance on neighbouring towns and ensure villages should have
become more self-sufficient when it comes to homes, jobs and community facilities, including education.
7.5 The Educational Needs Assessment clearly demonstrates that there is a serious shortfall in
Secondary School and SEND provision in the vicinity of Great Wakering and the local area.
Furthermore, the limited provision that does exist in the area is poor performing. This proposal will enable the delivery of a new school which will meet existing and future needs of the locality. This would be of major benefit to the local community. The allocation of this site will also facilitate the delivery of the parkland and key green connections from the south of the district / Southend -on- Sea up to the River Roach.
Conclusion
7.6 Our client fully supports the Council in the preparation of a new Local Plan for Rochford in order to meet local needs and address current deficiencies in the District. The allocation of this site in a highly sustainable location, on land which has a limited contribution in landscape and Green Belt terms will assist the Council in meeting their strategic priorities. This site has the potential to deliver up to 525 homes, facilitate the provision of a Secondary School including scope for SEND provision and
contribute towards the delivery of blue and green infrastructure.
7.7 We welcome the opportunity to discuss the emerging Local Plan preparation and the Council’s proposals for this site in further detail.

Q1. Are there any other technical evidence studies that you feel the Council needs to prepare to inform its new Local Plan, other than those listed in this section?
We feel strongly that a local highways study needs to take place. The document only refers to a study of the main roads in the south Essex infrastructure position statement. This states in 4.2.4 that much of the main road network which leads to our district is operating at, or near, capacity in peak periods.
We cannot understand why Rochford District Council (RDC) would base its planning upon the 2025 flood risk area when developments could reasonably be expected to be in place for more than 100+ years. All evidence from the IPCC and other scientific institutions demonstrate that global sea level rise is a real and presently accelerating threat. In addition, the British Geological survey shows that the Eurasian tectonic plate is tilting along an axis between the Wash and the Bristol Channel, this means that Essex is sinking at a rate of 0.4 to 0.7mm per year (ref. research carried out at Durham University and published in the Journal ‘GSA Today’). These projections are not the worst-case scenario, and the sea level rise could be much worse if climate change continues raising temperatures beyond 1.5 degrees centigrade.
The map generated by Coastal Climate Central for 2050 shows that all of the promoted sites to the west of Hullbridge will be in the flood risk area, and that those to the North East of Hullbridge are also in the flood risk area. RDC needs to ensure that no site at risk of flooding by 2050 is developed.
The Coastal Climate Central 2050 map shows large part of Rochford including Hullbridge below flood levels:
https://coastal.climatecentral.org/map/15/0.6252/51.6246/?theme=sea_level_rise&map_ type=year&basemap=roadmap&contiguous=true&elevation_model=best_available&fo recast_year=2050&pathway=rcp45&percentile=p50&refresh=true&return_level=return_ level_1&slr_model=kopp_2014

Q2. Do you agree with our draft vision for Rochford District?


We believe that the vison should take into consideration the differences in towns and villages; for example, Rayleigh or Rochford may have a more business focus, whereas Hullbridge may be more of a rural community with a greater need to cater for its older population who do not need employment but do need more health services. In principle, the results of this consultation need to feed into it to make specific plans for each settlement.
Q3. Do you agree that we should develop a range of separate visions for each of our settlements to help guide decision-making?


We agree that there should be separate visions for each settlement, however, these should be determined by each Parish Council working with its own residents - this is the appropriate level of localisation. Whilst agreeing with the principle of the localisation approach, it is not visible in the document as a whole. As we have already covered, there should be separate visons for each settlement. In this way it will support planning decisions at a local and district level to ensure the unique character of each distinct settlement remains rather than developing into one indistinct mass.


Q4. Do you agree with the strategic priorities and objectives we have identified?


Strategic Option 2 fails to address the problem of the aging population within the district. This is in large part due to the failure to provide adequate low rent social housing to enable young people to remain in the district and to develop stable family units. The failure of Housing Associations to meet this need is well documented nationally, and locally the largest Housing Association (Sanctuary) has a poor record of maintaining properties and honouring contractual promises made when the RDC’s housing stock transferred. The strategy should provide council housing (preferably directly managed) with genuinely affordable rents and secure tenancies in small local exception sites. There also needs to be provision within these sites for social housing accommodation for elderly residents.
With regard to objective 12 we are concerned that Rayleigh tip has been put forward for development. If so there still needs to be a site for waste disposal close to Rayleigh. The restrictions on vans needs to be lifted to prevent fly tipping.
We believe that sufficient primary school places should be provided within local communities, and steps should be taken to minimise the use of cars to transport children to schools; we are concerned that this is currently not the case.
Strategy Options

Q5. Do you agree with the settlement hierarchy presented?


Yes, the hierarchy seems logical. We feel the strategy should take into account that many more people are working from home, reducing the need to commute to employment centres.
Q6. Which of the identified strategy options do you consider should be taken forward in the Plan?


It seems that some elements of option 1 and 3 will be required but given the requirement to build more homes the least disruptive option preferred by us would be to go for option 3a. Option 3a has the advantage of being close to the existing road hubs (A127 and A130) and services. It would also be of a sufficient scale to attract section 106 funding for vital infrastructure. 3a would also be close to employment opportunities in Wickford and Basildon.

Option 3b would create considerable pressure on the existing road network and would erode the green belt separation of Southend and Rochford.

Option 3c would place development within the flood risk area and not be sustainable without the need for major road building that would open up the green belt to considerable development in the Crouch Valley.

The building of a major bypass road (as promoted by landowners in the past) to deal with congestion caused by 3b and 3c would destroy the green environment of Rochford and generate further development within the green belt. Development in the villages should be small scale and focussed on providing homes for young families and the elderly.

Small ‘exception’ housing developments added to the village settlements could provide council housing, sheltered housing and bungalows to meet the needs of low-income young families and the elderly. Such provision for the elderly could free up existing houses for younger residents and families to purchase.

Q7. Are there any reasonable alternatives to these options that should be considered instead?


Using option 3a as a starting point, other areas could be developed in future using option 1 when the infrastructure is planned and/or in place.
Restrict overdevelopment in rural and village communities to protect the character of village life.

Spatial Themes

Q8. Are there any key spatial themes that you feel we have missed or that require greater emphasis?


We are concerned about the fact that access was denied to the topic papers, and wholeheartedly believe that the existing lifestyle of the area should be protected from overdevelopment.


Q9. Do you agree we should take a sequential approach to flood risk and coastal change in our plan, locating development away from areas at risk of flooding and coastal change wherever possible? How can we best protect current and future communities from flood risk and coastal change?
We agree that it is imperative that both flood risk and coastal change should be central to any development plans going forward; for us in Hullbridge, many of the proposed sites to the west of the existing settlement are projected to be deep within flooding territory by 2050, as are numerous ones in the east as well. With 2050 now less than three decades away, and no sign of any imminent alteration in the path of climate change, development in any of the areas identified to be in potential flood plains today and in the near future must not be considered.


Q10. Do you agree that the Coastal Protection Belt and Upper Roach Valley should be protected from development that would be harmful to their landscape character? Are there other areas that you feel should be protected for their special landscape character?


The main concern that we have about the Coastal Protection Belt is that it only extends up until 2025 – other areas would need to be included past this date because, as we have mentioned previously, the flood plains across the Rochford district will be vastly different by 2050. It is our view that any and all housing developments proposed in flood plains, current and near future, must not be approved and those that are approved should be given the assurance of protection from flooding over the coming decades. Closer to home, we believe that the river front in Hullbridge should equally be protected for its special landscape character. We would also like to make it known we are very supportive and enthusiastic about the Central Woodlands Arc and the Island Wetland proposals.


Q11. Do you agree we should require development to source a percentage of their energy from low-carbon and renewable sources? Are there other opportunities in the District to supply low-carbon or renewable energy?


Providing that the development is affordable and deliverable, and the cost is not lumped onto the buyer for many years to come then this is the right decision as the future rests in renewable energy. A solar farm in a place that will not impact its surroundings to solar panels ought to be considered and/or wind turbines on Foulness Island.


Q12. Do you agree we should require new development to achieve energy efficiency standards higher than building regulations? What level should these be set at?


Ideally BREEAM Very Good or Good, as long as the brunt of the cost is not rested on the shoulders of the buyer and that these homes are affordable.

Q13. How do you feel the plan can help to support the local generation of low-carbon and renewable energy? Are there locations where you feel energy generation should be supported?


The installation of wind and solar power generators, in locations such as Foulness, would certainly assist in supporting the local generation of low-carbon and renewable energy which is a necessity in the modern day.

Q14. Do you consider that the plan should include a place-making charter that informs relevant policies? Should the same principles apply everywhere in the District, or should different principles apply to different areas?
Yes, these should be settlement specific, to allow for the maintenance of the integrity and specific characteristics of each area, sufficiently detailed to avoid confusion, and widely distributed.

Q15. Are the principles set out in the draft place-making charter the right ones? Are there other principles that should be included?


Yes, provided individual settlements are consulted and these are adhered to.

Q16a. Do you consider that new design guides, codes or masterplans should be created alongside the new Local Plan?
Yes, providing that each individual settlement is at the heart of it and considered as their own entities with their own individual characteristics. It is imperative that certain areas are protected completely, and that any future developers are aware of the identified characteristics of each area.

Q16b. If yes, do you think it is more appropriate to have a single design guide/code for the whole District, or to have design guides/codes/masterplans for individual settlements or growth areas?


Design guides should be area specific under one singular guide which is inclusive to the whole district – providing it remains flexible to local conditions.

Q16c. What do you think should be included in design guides/codes/masterplans at the scale you are suggesting?

As long as the character and aesthetic are maintained concurrently with necessary growth, nothing else needs to be included.

Housing for All

Q17. With reference to the options listed above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best plan to meet our need for different types, sizes and tenures of housing?


Meet the need for different types, sizes and tenures of housing (including Affordable, Social, Council and Specialist Housing) by requiring a standard non-negotiable mix of housing to be provided on all housing developments.
New homes should meet the standards set out in Parts M4(2) or M4(3) of Building Regulations.

Q18. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there areas or sites in Rochford that you feel require a specific approach to housing types, size and tenure? What is required to meet housing needs in these areas?

There is too much focus currently across the district on the provision of 4/5 bedroom properties. This focus needs to shift towards 2/3 bedroom properties which would benefit more local residents/families in search of their first home. "Affordable" homes should not only be flats/apartments but other property types also.
1/2 bed bungalows (or similar) should be a priority, as with an ageing population, there will be increasing demand for such properties when elderly residents are looking to downsize. RDC should actively discourage bungalows being converted into larger properties. Additional provision for residential care is also a priority.
These can all be accommodated within Strategy Option 3a.

Q19. Are there any other forms of housing that you feel we should be planning for? How can we best plan to meet the need for that form of housing?


Affordable homes and social housing to enable single persons or families buy or rent their own home.
Specialist homes for the disabled.
Smaller dedicated properties for the older generation, to enable them to downsize from larger properties, thereby freeing-up larger properties for younger families.

Q20. With reference to the options listed, or your own options, what do you think is the most appropriate way of meeting our permanent Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs?


The failure to provide traveller sites has led to many unauthorised sites within the green belt being granted planning permission on appeal. With Michelin Farm no longer being an option, RDC needs to identify an alternative appropriate site(s) either from within its ownership or purchased specifically for the purpose. This site(s) should be located so that it (they) does not cause difficulties with established communities; fly-tipping and the impact on nearby residents being just one example. Perhaps, particular consideration of a contained site(s) within the Green Belt, so as to obviate the likelihood of unplanned, piecemeal and unauthorised sites fragmenting the green belt.
Consideration also needs to be given to the fact that there are different groups within the Traveller communities who do not want to be placed together and perhaps ways can be found to integrate these into everyday life and housing.

Q21. With reference to the options listed, or your own options, what do you think is the most appropriate way of meeting our temporary Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs?


Some Traveller Groups tend to make their own arrangements to use owned land on a temporary basis. RDC needs to identify a site(s) either from within its ownership or purchased specifically for this purpose. It (they) would need to be sufficiently away from residences that they would not be disturbed or troubled by vehicles/caravans arriving or leaving. Perhaps a pre-payment/booking system could be introduced for this purpose and at the same time, reducing the likelihood of over-crowding.

Q22. What do you consider would need to be included in a criteria-based policy for assessing potential locations for new Gypsy and Traveller sites?
Locate sites close to main roads to enable easy access for large vehicles, so that residential roads are not congested and nearby residents are not disturbed. Allow a little room for expansion and limit the likelihood encroachment onto neighbouring land.
Locate away from spaces of national, regional, local or community interest or recreation, so as not to spoil the visual amenity of the landscape.
The sites should not be closed and available to the whole Traveller community.

Employment and Jobs

Q23. With reference to the options listed above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best ensure that we meet our employment and skills needs through the plan?


In addition to employment option 11 which states: Working with neighbouring authorities to identify land for higher or further education facilities where this would address current and future skills shortages, information should be collected and made available on where there are shortages or opportunities coming up. Offer advice to adults wishing to or needing to reskill. Provide local affordable adult education courses on the skills needed. Work with employers, education centres and Essex County Council.

With reference to employment option 4 that states: Meeting future needs by prioritising the delivery of new employment space alongside any new strategic housing developments. This should apply to the larger scale developments described in spatial strategy option 3. Employment option 4 goes on to specify live work units as an option. This would help with increasing numbers of people working from home. Also start up business centres and co-working spaces would be useful and there are many self-employed people and small businesses in this area. A sympathetic attitude is required towards people running a business from home provided that the impact on the surrounding area is minimal.

In all of this we need to be mindful of paragraph 83 of the NPPF which requires policies and decisions to accommodate local business needs in a way which is sensitive to the surroundings and prioritises the reuse of existing sites and buildings.

Q24. With reference to Figure 30, do you consider the current employment site allocations to provide enough space to meet the District’s employment needs through to 2040? Should we seek to formally protect any informal employment sites for commercial uses, including those in the green belt?


Consider any brownfield site for employment use these are currently mainly getting used for housing. There needs to be employment opportunities even in the smaller settlements if we are going to be greener and cut down on transport use. Employment option 6 states: Meeting future needs by prioritising the regularisation of informal employment sites such as those shown on figure 30. This would make employment accessible to people living in the rural communities especially if other farms able to do this could also be identified. Most of the sites are in the western half of the district it would be useful to identify a few more sites in the east to make this a policy that serves the whole district.

Any use that is not heavily disruptive to the surrounding area should be permitted. Planning officers should be able to permit reasonable adjustments requested by residents to make extensions and adaptations to their homes to accommodate working from home or running a business from home.

Q25. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver new employment facilities or improvements to existing employment facilities?


Our preferred spatial strategy option is 3a. Concentrated growth is required to bring the necessary infrastructure to make business and employment growth viable. There needs to be links to main roads to accommodate the commercial traffic required to service industry. Improvements to public transport to employment sites are needed.

Employment option 4 which states: Meeting future needs by prioritising the delivery of new employment space alongside any new strategic housing developments, could be delivered by strategy 3a.

Employment Strategy 6, which meets future needs by prioritising the regularisation of informal employment sites, would help deliver more businesses and employment. Employment option 3 refers to Saxon Business Park, Michelin Farm and Star Lane; we should continue to expand and improve these sites. However this needs to be done in conjunction with other options not as a stand-alone policy. These two strategies are needed and can be included in any of the spatial options.

Q26. Are there any particular types of employment site or business accommodation that you consider Rochford District is lacking, or would benefit from?


Sites set aside for education and health uses in addition to the services they provide, they also provide good employment opportunities. Sites also for High and Low Technology. Foulness would be ideal for green industries.

Q27. Are there other measures we can take through the plan to lay the foundations for long-term economic growth, e.g. skills or connectivity?


Provide appropriate schools and colleges to serve the increase in population due to high development, but locate with public transport links and accessibility by walking or cycling in mind. Also work with neighbouring authorities to identify land for higher or further education facilities where this would address current and future skills shortages as stated in employment option 11.

Work with bus companies and Essex County Council to make our existing employment sites as accessible as possible. Improve footpaths and cycle tracks using government funding applied for by Rochford District Council. Move away from planning employment sites in places that are designed to be accessed by car use. Some employment is going to have to be close to settlements. This of course would have to be take into account paragraph 83 of the NPPF which requires policies and decisions to accommodate local business needs in a way which is sensitive to the surroundings and prioritises the reuse of existing sites and buildings.

Q28. With reference to the options listed above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best manage the Airport’s adaptations and growth through the planning system?


Protect the airport and encourage airport linked transport adjacent or close to the airport eg, existing airport industrial park and Saxon Business Park. Both airport growth and industry will promote jobs.

The transport system both road network and public transport needs to be improved to make these growing opportunities accessible for all.

Biodiversity

Q29. Do you agree that the plan should designate and protect areas of land of locally important wildlife value as a local wildlife site, having regard to the Local Wildlife Sites review? Are there any other sites that you feel are worthy of protection?


YES

While Hockley Woods does not seem to be mentioned here, we would have thought this ancient woodland (and similar woodland), and its important wildlife habitat should be included as it provides for a number of rare species including lesser spotted woodpeckers and hawfinches.

The lower Crouch Valley, the River Crouch and its banks are important habitats for fauna including birds that are on the endangered species red list. This includes curlews, whimbrels, and other wading birds. The pasture land flanking the Crouch towards Battlesbridge is an important habitat for skylarks and other species; these areas should be protected.
Restrict development in all other green belt areas, in order to protect nature. Alongside this, provide protection for nature reserves, parkland and areas fronting rivers.

Q30. Do you agree that the plan should designate and protect areas of land of locally important geological value as a local geological site, having regard to the Local Wildlife Sites review? Are there any other sites that you feel are worthy of protection


Yes, as we have already stated, many areas provide habitats for endangered or rare wildlife and therefore are more than worthy of protection.

Q31. Do you consider net gains for biodiversity are best delivered on-site or off-site? Are there specific locations or projects where net gain projects could be delivered?

Onsite reduced developments in general will assist moving new developments to high unemployment areas.
We agree with the central woodlands arc and island wetlands proposals.

Green and Blue Infrastructure

Q32. With reference to the options above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best deliver a quality green and blue infrastructure network through the plan?


More investment is required in many areas of infrastructure, from roads to general services. It would be beneficial to green ideals to restrict or ban development in or near green belt sites and to keep development in the rural areas to a minimum.

Q33. With reference to the options above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best deliver a quality green and blue infrastructure network through the plan?


By lobbying central government to allow revision of RDC plans to support a quality green and blue infrastructure.
Q34. With referene to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to help deliver new strategic green and blue infrastructure?


Concentrate on brownfield and town sites in order to protect rural communities and the green belt – as previously alluded, options 3 or 4 mean less development in rural areas and are therefore more accommodating to the needs of smaller rural areas like Hullbridge, hence our choice of option 3a.

Community Infrastructure

Q35. With reference to the options above, or your own options, how can we address the need for sufficient and accessible community infrastructure through the plan?


Build property where there is existing infrastructure or where infrastructure can be expanded without encroaching on green belt etc.
A survey needs to be carried out on local roads to determine what is needed to be upgraded to achieve any sustainable way for traffic, both domestic and that which uses these as through roads.
With reference to Hullbridge much of it is unadopted roads and cannot support any development, let alone be able to accommodate the use of these roads as through roads for both building access and ultimate through road access to any development.

Provide schools for development areas and provide transport links to these schools. Local schools, both primary and secondary, are already struggling with the increase in pupil numbers coupled with limited capacity.

Q36. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver new or improved community infrastructure?


Funds were given via section 106 to expand Hullbridge Healthcare Centre and provide more school places - neither of these has happened. The section 106 money from the existing Malyons Farm development urgently needs to be made available to both the Hullbridge Healthcare Centre and the Hullbridge Primary School.
More development would make the situation untenable, particularly if further section 106 monies were withheld by RDC and not allocated to benefitting the local community where new developments are built.

Q37. Are there areas in the District that you feel have particularly severe capacity or access issues relating to community infrastructure, including schools, healthcare facilities or community facilities? How can we best address these?

Even with section 106 grants, if made available, healthcare facilities in Hullbridge are severely restricted, especially since the pandemic due to doctor shortage. Further development in Hullbridge would worsen healthcare provision and, even with section 106 grants if released by RDC, will not improve the situation.
Whilst this is outside the control of RDC, developments would cause serious issues particularly as Hullbridge traditionally has an ageing population - one which is obviously more reliant on healthcare, alongside the inevitability of new patients from current and any new developments.
There are currently inadequate or no existent bus and footpath links to areas east of Hullbridge, such as the Dome Area. Any development to the east of Hullbridge would have transport difficulty and also the impact on Lower Road would be unacceptable; this would be the case even bus links were improved.
The same approach needs to be taken with schools and highways and new residents could be short- changed without easy access to schools, healthcare and employment.
Open Spaces and Recreation

Q38. With reference to the options above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best meet our open space and sport facility needs through the plan?


With reference to open spaces and recreation option 5, we should improve and maintain what we already have, using section 106 money for improvements. We should ensure that any section 106 money does get spent how and where it was intended. No section 106 money should end up being unused.

We should improve bus links to existing facilities in the district, for example Clements Hall where buses used to run in the past (at least in the school holiday periods). There should be an aim to provide permanent all year-round bus services to our main leisure sites.

The Hockley ‘Park Run’ is very popular. Should the proposed Central Woodlands Arc come into being it would be ideal for a park run. Orienteering could be an interesting additional activity; local scouting groups, and schooling groups too, would certainly benefit from this.

Q39. Are the potential locations for 3G pitch investment the right ones? Are there other locations that we should be considering?


We should ensure that any proposal for a 3G pitch has the backing of local residents. For reference, in 2016 a 3G pitch was applied for planning permission by The Fitzwimarc School but turned down by Rochford District Council due the objections of local residents.
The Hullbridge Recreation Ground would be ideal for a new 3G pitch.

Q40. Are the listed potential hub sites and key centres the right ones? Are there other locations that we should be considering?


Primary Schools should also be considered along with any site that could host a hockey or a 5 a side pitch.

Q41. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to help deliver improvements to open space or sport facility accessibility or provision?


Our preferred spatial strategy option is 3a. The section 106 money that comes with the larger developments has more chance of providing good sustainable new facilities.
A bus service needs to be run to facilities like Clements Hall, at least during half term and school holidays, to enable young people to access it from areas where it is currently difficult to access by public transport; this has been done in the past to access sports and in particularly swimming facilities which are not available in Hullbridge or Rawreth.
Swimming facilities were excluded from the Rawreth Lane sport facility.

Q42. Are there particular open spaces that we should be protecting or improving?


Hullbridge Recreation Ground. Our nature reserves, parks and woodlands to promote walking and other appropriate exercising activities.

Heritage

Q43. With reference to the options listed in this section, or your own options, how do you feel we can best address heritage issues through the plan?


Protect village and rural areas from over or inappropriate development through careful planning considerations.

Compose a list of sites with local consultation. Then look maintain them with local residents and organisations.


Q44. Are there areas of the District we should be considering for conservation area status beyond those listed in this section?


Villages fronting riversides: Hullbridge, Paglesham, Canewdon, South Fambridge.

Q45. Are there any buildings, spaces or structures that should be protected for their historic, cultural or architectural significance? Should these be considered for inclusion on the Local List of non-designated assets?


As with protected sites a consultation needs to be done for each locality. With reference to Hullbridge, in addition to the old school, Shell Cottage and River Cottage are already listed. We would add the school house next to the school, Brick Cottages, Tap's Cottage and the Anchor Cottages if they are not already listed/locally listed buildings.

Town Centres and Retail

Q46. With reference to the options listed above, or your own options, how do you think we can best plan for vibrant town centres in Rochford, Rayleigh and Hockley? How can we also ensure our village and neighbourhood centres remain vibrant? [Please state]


Market forces are moving purchases online so town centres need to be more accessible and convenient to encourage day shopping, and also increase night time business where appropriate to take up capacity lost from retail.

Improve transport links to town shopping and amenities. There is no transport link from the Dome that would take their residents into nearby Hockley for example. There are no easy transport links from Hullbridge to Hockley or Rochford.

Q47. Do you agree with the local centre hierarchy set out in Figure 36? If not, what changes would you make? [Please state reasoning]


Protecting businesses generally will not work as commercially if they are not profitable, they will close and we will have empty shops. Rochford District Council needs to encourage business with free parking and reduced business rates.

Businesses should be encouraged to work together with a co-operative nature, or a number of shops all open a little later one night of the week to make it worth shoppers coming out in the early evening. Local eateries could offer special deals on those nights.

Community events that encourage shops and businesses to join in – fairs, celebrations, etc.

Q48. With reference to Figures 38, 39 and 40, do you agree with existing town centre boundaries and extent of primary and secondary shopping frontages in Rayleigh, Rochford and Hockley? If not, what changes would you make? [Please state reasoning]


Keep streets clean and tidy, and repair and repaint street furniture regularly. Conserve the character of the town centres by avoiding high rise development and buildings that are at odds with the street scene.

Q49. Should we continue to restrict appropriate uses within town centres, including primary and secondary shopping frontages within those centres? If yes, what uses should be restricted? [Please state reasoning]


Some existing ok but links to, e.g., Clements Hall from Hullbridge non-existent.

Businesses cannot be forced into staying unless benefits outlined in Q47 are adhered to which may encourage some business opportunities and current business to remain.

Q50. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver improved retail and leisure services in the District? [Please state reasoning]


Spatial strategy 3a will give the most opportunity to expand retail both in terms of including retail space and bringing customers into the town centres nearest to the new developments. The document mentions a cinema. The best site for this would be Saxon Business Park. A bowling alley would work well with this alongside some eateries.

Transport and Connectivity

Q51. With reference to the options above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best address our transport and connectivity needs through the plan?


Certainly, prepare an Infrastructure Delivery Plan that would deliver meaningful improvement to transport networks, including but not exclusively, cycle routes, walking pathways, public transport and roads. However, all these modes are currently completely stretched; modernisation and improvements to all need to happen before future housing developments are built. It should be noted that following the last developments in the Core Strategy, as far as Hullbridge is concerned (and almost certainly elsewhere also), the promised improvements have either not materialised, been completed or proven to be inadequate.
The plan needs to deliver improvements to public transport by working with bus companies to re-establish bus routes to isolated communities that have been either been terminated or severely curtailed. For example, ‘The Dome’ has a bus service twice a week. Residents regularly complain that they are isolated from everywhere else. It is also claimed that Hullbridge has its own bus service that runs 4 - 7 times a day. This is not the experience of Hullbridge residents and it only needs the slightest issue along Hullbridge Road for the service to either be even further curtailed or suspended entirely.
RDC need to continue to work with Government, Highways England, Essex CC etc to deliver meaningful road improvements to both the main road arteries and to the local road network. However, any large-scale bypass scheme such as the "Southend Outer Bypass" scheme needs to be opposed. Not only would it cut directly through the Green Belt but it would increase development along its course, which in turn would have enormous negative impact on the Green Belt itself, natural habitats and the environment generally.

Q52. Are there areas where improvements to transport connections are needed?


Whilst some improvements are shortly to commence at the Fairglen Interchange and A130, further improvements are needed to the Junction of Rawreth Lane and the A1245. Perhaps also the A127 could be widened along its length from four lanes to six lanes.
Additionally, the bus service between Hullbridge and Rayleigh can be cut with the slightest issue along Hullbridge Road and this needs to be addressed urgently. When this happens it consequently results in more vehicles using Hullbridge road, which in turn exacerbates traffic congestion and leads to other problems such as pollution.
A bus service between Rochford and Rayleigh via Hullbridge and Hockley and Rayleigh via Hullbridge would serve to reduce traffic congestion along Lower Road, especially at "rush" hours. This would benefit residents of the Dome as well as properties along the length of Lower Road. It would also serve to provide access for Hullbridge students to access the Greensward Academy that does not exist currently.

Q53. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver new transport connections, such as link roads or rapid transit? What routes and modes should these take? [walking, cycling, rail, bus, road etc.]
Improvements to existing road networks. Large scale bypass schemes, such as the “Southend Outer” bypass would be unacceptable because of the hugely detrimental impact on the Green Belt and its physical and natural environment.
Small low top busses to link smaller communities with larger ones. Trams not a viable option for the more rural areas as roads are too narrow and winding; additionally, would increase congestion on existing roads.
Improvements to the cycle path network, extending and linking the network as and where appropriate and safe.

Green Belt and Rural Issues

Q54. Do you feel that the plan should identify rural exception sites? If so, where should these be located and what forms of housing or employment do you feel need to be provided?


Yes, but not within the Green Belt and Rural and Village life must be safeguarded.
Any such sites must be small scale and have developments that prioritise genuinely "Affordable" homes and/or Social Housing that would benefit local residents/families most.

Q55. Are there any other ways that you feel the plan should be planning for the needs of rural communities?
Support changes that would require developers of 10 units or less to pay something akin to s.106/CIL monies, that would go towards infrastructure improvements, particularly those affecting rural communities.

Planning for Complete Communities

Q56a. Do you agree with our vision for Rayleigh? Is there anything you feel is missing?


N/A


Q56c. Are there areas in Rayleigh that development should generally be presumed appropriate?


N/A


Q56d. Are there areas that require protecting from development?


N/A


Q56e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 44 hold local significance? Are there any other open spaces that hold particular local significance?


N/A

Q57a. Do you agree with our vision for Rochford and Ashingdon?



N/A

Q57b. With reference to Figure 45 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses?


N/A


Q57c. Are there areas in Rochford and Ashingdon that development should generally be presumed appropriate?


N/A


Q57d. Are there areas that require protecting from development?


N/A



Q57e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 45 hold local significance?

N/A

Q58a. Do you agree with our vision for Hockley and Hawkwell?

N/A

Q58b. With reference to Figure 46 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses?

N/A

Q58c. Are there areas in Hockley and Hawkwell that development should generally be presumed appropriate?


N/A

Q58d. Are there areas that require protecting from development?


N/A



Q57e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 46 hold local significance? Are there any other open spaces that hold particular local significance?


N/A


Q59a. Do you agree with our vision for the Wakerings and Barling? Is there anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]

N/A

Q59b. With reference to Figure 47 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses?


N/A




Q59c. Are there areas in the Wakerings and Barling that development should generally be presumed appropriate? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]


N/A





Q59d. Are there areas that require protecting from development? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]


N/A


Q59e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 47 hold local significance? Are there any other open spaces that hold particular local significance? [Please state reasoning]


N/A


Q60a. Do you agree with our vision for Hullbridge?


We do not agree with the wording or the aims of the provided vision statement for Hullbridge and have instead drafted our own (see below). We were sceptical about the suggestion that the river could be used for transport without consideration on the viability or environmental impact of this proposal.

Hullbridge will have expanded on its already self-reliant nature, boasting impressive local businesses and amenities – providing a perfect space for those who wish to enjoy their retirement as well as those with young families. Through small, localised and respectable developments, the thriving community and riverside aesthetic of the village remains as strong as ever; all of this has been achieved through the transparency and openness of different local authorities, residents, businesses and developers on any and all developments going forward.

Q60b. With reference to Figure 48 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses?


The biggest issue with further development in Hullbridge is the distinct lack of infrastructure – whether that be roads, schools, transport and other general services – and so, without even mentioning the fact that many sites lay within the projected 2050 flood plains, the suggestion that further development can take place on any considerable scale is untenable. Any consideration of commercial or community infrastructure, such as youth services, care facilities, or local businesses would equally need to be subject to the same discussion and scrutiny.

Q60c. With reference to Figure 48 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses?


All of the areas lie within the green belt, and many will be within the projected 2050 flood plains, and so general appropriateness is not met with any; numerous promoted sites are outside walking distance of the majority of services and as such would increase residents using vehicles and increase reliance on our already stretched local infrastructure.

Q60d. Are there areas in Hullbridge that development should generally be presumed appropriate?


Significant portions of Hullbridge remain vital for local wildlife, its habitats, and the natural environment. As such, any and all developments along the River Crouch, the surrounding areas of Kendal Park and those that lie north of Lower Road should be protected from development.

Q60e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 48 hold local significance? Are there areas that require protecting from development?


Yes, all of those identified as such in Figure 48 are definitely areas of local significance and are correct to be identified as such. Other areas that should be outlined include the Rose Garden, the banks of the River Crouch and the upcoming green space and Memorial Gardens provided as part of the recent Malyons Farm development.

Q61a. Do you agree with our vision for Canewdon? Is there anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]


N/A


Q61b. With reference to Figure 49 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses? How could that improve the completeness of Canewdon?


N/A


Q61c. Are there areas in Canewdon that development should generally be presumed appropriate? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]


N/A


Q61d. Are there areas that require protecting from development? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]

N/A

Q61e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 49 hold local significance? Are there any other open spaces that hold particular local significance? [Please state reasoning]

N/A



Q62a. Do you agree with our vision for Great Stambridge? Is there anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]


N/A


Q62b. With reference to Figure 50 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses? How could that improve the completeness of Great Stambridge?


N/A


Q62c. Are there areas in Great Stambridge that development should generally be presumed appropriate? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]

N/A



Q62d. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 50 hold local significance? Are there any other open spaces that hold particular local significance? [Please state reasoning]

N/A



Q63a. Do you agree with our vision for Rawreth? Is there anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]


N/A





Q63b. With reference to Figure 51 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses?


N/A


Q63c. Are there areas in Rawreth that development should generally be presumed appropriate? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]


N/A


Q63d. Are there areas that require protecting from development? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]


N/A


Q63e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 51 hold local significance? Are there any other open spaces that hold particular local significance? [Please state reasoning]


N/A


Q64a. Do you agree with our vision for Paglesham? Is there anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]


N/A


Q64b. With reference to Figure 52 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses?


N/A


Q64c. Are there areas in Paglesham that development should generally be presumed appropriate? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]


N/A

Q64d. Are there areas that require protecting from development? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]


N/A


Q65a. Do you agree with our vision for Sutton and Stonebridge? Is there anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]


N/A


Q65b. With reference to Figure 53 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the land edged blue should be made available for any of the following uses?


N/A


Q65c. Are there areas in Sutton and Stonebridge that development should generally be presumed appropriate? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]


N/A


Q65d. Are there areas that require protecting from development? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]


N/A


Q65e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on Figure 53 hold local significance? Are there any other open spaces that hold particular local significance? [Please state reasoning]


N/A






Q66. Do you agree that our rural communities do not require individual vision statements? Are there communities that you feel should have their own vision? [Please state reasoning]


No - All communities should have their own individual, locally determined vision statements, especially the more rural ones. Each settlement has its own distinct character and the vision statement would serve to aid the planning process in safeguarding their individual character.

Q67. Do you agree with our vision for our rural communities? Is there anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]


Yes in the broadest terms. We would want it to re-iterate that the individual character and seeming uniqueness of our rural communities needs to be, and will be, safeguarded. By extension, we would like to see more activity in this regard from all tiers of Government.

Q68. Are there other courses of action the Council could take to improve the completeness of our rural communities?


Respect the green belt that surrounds our rural communities and our higher tier settlements; thereby ensuring a buffer ("defensible boundary") that would actively prevent communities merging into one conglomeration.

Create a Country Park to the west of Hullbridge.

Improve village roads, transport, educational and utility infrastructure. All of which are already in desperate need of improvement and renovation. For example, it is questionable whether the sewerage system in Hullbridge could cope with any further development without expansion and upgrading.

Ref Spatial Options Paper
Rochford District Local Plan response / comments
Question numbers followed by comment
Q1 I believe that RDC should conduct a study to check the validity of the government’s target of 7,200 to 10,800 homes with the Rochford District. The study should check whether facilities and infrastructure have kept pace with development over the last 5 decades (not whether the infrastructure can be stretched further to cope but has it increased in line with development in the past).
Q1 RDC must take a proactive role in studying traffic increase when developing the Local Plan, not simply rely on Essex County Council advice.
If the government’s requirement, which could easily increase the District’s population by 30%, were found to be at odds with the infrastructural and facility capacities of the district then RDC should vigorously challenge government targets and seek a reduced more appropriate level of development during the plan period.
Q1 RDC should study opportunities to impose solar panels and other environmental features on all new developments. Recent and current development show no sign of adopting such measures therefore we cannot rely of a voluntary code. This must become an RDC Planning Policy with conditions imposed on all new approved applications. If support from central government required then they should be approached as a matter of some urgency.
Q1 RDC should conduct an air quality study throughout the district, not just at a very limited selected locations (all main roads and junctions in particular).
Q2 Draft Vision is far too optimistic and does not address the realities of current situation and challenges of the future.
Our vision should include respect for residents views – especially when consulted (which should be frequent).
Our Vision should include more infrastructure and facilities for existing communities which have already grown to a capacity population eg Rayleigh during recent waves of development. This infrastructure must be in place before new development is permitted
Rochford District vision should aim maintain green boundaries of individual communities - no merging of towns and villages at the boundary.
Our vision should include a desire for no further substantial boundary developments in and around Rayleigh and Rawreth, no more urban extension. The logic is that the old main roads (B roads etc.), that support the town are overburdened and cannot cope with additional traffic.
Our vision for the Plan period should be that if additional development is proved to be necessary within the Local Plan, then it should be sited in a separate ‘Garden Village’ development away from existing communities (separate from towns, villages and hamlets), with new infrastructure and roads connecting to existing main roads such as Eastern Avenue with its nearby facilities and retail opportunities.

Q5 Rayleigh is the biggest town in population and is currently undergoing yet another round of significant additional residential development in the form of urban expansion. It is therefore of deep concern that public facilities such as Mill Hall and Council Chamber are proposed to be removed from Rayleigh. It is suggested that the Council Debating Chamber be relocated to a town lower down in the hierarchy list. This is against overwhelming public opposition expressed in the Public Consultation (Engagement). Therefore the Local Plan review should consider whether hierarchy refers to population the Council serves or some other measurement which dictates where public facilities should go.

Q6 in view of public concern in most of the communities in the district, a new Garden Village Development in the east of the district, away from existing communities, should become policy, even if it regrettably it encroaches on greenbelt/agricultural land (most development will be on agricultural land anyway unless sufficient existing brownfield sites can be identified. Sites within the District that should be considered for a Garden Village new settlement are CFS155, CFS260Z, CFS260AE, CFS260AE, CFS260H, CFS260AK, CFS071, CFS071, CFS260G.
Urban extension of our existing communities is no longer acceptable in the RDC area.
Q10 Answer is NO, I do not agree. We are obliged to consider all areas if we are forced to accept new development by government. No such policy should be approved.
Q11, Q12 + Q13 RDC should demand solar panels and other environmental additions for all new housing schemes and industrial and commercial developments. The large ‘sheds’ in industrial / commercial areas would be excellent location for solar energy collection. However RDC need to do something positive about it and uphold robust planning policy on the subject not merely refer to it in the minor text of reports.
Where solar farms and wind farms are approved on agricultural land. The developers must be legally obliged to re-instate as agricultural land when their solar or wind farm etc. use is withdrawn / removed / not commenced. It should be a policy of RDC to demand legal guarantees regarding the same.
Q16 in particular item b, design guidelines should be just that – guidelines. It is not appropriate to have neo Georgian or pastiche Victorian dormers imposed on a 1960’s or mid 20th century properties. 50,60 and 70 year old property will be the heritage properties of the near future. Although not a strict rule this also applies to our town centres, shops and conservation areas.

Q18 modest starter homes for local people required, including some social housing. This is contrary to developer’s normal practice of building high value / high profit homes. RDC should challenge national government about this if they have a problem with adopting this as policy.
RDC should avoid flats especially in our crowded town centres and should generally stop all residential development in town centres, in particular Rayleigh Conservation Area, other than already accepted policy of change of use for rooms above shops as per current Local Plan.
Q20 it is important to have a well regulated Travellers Site approved, away from our communities, in order to avoid uncontrollable development of other land (as seen in recent times).
Q21 previously identified site close to A1245 / A127 junction (west side)
Q22 Travellers sites should be well regulated with clear unbreachable green boundaries.
Q23 Town centre and commercial land should not be used for housing.
Q25 the recent move to home working from former city based office working in London etc, should be carefully considered when predicting future work patterns. The change will inevitably lead to new commercial opportunities within the district that will require flexibility and commercial opportunities in our town centres and industrial estates. These sites should not be used for housing.
Q29 open/agricultural land on the edge towns and villages is very important to conserve. However the strict protection of remote agricultural land at the expense of open land close to our communities should be opposed. We have for too long sacrificed our communities on the altar of green belt protection in remote areas.
Q30 a few special sites should be protected (SSI’s etc), but the current boundaries of our towns must also be protected. They too preserve wildlife and precious environmental assets. Town and village boundary green spaces give opportunities for our population to enjoy recreation without resorting to driving to distant green locations.
Q34 A Garden Village in the east of the district away from existing communities is the best option for any essential future development. Reasoning: we have already had too much urban extension, time to do something different for future decades of growth.
Q35 & Q36 new Garden Village with new infrastructure paid for by developer.
Q37 There is very little additional capacity Rayleigh in particular, also in all other towns and villages generally in the RDC area. The burden of traffic on centuries old roads causes delay and further air pollution problems. Leaving Rayleigh at many busy times can often take as much time as a 20 mile journey after leaving the town.
Q44 It is vital that Rayleigh’s existing Conservation area be protected from housing development, views of the listed Windmill and Mount must be protected. The Civic Suite our link with local democracy with it’s historic Council Chamber should preserved and used. It is the top town in the hierarchy as stated in the draft Local Plan, with the biggest population. Therefore it is illogical to remove these facilities from the town. The beautiful gardens to the rear of Barringtons / Civic Suite – a significant part of the Rayleigh Conservation Area – should be protected.
Rayleigh’s Conservation Area should also be extended to the south as far as Rayleigh Weir under the Local Plan review. Although there are a small number of less attractive shops and restaurants close to the Police Station (buildings of their time), which could be designated an improvement area, this quickly changes to grand historic buildings of significance; the Library, Salvation Army chapel, Love Lane School, the old Post Office, former Elephant and Castle pub on the corner of Castle Road, the Baptist Chapel from the late 18th century, the Paul Pry which is not listed, the grand Rayleigh House and cottages opposite (none listed), right down to the Beautiful Weir Farm. It is not just the buildings that make a conservation area, fine trees and vegetation, in abundance at these locations, also make an important contribution in this area. . We should value High Road - the entry into Rayleigh – to a much greater extent. It should be incorporated into an enlarged Rayleigh Conservation Area. There has been survey evidence of resident approval of an extension to the Conservation Area (I can provide details if required).

Q45 Additional buildings local list buildings in Rayleigh Mill Hall, Civic Suite with Council Chamber, Rayleigh Library,( Paul Pry pub, Rayleigh House and old Post Office if not already on the List). The principle of adding to the list is a good one and should be considered during the Local Plan process with public input.
Q46 keep all parking spaces, make them easily accessible and affordable, maintain town centre facilities and shops. Do not allow residential development in Rayleigh Conservation Area which will lead to downgrading of shopping facilities and the loss of community assets like Mill Hall and Civic Suite.
Q47 the natural hierarchy of Rayleigh is threatened by proposed housing development of COL07 and COL20.
Q50 we must protect Rayleigh with it’s vibrant town centre with shopping and other facilities. The biggest threat to Rayleigh Town Centre and Conservation Area is the District Council’s own plan to demolish and promote residential development on sites COL07 AND COL20. RDC has a vested interest in these development sites. This must not sway their impartial creation of a Local Plan.
Q51 RDC must retain all its Rayleigh town centre car parking.The Rayleigh car parks are unusually attractive and do not receive adequate recognition of their contribution to the town’s Conservation Area, views of historic buildings, parks and gardens. They add significantly to the the town centre vitality. Building on any part of them should be forbidden.
Q53 safe cycle routes requires more attention and support in the new RDC Local Plan.

Q56 Vision statement ignores major traffic problems in Rayleigh. I would challenge the optimistic words about walking distances. Rayleigh has grown to such an extent that walking to the town centre is impractical for many of the new developments. There must be no further urban extension developments in / around Rayleigh / Rawreth.
All potential development areas around Rayleigh and Rawreth should be excluded from development sites in the new Local Plan. This is important in view of the enormous amount of urban expansion during past decades and lack of infrastructure and facilities. I strongly object to site COL07 (Mill Hall, car park and green) and also site COL20 Civic Suite with landscaped gardens to the rear being included in the Local Plan as future residential development sites.

Under Section 71 of the Planning (listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and other legislation Rochford District Council has a duty to preserve and enhance the Rayleigh Conservation Area. Both sites are surrounded by listed buildings and a Scheduled Ancient Monument in the case of Mill Hall, neither should not be developed for housing. The setting of the listed buildings are also greatly enhanced by the gardens and the landscaped car parks which make a significant contribution to the conservation area, these would be lost if developed for residential use.

Under S.39 Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and other legislation and guidance, Rochford has a duty to contribute towards achieving sustainable development.
It is widely acknowledged that the greenest building is the one already there. The carbon footprint of demolishing existing buildings on these sites will significantly increase the carbon footprint of the whole district. In is important therefore to invest in the present buildings and make them more sustainable (Mill Hall would appear to offer significant opportunities.).

Under S.40 of the Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006, the local planning authority has a duty, when exercising its functions, to conserve biodiversity. The green areas and trees on both sites greatly contribute to the biodiversity of the area. In particular in this conservation area, which is not only valued for its buildings but for the mature trees and open space owned by the public. The loss of this biodiversity would be unacceptable if these sites were changed to residential use in the next local plan.

The contribution of car parking to the vitality of the town centre is significant and loss of public car parking within COL07 and COL20 would be detrimental to the Rayleigh Town Centre.

The above are borne out by Rochford Council's own plans and policy documents

Q63 Greater Rawreth has also sustained huge amount of development and has significant flood issues. Rawreth has no facilities. No further development should be permitted in in the Rawreth parish area.

Q65 C. Sutton and Stonebridge. I would not support additional development as extensions of these existing communities. However, the Sutton Parish does hold potential for a Garden Village site which could join onto main access roads and facilities nearby. Included in this is the opportunity of access to nearby retail and other facilities in Southend.
Sites within Sutton Parish that should be considered are CFS155, CFS260Z, CFS260AE, CFS260AE, CFS260H, CFS260AK, CFS071,CFS071, CFS260G.

Q1. Are there any other technical evidence studies that
you feel the Council needs to prepare to inform its
new Local Plan, other than those listed in this section?

The Council would expect to see specific reference to:
• The Infrastructure Delivery and Funding Plan
• Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment
• Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan
These plans are vital to the long-term sustainability assessment of any proposed sites. Without these
we are unable to comment
Evaluation of the impact of current development on the town of Rayleigh
Rochford District Council should produce its own estimate of Housing need with which to Challenge the figures imposed by Westminster, it is known that the nearest neighbours have all done this.
The Town Council cannot comment on the suitability of the sites in the plan without completion of an
Infrastructure Delivery and Funding Plan which is being undertaken at present, why has this consultation been undertaken before this is available. RDC, ECC, and SBC,
I would expect it to see specific reference to
i) the main Roads and the principal junctions and exit points to Rayleigh, there is potential in this
plan is to build on London Road, Eastwood Road, Hockley Road and Hullbridge Road simultaneously.
ii) Consultation with the actual schools in Rayleigh as to capacity, too often there are no places in
specific school.
iii) Consultation with Doctors and Pharmacies as well the local Healthcare Trust, again there is
evidence of no capacity in certain parts of Rayleigh.
iv) Next level HealthCare such as Hospitals, need consulting, as they are overstretched.
v) Air Quality Management - too many parts of Rayleigh have poor CO2/CO readings
Any such Plan would need agreement with Rochford District Council, Essex County Council, and
Southend Borough Council as they are all affected

Q2. Do you agree with our draft vision for Rochford
District? Is there anything missing from the vision that
you feel needs to be included? [Please state
reasoning]
Mostly. Although you have not included enough information on how you might achieve housing for
the hidden homeless or those on low incomes, schemes to allow the elderly in large houses to be able
to downsize or how you plan to provide suitable commercial units of varying sizes, to allow businesses
to up or downsize into a suitably sized premises without them needing to relocate into another area.
No provision for emergency housing.

Q3. Do you agree that we should develop a range of
separate visions for each of our settlements to help
guide decision-making? [Please state reasoning]
Yes, as each settlement has its own characteristics and needs.

Q4. Do you agree with the strategic priorities and
objectives we have identified? Is there anything
missing from the strategic priorities or objectives that
you feel needs to be included? [Please state
reasoning]
No comments.

Q5. Do you agree with the settlement hierarchy
presented? If not, what changes do you think are
required? [Please state reasoning]
Yes. Rayleigh is the largest town in the district but care needs to be taken to maintain the integrity of
the existing settlements with respect to green boundary between Rayleigh and its neighbours.

Q6. Which of the identified strategy options do you
consider should be taken forward in the Plan? [Please
state reasoning]
Creating a new town would enable all the infrastructure to be put in place, allowing more scope for
cycling routes and pedestrianised areas. This will stop the urban sprawl which is currently happening
in the larger town (and proposed in option 1), creating traffic havoc and pollution. A single large
"garden" village, possibly shared with Southend could allow a more environmentally friendly
development. A development that allows the infrastructure to be developed in advance of the
housing.

Q7. Are there any reasonable alternatives to these options that should be considered instead? [Please state
reasoning]
Small development and windfall developments should be included in housing count.

Q8. Are there any key spatial themes that you feel we
have missed or that require greater emphasis? [Please
state reasoning]
Yes: Cultural and Accessibility.

Q9. Do you agree we should take a sequential approach to flood risk and coastal change in our plan, locating
development away from areas at risk of flooding and
coastal change wherever possible? How can we best
protect current and future communities from flood
risk and coastal change? [Please state reasoning]
Yes. You must ensure the district has a suitable plan to protect not only the towns and village communities, their houses and businesses but also the natural areas as well. The district needs adequate defences to limit flooding in all areas, protecting people and wildlife. Maybe these could be incorporated in the “natural” landscape theming so as to deflect any water away from these areas.
New developments not only need to address their carbon footprint but also the design of the housing they build so that they limit flood damage; raised floors, bunded gardens etc.
The plan must include or identify a flood plane that is protected from development.

Q10. Do you agree that the Coastal Protection Belt and
Upper Roach Valley should be protected from
development that would be harmful to their
landscape character? Are there other areas that you
feel should be protected for their special landscape
character? [Please state reasoning]
All the coastal areas and areas of special interest, especially where there is a significant risk of
flooding and harm to the environment need careful consideration.
The Ancient woodlands such as Kingley Woods, Hockley Woods and Rayleigh Grove Woods and all
natural parks, not just the actual woodlands but also the surrounding areas

Q11. Do you agree we should require development to
source a percentage of their energy from low-carbon
and renewable sources? Are there other opportunities
in the district to supply low-carbon or renewable
energy?
Yes.
New developments should be able to source some or all of their energy from renewable sources.

Q12. Do you agree we should require new development to achieve energy efficiency standards higher than
building regulations? What level should these be set
at? [Please state reasoning].
Yes. The Town Council believes that you should aim to achieve a higher standard if possible and
encourage developers to put forward new ways of achieving this. You must plan for future generations and should not be stuck in the past. Why go for minimum standards? Always aim higher! Keep the technology under review to capitalise on new development.

Q13. How do you feel the plan can help to support the local generation of low-carbon and renewable energy? Are there locations where you feel energy generation
should be supported? [Please state reasoning]
Solar in all new development as standard. Incentives to encourage existing developments to install
solar onto their properties as well as any commercial buildings to be fitted with solar to their roofs;
there are many flat roofed buildings all over the district that could accommodate solar panels without
damaging the landscape. Explore tidal energy and seek out suitable locations in order to ascertain
whether it is viable. Retrofitting existing housing and commercial buildings

Q14. Do you consider that the plan should include a placemaking charter that informs relevant policies? Should the same principles apply everywhere in the district, or should different principles apply to different areas? [Please state reasoning]
The district has some very distinct areas and a “one shoe fits all” would be detrimental to some smaller communities. The place-making charter should be bespoke, with each area being considered
in its own right. The rules on building should be strict so as to enhance the areas of development and needs to consider the wider picture in respect of amenities, open spaces, retail, schools, services, pollution, character and accessibility (to name but a few). There should not be deviation of plans unless there are exceptional circumstances. Time and again, SPD2 documents are ignored and ugly extensions and dormers are built to the detriment of the area.

Q15. Are the principles set out in the draft place-making
charter the right ones? Are there other principles that
should be included? [Please state reasoning]
They are, as long as they are adhered to.

Q16.
a. Do you consider that new design guides, codes or
masterplans should be created alongside the new
Local Plan?
Yes.
b. If yes, do you think it is more appropriate to have a
single design guide/code for the whole District, or to
have design guides/codes/masterplans for individual
settlements or growth areas? [Please state reasoning]
You need different design guides as this district is both unique and diverse and the “one shoe fits all"
would be detrimental to its character and charm.
c. What do you think should be included in design
guides/codes/masterplans at the scale you are
suggesting? [Please state reasoning].
You need to ensure that the character and heritage of the settlements are adhered to whilst allowing for some growth, in order to rejuvenate the smaller settlements if needed.

Q17. With reference to the options listed above, or your
own options, how do you feel we can best plan to
meet our need for different types, sizes and tenures of
housing? [Please state reasoning]
By working closely with planners and developers, as well as different charities and communities,
residents and businesses. You will then get a better understanding as to what you need and what will
be achievable.

Q18. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there areas or sites in Rochford that you feel require a specific approach to housing types, size and tenure?
What is required to meet housing needs in these
areas? [Please state reasoning]
The district has a large number of houses, existing and approved that have four or five bedrooms. The number of homes available with two or three bedrooms is minimal, which increases their price and availability. The smaller properties are the ones that need to be affordable for families. You must ensure that the “affordable“ properties are not all flats and that minimum or higher standards are
met for gardens and recreational space. There are sure to be single, elderly residents that would like to downsize from their large family homes, into a smaller, more manageable one but do not wish to go into an assisted living, residential or retirement homes. They may want a one or two bedroomed property, maybe one storey, or low-rise apartment that they own freehold. The Council would like to safeguard the number of smaller bungalows available and make sure that the existing stock is preserved and a suitable number are provided in the housing mix. You need to consider that some residents may need residential care and you should be looking at ways to cope with the rising number of elderly and provide accommodation for them also.
Consideration should be given to the provision of house for life, bungalows and other potential buildings for downsizing families.
The plan makes no reference to social housing quotas.
The district desperately needs to meet the needs of the hidden homeless. People like the adult children on low wages who have no hope of starting a life of their own away from their parents. By living in these conditions, even if the family unit is tight and loving, it will cause mental health issues, stress and anxiety. You also need accessible properties for the disabled members of our community, where they are assisted in order to fulfil a normal as possible life. All these issues, and perhaps many more, need be addressed.

Q19. Are there any other forms of housing that you feel we should be planning for? How can we best plan to meet the need for that form of housing? [Please state
reasoning]
Housing for the hidden homeless – those “sofa surfing”, or adult children living at home with parents as they are on low wages or wages that would not allow them to move out to rent or buy somewhere on their own. Adapted homes for the disabled. Smaller, freehold properties for the older generation to enable them to downsize from large family homes. Emergency housing.

Q20. With reference to the options listed, or your own
options, what do you think is the most appropriate
way of meeting our permanent Gypsy and Traveller
accommodation needs? [Please state reasoning]
You need to find a permanent site that has a little room to expand but not exponentially. The “Traveller” life has changed over the years and you should revisit the criteria for the traveller community to meet the legal requirements. Strong controls are needed to prevent illegal building work and to ensure the site populations do not exceed capacity.

Q21. With reference to the options listed, or your own
options, what do you think is the most appropriate
way of meeting our temporary Gypsy and Traveller
accommodation needs? [Please state reasoning]
See answer to Q20

Q22. What do you consider would need to be included in a criteria-based policy for assessing potential locations
for new Gypsy and Traveller sites? [Please state
reasoning]
See answer to Q20.

Q23. With reference to the options listed above, or your
own options, how do you feel we can best ensure that
we meet our employment and skills needs through
the plan? [Please state reasoning]
The council should stop developing existing commercial land into housing. Too many sites have already been lost and many more are planned to go. Consider how the plan can help those businesses wanting to expand. Work with local schools and colleges, as well as businesses and the job centre, to see what sustainable employment is needed in the district. Incorporate ways to assist in schemes to train all ages get back into work or upskill. Developers should be encouraged to use local labour

Q24. With reference to Figure 30, do you consider the
current employment site allocations to provide
enough space to meet the District’s employment
needs through to 2040? Should we seek to formally
protect any informal employment sites for commercial
uses, including those in the Green Belt? [Please state
reasoning]
No. The current employment site allocations on Figure 30 do not provide enough space to meet the district’s employment needs through to 2040. There are eighty-seven thousand people in the district. There is no data on the form to suggest how many of these are in employment and how many are looking for work but the council need to reassess its future needs in order to future-proof our residents’ opportunities. The plan should only formally protect sites the that have a future and a
potential to expand or continue effectively.

Q25. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver new
employment facilities or improvements to existing
employment facilities?
Option 3 could deliver new opportunities for employment as it would be a new site completely. Industrial units of various sizes, with room for expansion plus retail, hospitality and other employment could be included in the criteria for the development.
Q26. Are there any particular types of employment site or
business accommodation that you consider Rochford
District is lacking, or would benefit from?
Environmental services - woodland conservation and management. (We need to find funding for this
as it is important!) HGV training school and modern transport training. Improve manufacturing base.
Q27. Are there other measures we can take through the
plan to lay the foundations for long-term economic
growth, e.g., skills or connectivity?
Better road networks, gigabit broadband and Wi-Fi. Apprenticeships or training for all ages with jobs
at the end of training. CCTV where appropriate.
Q28. With reference to the options listed above, or your
own options, how do you feel we can best manage the
Airport’s adaptations and growth through the
planning system? [Please state reasoning]
No comments.
Q29. Do you agree that the plan should designate and
protect areas of land of locally important wildlife
value as a local wildlife site, having regard to the Local
Wildlife Sites review? Are there any other sites that
you feel are worthy of protection? [Please state
reasoning]
Yes. You should conform to and improve existing RDC policies for protecting wildlife areas. Everyone should be doing all in their power to protect wildlife sites. All wildlife is important and has been neglected, sites have been slowly lost over the years. Wildlife now enters suburban areas as their own habitats have diminished and they can no longer fend for themselves adequately from nature. Badgers and hedgehogs as well as rabbits, frogs, newts, voles and shrews are declining and are seldom seen apart from dead at the roadside. Bat numbers are declining as their habitats are lost. Designating initial sites is a step in the right direction but more must be done. It is proven that mental health issues can be relieved by nature and keeping the sites sacred is more important now than it ever was.
Keeping a biodiverse environment, with wildlife and the environment in which it relies is paramount. You mention that Doggett Pond no longer meets the standard but are there no steps to improve its status instead of dismissing it? It is obviously an important site for the wildlife in that area. To lose it would be to our detriment. You should be looking at creating new sites with every large housing
development, and protecting them to improve our district and our own wellbeing. Private households should not be allowed to take over grass areas and verges or worse, concreting the verges over for parking and cost savings. These areas, although small are still areas for wildlife. Bees and butterflies are also in decline, as are
the bugs which feed our birds. The plan should create new wildlife meadows to encourage the pollinators in order to future proof our own existence. You should be exploring smaller sites that could be enhanced, managed and protected to give future generations a legacy to be proud of.
Q30. Do you agree that the plan should designate and
protect areas of land of locally important geological
value as a local geological site, having regard to the
Local Wildlife Sites review? Are there any other sites
that you feel are worthy of protection? [Please state
reasoning]
Yes. The plan must protect them for future generations and teach our children their history and importance so that they can continue to keep them safe.
Q31. Do you consider net gains for biodiversity are best
delivered on-site or off-site? Are there specific
locations or projects where net gain projects could be
delivered?
On site. You can then assess in real time and sort out any issues you would not have known about off
site.
Q32. With reference to the options above, or your own
options, how do you feel we can best deliver a quality
green and blue infrastructure network through the
plan? [Please state reasoning]
You need to retain what we already have by ensuring the necessary links are in place to join as many as possible, and ensuring that public rights of way are not blocked by land owners and are kept free from debris. You also need to assess some paths to make them accessible to the disabled so that all is inclusive. There are some green areas that do not have public facilities and it would be advantageous to look into offering this in the larger spaces. For example, a small toilet block and hand washing facilities in the car park. Obtaining funding from new developments that can enhance existing areas as
well as providing new spaces and facilities. The sites should be well-maintained.
Q33. Do you agree that the central woodlands arc and
island wetlands, shown on Figure 32 are the most
appropriate areas for new regional parklands? Are
there any other areas that should be considered or
preferred? [Please state reasoning]
They are a step in the right direction, but you need to assess periodically in order to be able to add further links to any new parkland that may be created in the future. The map is unclear as it does not show exact routes. There is a large open space to the South West of Rayleigh (on the border), South of Bardfield Way and The Grange/Wheatley Wood, which could be enhanced. Existing sites must be retained
Q34. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to help deliver new
strategic green and blue infrastructure? [Please state
reasoning]
Enhancing existing areas and ensuring developers include green space and recreational facilities
within their developments. A new, separate development would be able to deliver this within their plan layout. Ensuring there are suitable links, access and footpaths. Making sure some of these footpaths are maintained and accessible for the disabled.
Q35. With reference to the options above, or your own
options, how can we address the need for sufficient
and accessible community infrastructure through the
plan? [Please state reasoning]
Assess the shortfall of facilities and networks before plans are approved so that adequate planning
and funding can be secured before any building takes place.
Q36. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver new or
improved community infrastructure? [Please state
reasoning]
A new town would have this infrastructure built into its plans. Funding for improvements must otherwise come from developers if an area is already overpopulated.
Q37. Are there areas in the District that you feel have
particularly severe capacity or access issues relating to
community infrastructure, including schools,
healthcare facilities or community facilities? How can
we best address these? [Please state reasoning]
Rayleigh is overcrowded; it has a road network no longer fit for purpose, some schools are near to capacity, it is difficult to obtain a GP or dental appointment. There is little to no disabled play areas or play equipment. There are always issues with waste collections, drain and road cleaning and verge trimming. The District Council does not have the staff to deal with all these issues. The council should either build another waste recycling site, or develop a better waste collection program which allows extra waste to be collected next to the bin. The current recycling site at Castle Road is no longer
capable of expanding to meet the needs of an ever-growing population. The plan should also identify
a site to accommodate commercial waste facilities to stop fly tipping.
Q38. With reference to the options above, or your own
options, how do you feel we can best meet our open
space and sport facility needs through the plan?
[Please state reasoning]
Improve what we already have. The tennis courts on Fairview Park needs improvement. Safeguard our open spaces to protect wildlife and recreation. Develop different types of sporting facilities. We need to offer free recreation.
Q39. Are the potential locations for 3G pitch investment
the right ones? Are there other locations that we
should be considering? [Please state reasoning]
All-weather facilities should be considered
Q40. Are the listed potential hub sites and key centres the right ones? Are there other locations that we should
be considering? [Please state reasoning]
They look suitable. They will probably need funding.
Q41. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to help deliver
improvements to open space or sport facility accessibility or provision?
A new development would be able to deliver this in their plans or fund improvements for existing facilities in line with national strategy and requirements.
Q42. Are there particular open spaces that we should be
protecting or improving? [Please note, you will have
an opportunity to make specific comments on open
spaces and local green spaces in the settlement
profiles set out later in this report]
The sites will be specific in each parish. You must protect all of these recreational spaces and improve them, if necessary. Once lost to development, they can never come back.
Q43. With reference to the options listed in this section, or your own options, how do you feel we can best
address heritage issues through the plan? [Please
state reasoning]
You should reassess the planning policies regarding alterations made to the buildings on the heritage
list, especially those in conservation areas. There have been a few occasions where buildings of “interest” (or other) have been altered, and that places in conservation areas have been allowed canopies, shutters and internal illumination of signage without challenge. Any building work should be sympathetic to the area and you should require corrections to unauthorised changes, even if they
have been in place for some time. Shop fronts are huge areas of uninteresting glass with garish colours. No objections are raised to signage and advertising that is out of character with a conservation area in a heritage town. Ensure statutory bodies are consulted and heeded.
You should take effective actions to manage the footways, ‘A’ boards and barriers are obstructions to
those with impaired sight or mobility.
Q44. Are there areas of the District we should be
considering for conservation area status beyond those
listed in this section? [Please state reasoning]
You should not take areas of precious woodland to make way for housing. Sites within the existing Rayleigh Conversation Area should not be considered

Q45. Are there any buildings, spaces or structures that
should be protected for their historic, cultural or
architectural significance? Should these be considered
for inclusion on the Local List of non-designated
assets? [Please state reasoning]
Yes there are many sites of historic importance which should be included.
Q46. With reference to the options listed above, or your
own options, how do you think we can best plan for
vibrant town centres in Rochford, Rayleigh and
Hockley? How can we also ensure our village and
neighbourhood centres remain vibrant? [Please state
reasoning]
You can only have a vibrant town centre if there are shops to go to. If these units are subsequently changed to residential then our town centres will be fractured and uninviting. The new Use Class E will mean it will be even more important for the council to protect our retail outlets. You need to work actively with premises owners in order to assist in the re-letting of any empty shops. Maybe
offer a reduced rent to new businesses as a start-up scheme. You could contain this as a “local”
business only – allowing the entrepreneurs in the Rochford District a chance to showcase their
businesses. You also need to be able to negotiate with the owners of empty shops how they can best strive to fill these premises and if not, then have some visual displays in the windows, perhaps photos of the old towns or useful information, to make them more attractive. Explore business rates levies. Any plan should be reviewed frequently; at least every 5 years
It is a well-documented fact that independent businesses have done better than large chains during Covid as they are able to diversify at short notice. RDC need to incentivise new small or micro businesses into our town centre, either through grant support or another mechanism. Occupied premises create employment, increase footfall and reduce vandalism. Landlords should be engaged with to ensure quick turn-arounds, or for more flexible lease agreements where for example a new
business can take on a shorter lease to test the market.
Good public transport links are crucial for our villages, neighbourhoods and town centres.
Q47. Do you agree with the local centre hierarchy set out in Figure 36? If not, what changes would you make?
[Please state reasoning]
Yes
Q48. With reference to Figures 38-40, do you agree with
existing town centre boundaries and extent of
primary and secondary shopping frontages in
Rayleigh, Rochford and Hockley? If not, what
changes would you make? [Please state reasoning]
Yes.
Q49. Should we continue to restrict appropriate uses within town centres, including primary and secondary
shopping frontages within those centres? If yes, what
uses should be restricted? [Please state reasoning]
Yes. A mix of retailers is essential as a lack of variety will eventually kill off the high streets. We need to have a balance of outlets that keep the area viable as you would lose the vibrancy you are hoping to achieve.
Q50. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver improved
retail and leisure services in the District? [Please state
reasoning]
Unfortunately, there has been a tendency to switch from commercial outlets to residential, where smaller retail areas have been sold off and housing development has been allowed. In a new development there would be scope to add a small, medium or large retail precinct, depending on the development size. Retail parks, leisure areas and outlets are proving in many cases, the preferred option for consumers, normally as a result of having everything in one place, free on-site parking and maximum choice. We feel that some of the sites, whilst not suitable for large housing developments, may be suitable for something of this type. It would create much needed employment, opportunity and tourism for the
area.
Q51. With reference to the options above, or your own
options, how do you feel we can best address our
transport and connectivity needs through the plan?
[Please state reasoning]
The council needs to follow the rule “No development before infrastructure”. Houses are being built without adequate road, pedestrian and cycle networks in place. New developments should be planned with cycle paths and walkways that link up with existing paths. The existing paths need updating and attention
Q52. Are there areas where improvements to transport
connections are needed? What could be done to help
improve connectivity in these areas?
More work needs to be done on the A127 and The Carpenters Arms roundabout. The feeder lanes
proposed some years ago to link the Fairglen interchange with The Rayleigh Weir in both directions is
now essential as this is a bottleneck. Hockley needs another access. Connecting the cycle ways into a
cycle network as part of the plan.
Q53. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver new
transport connections, such as link roads or rapid
transit? What routes and modes should these take?
[Walking, cycling, rail, bus, road etc.]
As the preferred strategy option is 3b, this could create opportunities for improved links to Southend. You should also consider more and smaller buses to link the towns and villages. Designated cycling paths that are separated from existing roads and pavements, but adjacent to our road networks would help improve traffic flow. Ensure the cycle network links with public transport as part of a
complete review of sustainable transport.
Q54. Do you feel that the plan should identify rural
exception sites? If so, where should these be located
and what forms of housing or employment do you feel
need to be provided? [Please note you may wish to
comment on the use of specific areas of land in the
next section]
This may be a suitable option for a retirement village that could be restricted to single storey dwellings only, and could include community facilities such as convenient store, community centre and so on.
Q55. Are there any other ways that you feel the plan should be planning for the needs of rural communities?
[Please stare reasoning]
Better public transport and sustainable transport links.
Q56.
a. Do you agree with our vision for Rayleigh? Is there
anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]
The plan is adequate so far is it goes, but you have more work to do. You must plan for a reduced volume of traffic and air pollution. More attention is needed to initiatives that design-out crime and fear of crime, and this needs to be functional, sustainable and viable. The Draft Vision Statement ignores the over-development, the lack of infrastructure and facilities we already suffer. Indeed, Rochford District Council’s stated aim within their Asset Strategy and the plans of other Public Service providers is to reduce facilities in the Town further. This is at the same time as demand is growing from a sharply increasing population. This is particularly relevant for the growing elderly population. This will make the next 25 years very challenging.
1/ Cycling infrastructure and other sustainable transport methods should be prioritised over a carcentric highway use. We regret we do not because it is unrealistic, our response must be to inject a note of realism looking forward based on RDCs policies and past action. This goes to the heart of the new Local Plan.
We regret a realistic Vision Statement based on the current trajectory of further development recommended in the Draft Local Plan will be rather more dystopian. We could see a Rayleigh chocked by traffic. Although pollution should decrease with electric vehicles the advent of driverless vehicles, both domestic and commercial, servicing an ever-expanding population could result in gridlock. Pollution will increase from fossil burning home heating systems in many of the new homes. Failure to support public transport will inevitably maroon older residents in their homes far from those few
facilities and shops that remain in our town centre.
Public services offered by police and council (most likely giant unitary council catering for half million people based far away in an urban area), will seem very distant to most people. Most of the green open spaces not in public ownership, also some that are publicly owned, will be built on and have disappeared by 2050. Many public facilities and local public service providers will be taken away and sold off to property developers. The town centres will cease to be the shopping and social areas we know today as a result of Council plans and changing shopping habits. Rayleigh retail business will have closed and online and out of town retail parks will prosper with their free parking facilities. In the same way that London boroughs developed through the decades and centuries, the traditional housing we know today, with private gardens will be replaced by blocks of flats with large vehicle parking areas with recharge points.
2/ Another vision could be forged with the right policies in an enlightened Local Plan. RDC could opt for a garden village settlement away from all the Districts Towns and villages. Rayleigh like other towns that have suffered from overdevelopment in recent decades and should be protect from large scale private development during the forthcoming Plan Period. Only development or local needs should be permitted. Local facilities like Mill Hall would be saved and car parking retained and made
cheaper to assist local town centre business to survive what will be a challenging period. Secondary
shopping facilities in Rayleigh would be supported and encouraged with public finance where required. Public transport would be supported and encouragement, especially when given for children to reach school without parents’ vehicles. Renovation and refurbishment of historic buildings with modern green energy would be promoted over demolition and intensification. Public services would be encouraged to return/expand to Rayleigh, in existing buildings like Council Offices, Police Station and Library etc. The town centre should be the heart of our community not just something you drive
through to reach somewhere else. This could be our vision and our aim for the future.
b. With reference to Figure 44 and your preferred
Strategy Option, do you think any of the promoted
sites should be made available for any of the following
uses? How could that improve the completeness of
Rayleigh?
Balancing access against increased congestion will be the issue for a lot of the sites in Rayleigh. If you keep adding small developments to the boundaries of the town, it will overcrowd existing houses and add to urban sprawl.
i. Rayleigh has taken the brunt of development without significant infrastructural improvement.
ii. Commercial [offices, industrial, retail, other]
Commercial development should be supported in town centres, secondary shopping facilities and on approved industrial estates (the latter should not become retail / entertainment locations and residential development should not encroach on them to avoid conflict). Community Improvement Districts should be established
iii. Community infrastructure [open space, education, healthcare, allotments, other]
Community infrastructure should be preserved and extended. Access to town centres and secondary
shopping by bicycle and foot should be made easier and safer.
c. Are there areas in Rayleigh that development should
generally be presumed appropriate? Why these areas? [Please state reasoning]
No. Large scale residential development in Rayleigh should be resisted in the new Local Plan. So called
windfall development should be incorporated in the overall development targets thereby reducing
large scale development.
d. Are there areas that require protecting from
development? Why these areas? [Please state
reasoning]
Conservation areas and green belt and sites subject to the exclusion criteria on the call for sites should be protected. Proposed sites within Rayleigh and on the Western side should not be considered for development. Only an infrastructure plan would provide evidence that the chosen sites are sustainable in the long term, and greenbelt and environmental policies should be adhered to in relation to open spaces on the edge or within the town.
e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on
Figure 44 hold local significance? Are there any other
open spaces that hold particular local significance?
All green spaces, no matter how small, hold some significance, especially to those who use them for
recreation. They are of particular community value and should not be developed. They must be seen as the vital green area not the next place along the line to be built on. It is reasonable for RDC to encourage the development of a garden village away from existing communities to accommodate the Governments home building targets
Q57.
d. Are there areas that require protecting from
development? Why these areas? [Please state
reasoning]
Hockley Wood
Q58.
a. Do you agree with our vision for Hockley and
Hawkwell? Is there anything you feel is missing?
[Please state reasoning]
Yes. Insofar as it relates to Rayleigh.
Q58.
d. Are there areas that require protecting from
development? Why these areas? [Please state
reasoning]
As Hockley Woods is the largest remaining wild woodland in the country you should be doing
EVERYTHING you can to save it from development, either adjacent to or close by. You should also actively be adding to it by planting more trees to future proof its existence and status. You must protect any thoroughfares that access Hockley Wood.
Q60.
a. Do you agree with our vision for Hullbridge? Is there
anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]
Yes. Insofar as it relates to Rayleigh.
d. Are there areas that require protecting from
development? Why these areas? [Please state
reasoning]
Anything too close to the river due to flood risk.
e. Do you agree that the local green spaces shown on
Figure 48 hold local significance? Are there any other
open spaces that hold particular local significance?
[Please state reasoning]
All green spaces, no matter how small, hold some significance, especially to those who use them for
recreation. They are of particular community value and should not be developed. They must be seen as the vital green area not the next place along the line to be built on. It is reasonable for RDC to encourage the development of a garden village away from existing communities to accommodate the
Governments home building targets
Q63.
a. Do you agree with our vision for Rawreth? Is there
anything you feel is missing? [Please state reasoning]
Yes. Insofar as it relates to Rayleigh.
c. Are there areas in Rawreth that development should
generally be presumed appropriate? Why these
areas? [Please state reasoning]
d. Are there areas that require protecting from
development? Why these areas? [Please state
reasoning]
Protection needs to be given to development that change the dynamics of the village and those areas that border Wickford. There needs to be a significant amount of green belt land left to separate the two areas to prevent urban sprawl. Rawreth Lane gets heavily congested at peak times, and with Wolsey Park still not complete this is likely to increase. If there is an accident or breakdown on the road network, it has a huge knock on through Rayleigh and the surrounding areas and Watery Lane isn’t a reliable back up for when there are issue. Therefore, further development on the boundary or
otherwise could be detrimental to not only local residents but the wider District too. RDC should be supporting farmers wherever possible to continue to grow their crops in the district and protect suitable farm land in the area. We do not want to lose the local producers

Q66. Do you agree that our rural communities do not
require individual vision statements? Are there
communities that you feel should have their own
vision? [Please state reasoning]
At this time – yes, but we feel they should have some consideration in the future, in order to protect
them. It would be for the communities to decide their vision statements and we would be happy to
support them.
Q67. Do you agree with our vision for our rural
communities? Is there anything you feel is missing?
[Please state reasoning]
Yes.
Q68. Are there other courses of action the Council could
take to improve the completeness of our rural
communities?
Listen to the residents to see where they would like to go next. See if they require anything specific; travel links, facilities, affordable housing and so on. Empower Parish and Town Councils to take
relevant local actions

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.
GROWTH SOUTH EAST OF ROCHFORD & NORTH OF SOUTHEND.

Bellway Strategic and Cogent Land LLP, on behalf of the landowners, welcomes the identification of growth
on land South East of Rochford and North of Southend (Strategy Option 3b) in the Rochford District Council
(RDC) New Local Plan: Spatial Options Consultation Paper 2021. The delivery of this growth option will
unlock a new generation of highly sustainable communities that meet housing, employment and qualityof-life needs, while promoting innovation. Bellway Strategic, have acquired the subject landholding from
Cogent Land, and are committed to working collaboratively with the Council, key stakeholders and the
existing community to create an exemplar new community which sets the benchmark for development in
the region and for future generations.
Option 3b should be the priority location for strategic growth within the emerging Local Plan and is
fundamental in delivering RDC’s strategic priorities. This proposal will deliver the step change RDC is looking for to address the housing crisis in the District, along with ensuring the District keeps apace with the Thames Estuary objectives reinforced through the South Essex authorities partnership. Critical to this change in approach is delivering large scale strategic concentrated development in one location and moving away from solely ‘bolt-on’ schemes that fail to deliver the much-needed infrastructure and the benefits for the existing community. This aligns with the Framework which
identifies that in delivering large numbers of new homes significant urban extensions are preferrable
provided they are well located and supported by the necessary infrastructure (including a genuine choice of transport modes). Through existing characteristics in terms of the site’s location on the edge of Rochford and adjacent to Southend Airport, along with proposed infrastructure enhancements, the proposal will satisfy the Framework in this regard crucially ensuring that people have the choice to walk, cycle and access reliable and frequent public transport.
RDC need to find a solution to deliver housing in the short term, in addition to planning for the medium- and long-term. In terms of developing balanced growth across the Plan period, our client endorses Strategy Option 4: Balanced Combination - supporting the delivery of a blend of sites which will ensure the Council can meet their identified housing needs across the Plan period. The preferred strategy will involve making best use of urban capacity (Option 1), building the identified growth option on land south east of Rochford and north of Southend (Option 3b) and a number of smaller urban
extensions (Option 2).
The Council’s previous engagement with local communities has identified the need for improvements
to services and utilities, supporting local employment opportunities, development of sustainable transport options, and improvements to strategic infrastructure as key community concerns. Option 3b will deliver a range of major new infrastructure, including highways improvements, investment in community infrastructure including schools, health centres, the eastern extent of the South Essex Estuary Park, along with sporting facilities and will provide substantial investment in the public realm.
This proposal has the potential to enhance and diversify employment and business opportunities in the local area, enabled by access to high-speed broadband. The scale of development and variety of uses presents opportunities to coordinate energy generation, and to achieve net-zero carbon.

Strategy Option 3b – South East of Rochford & North of Southend will deliver:
Sustainable Communities
New villages within Rochford which respond to the landscape and the morphology of existing settlements

New Homes for Rochford
4,600 homes in total, with 1,850 homes by 2040

Meeting Local Affordable Housing Needs
Deliver c. 650 affordable homes by 2040 (35%) and 1,600 affordable homes in total

Strategic infrastructure improvements delivered alongside growth
Improved eastern access to London Southend
Airport Rail Station, Temple Farm and Purdeys
Industrial Estates, and address congestion pinch points including Bell House Junction, Priory Crescent and Warners Bridge.

Job Creation & Employment Land
Deliver c. 11 ha of employment land concentrated in close proximity to existing employment to the south east of Rochford / Southend Airport; together with enhanced
digital connectivity to support home working

Benefits for Existing Residents
Enhanced transport and social linkages to existing villages in Rochford

Genuine choice of transport modes
New green, sustainable transport corridors providing a link between the two train lines (Southend Airport and Thorpe Bay)
Encourage cycling and walking by designing 15-minute neighbourhoods and ensuring high-quality cycle networks to serve existing and future communities.

Community Infrastructure
Delivery of two new primary schools, healthcare and community services in the Local Plan period;

Green & Blue Infrastructure
Utilising the unique natural assets for the benefit of existing and future residents including delivering the eastern extent of the South Essex Estuary Park forming a new coastal country park in the east of the District

Environmental Benefits
Retention and enhancement of historic woodlands and the identification of locations for new woodland for greater biodiversity and wildlife, rewilding, green infrastructure corridors, private food growing and vertical
farming will add to the Biodiversity Net Gain

Tourism Strategy
Harness the untapped potential of Rochford as a tourism destination

Climate Change
Be carbon neutral by 2040 and achieve netzero carbon emissions by 2050 through a host of measures including building design and specifications and encouraging growth of active travel

01. INTRODUCTION & SITE CONTEXT
1.1. Iceni Projects on behalf of Bellway Strategic and Cogent Land wish to submit representations to the Rochford District Council New Local Plan: Spatial Options Consultation Paper 2021. Bellway has acquired an interest in land south east of Rochford / north of Southend and is actively engaged with key stakeholders to bring forward growth in this location, incorporating a mix of uses including housing, community, health and employment uses through the plan-making process. Cogent Land have been promoting the subject site for sustainable growth for almost two decades and wholly support the preparation of the new Rochford Local Plan.
1.2. Bellway Homes is one of the UK’s leading home builders. Bellway began as a small family business in
1946 - with a passion for building exceptional quality homes in carefully selected locations, inspired by the needs of real families. Bellway has grown from a local family firm into one of the country’s leading residential developers. Bellway have this year been awarded 5 star builder status by the Home Builders Federation for the fifth year running.
1.3. The designs of Bellway homes and construction techniques blend tradition with innovation, creating
well-built homes with modern living standards. With a reputation for high quality developments in prime locations, Bellway Homes strive to create sustainable new developments. The homes are designed with more than seven decades of experience and craftmanship, to create a new generation of properties that meets the aspirations of today’s homebuyers. Bellway homes
feature exterior finishes that reflect the character of the local neighbourhood with an enhanced specification, both inside and out.
1.4. The extent of the land under the control of our client within the RDC boundary is detailed in Appendix 1. The landholding lies to the north of the A13 and A1159, with London Southend Airport & Rail Station and Sutton Road sitting to the west. Temple Farm and Purdeys Way employment area, as well as employment opportunities associated with the Airport, are closeby. The River Roach lies to the north and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area.
1.5. In addition, our client has interests on adjoining land to south which falls within the Southendon-Sea Borough Council boundary. Given that the landholding straddles both Council boundaries the conceptual design studies undertaken to date have considered the land holistically, as many of the Council’s evidence base documents have also done. In this respect, these representations should be read alongside the Potential Growth Options in Rochford and Southend, Proof of Concept, 22.07.2021 attached at Appendix 2. Nonetheless for the purposes of this Local Plan and ensuring the Rochford Local Plan can be found sound in its own right, these representations
focus on the land within Rochford and the proposals that can be delivered within this Local Plan.
1.6. These representations will demonstrate that Bellway, and their appointed consultant team, have prepared a vision for this location to deliver positive growth for the District which will be sensitively designed to connect with the surroundings, will foster social and economic relations with the existing communities, will contribute towards biodiversity net gain, minimising carbon
emissions and protect the environment.
1.7. These representations are structured as follows:
ƒ Section 2 details the main policies contained within the National Planning Policy Framework including the support for large scale growth options and the required approach for plan making in releasing land from the Green Belt;
ƒ Section 3 summarises regional matters in respect of the Association of South Essex Local Authorities, the preparation of a Joint Strategic Plan and the Thames Estuary Growth Commission;
ƒ Section 4 assesses RDC’s housing and employment needs;
ƒ Section 5 considers the strategic matters in Local Plan making;
ƒ Section 6 details the key findings from the RDC landscape impact and green belt evidence base;
ƒ Section 7 sets out the vision for land south east of Rochford and north of Southend;
ƒ Section 8 provides a response to the relevant questions raised in the consultation; &
ƒ Section 9 in conclusion details the economic benefits of Option 3b to Rochford District.

02. NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK
2.1. The National Planning Policy Framework was recently updated in July 2021. The purpose of this section of the representations is to highlight the key policy matters of relevance to Option 3b.
PLAN LED APPROACH
2.2. The National Planning Policy Framework states that the planning system should be genuinely plan-led. Plans and decisions should apply a presumption in favour of sustainable development. For plan-making this means that all plans should promote a sustainable pattern of development that seeks to:
ƒ meet the development needs of their area;
ƒ align growth and infrastructure;
ƒ improve the environment;
ƒ mitigate climate change (including by making effective use of land in urban areas) and adapt to its effects.
2.3. This element of the Framework and specifically how the proposal at South East of Rochford and North of Southend will assist the Council in delivering a sustainable pattern of development is considered in detail at Section 5 of these representations.
2.4. Strategic policies should set out an overall strategy for the pattern, scale and design quality of places, and make sufficient provision for housing, infrastructure, community facilities and conservation and enhancement of the natural, built and historic environment. These policies should provide a clear strategy for bringing sufficient land forward, and at a sufficient rate, to
address objectively assessed needs over the plan period, in line with the presumption in favour of sustainable development. This should include planning for and allocating sufficient sites to deliver the strategic priorities of the area.
LARGE SCALE GROWTH
2.5. The most recent revisions to the Framework include the requirement:
‘Where larger scale developments such as new settlements or significant extensions to existing villages and towns form part of the strategy for the area, policies should be set within a vision that looks further ahead (at least 30 years), to take into account the likely timescale for delivery’.
2.6. This is applicable in respect of the current proposal at Option 3b and is detailed in full at Section 7 of these representations.
2.7. The Framework at para 73 considers that

“The supply of large numbers of new homes can often be best achieved through planning for larger scale development, such as new settlements or significant extensions to existing villages and towns, provided they are well located and designed, and supported by the necessary infrastructure and facilities (including a genuine choice of transport modes). Working with the
support of their communities, and with other authorities if appropriate, strategic policy-making authorities should identify suitable locations for such development where this can help to meet identified needs in a sustainable way”. (Our emphasis)

This is key in Rochford as acknowledged in the Spatial Options Consultation, that the only way to deliver the Council’s strategic objectives such as addressing current infrastructure deficits is through large scale growth. Growth of a strategic scale will ensure that the housing numbers are delivered but also that the necessary infrastructure, including transport, is delivered alongside
the new homes.
2.9. The Framework advocates that in identifying suitable locations for such development, strategic policy-making authorities should consider a host of factors which are detailed in the table below, alongside a review of the relevant features of growth at South East of Rochford and North of Southend. The policy requirements set out in para 73 of the Framework provide the basis for
assessing the potential and suitability of growth in south east of Rochford and north of Southend.

[See attached document for table format]
Table 2.1 Review of Spatial Option 3b against the criteria set out in Para 73 of the Framework
Para 73 NPPF – Criteria for Large Scale Growth
[followed by] Assessment of Growth Option – South East of Rochford and North of Southend
a) consider the opportunities presented by existing or planned investment in infrastructure, the area’s economic potential and the scope for net environmental gains

The site’s location on the edge of Rochford and Southend, and adjacent to Southend airport offers a
major opportunity for inward investment which can
be maximised through growth in the right locations.
At a regional level, Rochford’s location within the
Thames Estuary Growth Corridor, along with the
proximity to London and the Lower Thames Crossing
makes this area an economically competitive area
attractive to inward investment. The development
of this region is a national priority as reaffirmed in
the Government’s Response to the Thames Estuary
Growth Commission.
Moreover, planning for growth at scale will leverage
investment in order to deliver new and upgrade
existing infrastructure in the district. Given the extent of land under the control of Bellway it is considered that significant environmental enhancements can be achieved.

b) ensure that their size and location will support a sustainable community, with sufficient access to services and employment opportunities within the development itself (without expecting an unrealistic level of self-containment), or in larger towns to which there is good access;
The proposals provide for four distinct neighbourhoods which are specifically designed to be of a scale so that they are self-sufficient in terms of local services centred on the principle of 15-minute neighbourhoods. There is a swathe of land close to the airport and the existing industrial estates identified for employment uses, and in
addition each neighbourhood will include local employment.

c) set clear expectations for the quality of the places to be created and how this can be maintained (such as by following Garden City principles); and ensure that appropriate tools such as masterplans and design guides or codes are used to secure a variety of well-designed
and beautiful homes to meet the needs of different groups in the community;
Design is key in order to deliver upon the vision of
creating high quality aspirational housing which benefits from the unique location of the site. The Growth Option 3b will be based upon a holistic masterplan framework which establishes a range of different character areas and is genuinely landscape led.
The proposal will deliver a range of housing to achieve diversification in accordance with the recommendations of the Letwin Review including:
ƒ Differing Tenures - Affordable homes; including
affordable rented housing will be provided alongside affordable home ownership on each phase.
ƒ House type and size – Within each phase a broad
range of house types and sizes will be delivered.
ƒ Housing for specified groups and custom build – older people’s housing and plots sold for custom or self-build for individuals on Rochford’s self-build register will also be delivered. Student accommodation will also be explored.

d) make a realistic assessment of likely rates of delivery, given the lead-in times for large scale sites, and identify opportunities for supporting rapid implementation (such as through joint ventures or locally-led development
corporations)
The footnote (37) linked to this policy states ‘The
delivery of large scale developments may need to extend beyond an individual plan period, and the associated infrastructure requirements may not be capable of being identified fully at the outset. Anticipated rates of delivery and infrastructure requirements should, therefore, be kept under review and reflected as policies are updated’

The main factor influencing delivery rates will be the
delivery and funding of infrastructure. There are
significant infrastructure requirements needed in order to deliver growth in the District which will have implications on the housing delivery rates. Bellway are keen to collaborate further with the Council in this respect in order to establish the funding and timing of infrastructure which will address existing congestion issues in Rochford and the environs and unlock growth to the east.

e) consider whether it is appropriate to establish Green Belt around or adjoining new developments of significant size.

As detailed in the illustrative concept plans, the proposals will be designed based on defensible boundaries, logically defined by the landscape framework

VITALITY OF RURAL COMMUNITIES
2.10. The updated Framework at Para 79 states that to promote sustainable development in rural areas, housing should be located where it will enhance or maintain the vitality of rural communities.
Planning policies should identify opportunities for villages to grow and thrive, especially where this will support local services.
2.11. There are a range of existing rural communities in the vicinity of the proposed growth option. The emerging Masterplan and all future proposals will ensure that the character and identity of these existing settlements is retained, while also delivering new infrastructure and services which will be of benefit to the established rural communities. These existing communities do not currently have a genuine choice in terms of travel option, with the private car for many people the only form of transport available. The Local Plan, and the proposals for large scale growth, have the potential to address this through substantial investment in public transport in the district.
2.12. Para 141 of the Framework requires that before concluding exceptional circumstances exist to justify changes to Green Belt boundaries, the strategic policy-making authority should be able to demonstrate that it has examined fully all other reasonable options for meeting its identified need for development. This includes maximising potential of brownfield land, optimising density within urban areas and discussions with neighbouring authorities about whether they could
accommodate some of the identified need for development, as demonstrated through the statement of common ground.
2.13. Section 13 ‘Protecting Green Belt land’ identifies that Green Belt boundaries can be altered where
exceptional circumstances are fully evidenced and justified, through the preparation or updating of plans. The required process is for strategic policies to establish the need for any changes to Green Belt boundaries and subsequently detailed amendments to those boundaries may be made through non-strategic policies. The Spatial Consultation recognises that RDC are unlikely to have
sufficient urban and brownfield sites to meet the need for housing, employment or community facilities, and neighbouring authorities have advised they are unlikely to be able to accommodate any of Rochford’s needs themselves. Given this context it is considered that there are exceptional circumstances in which to release land from the Green Belt in Rochford.

DUTY TO COOPERATE
2.14. The Framework restates that planning authorities are under a duty to cooperate with each other, and with other prescribed bodies, on strategic matters that cross administrative boundaries.
Strategic policy-making authorities should collaborate to identify the relevant strategic matters which they need to address in their plans. Effective and on-going joint working between strategic policy-making authorities and relevant bodies is integral to the production of a positively
prepared and justified strategy. It is evident that there has been close collaboration between RDC and SSBC in the preparation of the evidence base supporting the Local Plans to date which is welcomed.
2.15. In particular, joint working should help to determine where additional infrastructure is necessary, and whether development needs that cannot be met wholly within a particular plan area could be met elsewhere. In order to demonstrate effective and on-going joint working, strategic policymaking authorities should prepare and maintain one or more statements of common ground, documenting the cross-boundary matters being addressed and progress in cooperating to address these.
2.16. The Framework at para 128 requires Planning Authorities to prepare design guides or codes consistent with the principles set out in the National Design Guide and National Model Design Code, and which reflect local character and design preferences. Design guides and codes provide a local framework for creating beautiful and distinctive places with a consistent and high quality
standard of design.
2.17. National policy in respect of design has been detailed further at Para 129 of the Framework which
states that:
“Design guides and codes can be prepared at an area-wide, neighbourhood or site specific scale, and to carry weight in decision-making should be produced either as part of a plan or as supplementary planning documents. Landowners and developers may contribute to these
exercises, but may also choose to prepare design codes in support of a planning application for sites they wish to develop”.
2.18. The requirement for design codes is considered at Section 8 of these representations.

03. REGIONAL POLICY MATTERS – CONTEXT FOR GROWTH.

INTRODUCTION
3.1. The Association of South Essex Local Authorities entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (January 2018) setting out their commitment to build on the existing strong foundations of cooperation developed through the Duty to Cooperate, and within the wider context of the South Essex 2050 Ambition to move to a more formal approach to strategic planning. This will
be developed through a ‘portfolio’ of plans, with a Joint Strategic Plan (JSP) setting out strategic spatial and infrastructure priorities that are of mutual benefit, prepared alongside a suite of ‘local delivery plans’ to manage delivery within each of the local planning areas. As detailed at Figure 6 of the RDC Spatial Options Consultation, the South Essex Plan is a non-statutory Framework which sits above the Rochford Local Plan.
3.2. The JSP will provide the ‘effective strategic planning mechanism’ to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Duty to Cooperate, with the existing joint work, evidence base and shared governance through ASELA demonstrating that cooperation is proactive, positive and ongoing.
There is a clear commitment to meeting the full housing needs across the sub-region. ASELA have confirmed that they are committed to work collectively in the interests of South Essex detailing that the “joint spatial plan will provide a strong framework to build on and deliver the sound individual local plans and provide the future strategic context for them”.
3.3. The ASELA Productivity Strategy provides a framework for addressing some of the challenges
across the region, outlining that the future of work is changing and higher-skilled, knowledgebased work will drive future economic activity. It sets out opportunities to attract, retain and develop highly skilled knowledge workers, including through skills development; encourages B2B collaboration and development of local supply chains; and identifies opportunities to use data and leverage connectivity to grow the economy through both growth of indigenous SME businesses and attracting inward investment. It emphasises the importance of town centres as centres for economic activity which offer a rich social experience and space for interaction and can accommodate a range of economic activities.
SOUTH EAST ESSEX STRATEGIC GROWTH LOCATIONS ASSESSMENT 2019
3.4. RDC, SSBC and Castle Point Borough Council (CPBC) have worked together to consider potential spatial options for future strategic scale residential development, jobs and supporting infrastructure. The South East Essex Strategic Growth Locations Assessment has considered and assessed six broad locations of undeveloped land adjoining the built-up area of Southend and considered their potential to accommodate strategic scale development of approximately 6,000 – 8,000 homes, together with employment and supporting infrastructure. The report
considered six broad locations, Sectors A-F and identified that only Sector D has the potential to
accommodate strategic scale development. Option 3 b sits within the Sector D area.
3.5. The Plan’s evidence thus identifies Sector D – land north of Fossetts Farm, Garon Park and Bournes Green Chase - as the only area in Rochford which adjoins Southend’s urban area which offered the potential for strategic scale development. This area was found to have the least environmental constraints. The landscape was found to be of medium sensitivity, and development
would need to have regard to this as well as listed buildings and heritage assets in the area.
3.6. The Assessment found that significant investment in public transport, road and cycling infrastructure would be needed to support sustainable development. This included congestion concerns along the A127 and at Warners Bridge. It found synergies with nearby employment locations and existing recreational resources including around Garons Park. Major development would need to avoid coalescence with Rochford and maintain a buffer to the villages of Barling, Little Wakering and Great Wakering to the east.

SOUTH ESSEX STRATEGIC GROWTH LOCATIONS STUDY 2020
3.7. The 2020 South Essex Strategic Growth Locations Study1 reinforces the findings of the 2019 study, which has undertaken a strategic review of land availability and development constraints across South Essex and considered potential locations where urban extensions and new settlement-scale growth could be explored. This Study has assessed the potential for urban extensions to each of the District’s main settlements - Hockley, Rayleigh and Rochford – as well as Southend; together with the potential for new-settlement scale growth north-east of Southend and at Fairglen where the A127, A13 and A130 join.
3.8. The Study shows that transport infrastructure capacity is a particular constraint to growth at a sub-regional level with a highways network largely at capacity at peak times. An appropriate response to this is to locate growth at accessible locations, preferably where there is fixed public transport and this is a key component of the ‘sequential approach’ adopted in the Study to identifying potential locations for strategic scale growth. The Study includes an assessment of the relative accessibility of different options, having regard to proximity to major routes and local congestion; and public transport accessibility. Hockley scores poorly, and Rayleigh is moderate in this respect; while Rochford and Southend together with the potential for strategic growth south east of Rochford are identified as having good accessibility. Fairglen is identified as having very poor accessibility by public transport currently and would require delivery of a new station to support strategic development.
3.9. The Study concludes that the best scope in the medium term is for strategic growth at Southend North East and West Horndon. This reflects the less constrained nature of these locations relative to other areas considered and the greater potential for sustainable access even in the short to medium term. This issue of sustainable access is critical given the constrained nature of the existing highway network in South Essex and the fact that strategic growth must have viable non-car access. There are however still significant challenges in these locations, including the requirement for substantial supporting infrastructure and further studies are required.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE THAMES ESTUARY 2050 GROWTH COMMISSION 2019
3.10. In the Budget 2016 the Government asked the Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission to set out an ambitious vision and delivery plan for North Kent, South Essex and East London. The Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission published their report on 25th June 2018. In the response published on the 25th March 2019, the government welcomed the Commission’s vision, and sets out national commitments to the Thames Estuary.
3.11. The government’s response is a clear demonstration of the commitment to growth in the Thames Estuary and identifies that this is a national priority which is of importance to all of the United
Kingdom. The response acknowledges the tremendous potential of the Thames Estuary to power growth for the benefit of local communities and the entire country. It highlights however that the region does not fully deliver on its great potential and “A bolder approach is needed to realise this vision and the potential of the region”.
3.12. In addition, the Government agrees with the Commission that the scale and pace of delivery will need to increase to meet demand for housing across the Estuary. The report further states that the Government is prepared to offer bespoke support through initiatives such as housing deals, to support those places willing to be ambitious in their approach to building more homes.
Government would expect places across the region might want to go further in order to take account of higher demand and fully enable them to meet their economic growth ambitions.
3.13. This report wholeheartedly confirms the Government’s commitment to this region. The Local
Plan has the opportunity to utilise this support from a national level to ensure that the region fulfils its full potential in terms of new homes and jobs through a plan-led approach. This is an unprecedented opportunity for the region and RDC must capitalise on this to ensure they fulfil their ambitions.
3.14. Rochford is located within the South Essex Foreshore, and within this context the Commission’s
vision for the area is :
“The rich patchwork of places which form the South Essex Foreshore will be celebrated. Empowered by a statutory Joint Spatial Plan the area will go beyond ‘business as usual’. Locally driven town centre transformation will help create lively places that people choose to work, live, learn and play in. These policies and local initiatives will see development unlocked, postindustrial landscapes restored, and the filling of empty business spaces to create a thriving and
creative economy”.
3.15. This vision aligns with the positive approach outlined in the RDC Spatial Options which states that “The scale of housing growth required in Rochford presents opportunities to do things very differently and harness much greater investment in infrastructure than has been possible before”

04. REGIONAL POLICY MATTERS – CONTEXT FOR GROWTH.
Current Situation
4.1. In Rochford District, the housing crisis is stark. Rochford is one of the least affordable regions in
England and house prices are continuing to increase at an unprecedented rate. Many people who want to own a home in Rochford simply cannot afford to do so. The exorbitant increase in house prices and also rents indicates an imbalance between supply and demand. In addition, a growing population, including a largely elderly population, will place significant pressure on the demand for different types of housing and services over the next 20 years.
4.2. The ratio of local house prices to earnings is far in excess of historic levels and above the national average, creating real difficulties for local people to afford a local home, particularly for first time buyers. On this basis it is evident that the current status quo to housing delivery is not working and a bolder approach to housing is required, urgently.
Future Housing Needs & Supply
4.3. Government Local Housing Need Standard Method identifies that a minimum 360 houses are needed annually, 7,200 new homes by 2040 in RDC. To meet minimum local housing needs there needs to be an uplift of +60% on historic delivery rates. The RDC Spatial Options considers a further growth scenario comprising the Standard Method + 50% Buffer which would result in
10,800 new homes by 2040, which the Council states could help to drive local economic growth or address unmet need from elsewhere. Moreover, the SHMA highlights the need for 238 affordable homes a year. Only 1 in every 9 households on the housing register are likely to ever be rehoused based on current projections.
4.4. The Council is under a Duty to Cooperate, requiring plan makers to consider issues which affect not just Rochford but other neighbouring authorities. The Duty to Cooperate is a legal requirement. The emerging evidence provides a strong indication that SSBC will not be able to meet its development needs for housing and employment in full within its borough boundaries.
Southend has a constrained supply of land which also limits its ability to deliver family housing.
Given the close-relationships between Rochford and Southend, with people moving home, commuting and travel to access education and services between the two authorities, the Council needs to consider and test the degree to which it can contribute to meeting unmet needs from Southend in preparing the Local Plan.
4.5. Local Plans get independently examined before the Council can adopt them and must meet relevant legal and ‘soundness’ tests. A failure to effectively address these issues is the major reason why local plans are unable to progress or are found unsound at the Examination stage.

[SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT FOR ORIGINAL DIAGRAM OF ROCHFORD HOUSING CRISIS]
- Average house price in Rochford 2021: £426,000 (12% increase since 2020)
- House price growth 2011-21: £136,000
- House prices 11.5 times average earnings. Amongst the least affordable areas in the country
- Average rents grown 18% over last 5 years
- 1,000 households awaiting affordable housing in 2021 (grown by 20%)
- Average housing delivery 205 dwellings per annum (2011 – 2021)

4.6. In this respect, the Planning Practice Guidance provides clarification on the standard method
reiterating that it provides the minimum starting point and details the circumstances actual housing need is higher than the standard method indicates, stating:
Circumstances where this may be appropriate include, but are not limited to situations where increases in housing need are likely to exceed past trends because of:
• growth strategies for the area that are likely to be deliverable, for example where funding is in
place to promote and facilitate additional growth (e.g. Housing Deals);
• strategic infrastructure improvements that are likely to drive an increase in the homes needed locally; or
• an authority agreeing to take on unmet need from neighbouring authorities, as set out in a statement of common ground.
3.7. Set against this, the Council’s Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment considers
the potential supply of land based on the application of current planning policies. It identifies potential land which is capable of accommodating 4,500 dwellings over the plan period on sites which are currently deliverable or developable or through windfall development. This includes sites which have been allocated for development in previous plans, sites with planning permission and other sites identified within existing settlements in the District. This falls substantially short
of the District’s housing needs, meaning that the Plan must consider the potential review of Green Belt boundaries.
[SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT FOR TABLE COMPARING LAND SUPPLY TO HOUSING NEED]

4.8. Available and suitable land for housing in Rochford is scarce, with the majority of open land being
designated as Metropolitan Green Belt, extending from London across the South Essex subregion. Significant parts of the District are also protected for their ecological value, landscape value or because they are at risk of flooding.

ECONOMY
4.9. As with many other areas across the country and internationally, Rochford’s economy has been harmed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Local Plan needs to set out a strategy for economic recovery.
4.10. Prior to the pandemic, the evidence pointed to :
ƒ a relatively modest-sized economy with 29,000 workforce jobs based in the District (2018).
ƒ The percentage of jobs available per resident is much lower than the national average, leading to a greater reliance on out-commuting for our residents and leakage of spending and investment
ƒ Significant out-commuting of residents to work, totalling over 14,000 people per day in net terms, both to surrounding employment centres such as Southend and Basildon and to London.
ƒ Self-employment had been growing, reaching almost 16% of working-age residents.
ƒ Local employment opportunities were focused more towards lower paid/skilled roles, with the proportion of residents with NVQ 4+ skills (equivalent to degree level) below the regional average, and an under-representation in higher value-added sectors borne out in average earnings for those employed in the District which were around 7% below the East of England average.
OFFICE AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES
4.11. The 2017 South Essex Economic Development Needs Assessment (EDNA) identified a need for 27 ha of employment land across Southend and Rochford to 2036. Quantitatively it identified sufficient supply to meet this. The evidence base will need to be updated to reflect changes in economic circumstances and the longer plan period. However it is likely that some additional
employment land provision is needed in the local area to support growth in local SME businesses in manufacturing, construction, trades and related sectors including in providing grow-on space; and to contribute to addressing the significant out-commuting from the District. National planning policy and guidance is clear that both quantitative and qualitative factors should be
considered in considering employment land provision.
4.12. The Covid-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns have ushered an unprecedented change in the way people work, almost overnight. The Local Plan needs to facilitate these changes by providing opportunities to work more locally for those that might have historically commuted out to work, and ensuring high quality broadband infrastructure is in place.

[See document for original diagram re benefits of meeting housing need]
- Delivering affordable housing
- Family housing for local people
-Supporting the local economy
- Supporting funding and delivery of infrastructure
- Supporting town centres
- Supporting public services

RETAIL AND LEISURE
4.13. Rochford District’s main retail provision is within the centres of Rayleigh, Rochford and Hockley.
However, none of these are major classified centres and Rochford achieves a very low market share of retail provision in comparison to the rest of South Essex. In particular, retail expenditure for comparison goods is generally lower in the District than it is for convenience goods, demonstrating that residents will often do their regular shopping (such as food) more locally but travel to other commercial centres, such as Southend, for comparison retail shopping such as for household items, electrical goods and clothes.
4.14. The Retail and Leisure Study Update 2014 recommended that the District seek to increase the
market share of comparison retail to a minimum maintain market share in South Essex. The South Essex Retail Study 2017 sets out that the District would benefit from further retail provision to promote sustainable shopping patterns, with retail provision aligned new housing growth.

E-commerce had been growing before the pandemic, but Covid-19 is likely to have accelerated this, and this is a particular challenge for the District’s town centres which therefore need to evolve. Housing growth within the District together with an evolution of the town centres’ offer will be important to supporting the vitality and viability of the District’s town centres.
TOURIST ECONOMY
4.15. The tourism economy in Rochford District is currently underdeveloped – there is a lack of infrastructure such as quality accommodation, restaurants and cafes, visitor attractions and activities. The District has a distinctive character – it benefits from a world-class natural environment with internationally significant estuaries, namely the Crouch and Roach and an extensive coastline, including the RSPB’s Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project. These geographical features give rise to the potential to explore opportunities to promote tourism, particularly a green tourism offer. Rochford also has a range of heritage assets with untapped potential.
4.16. The Tourism, Leisure and Recreation Strategy for South Essex 2020-2038 sets a vision “to make South Essex a renowned major tourism destination comprising a corridor of quality interrelated tourism, leisure and recreation attractions. An expanded visitor offer will
encourage people to stay and enjoy our culture, resorts, countryside, market towns and coastline. In turn this will add to the area’s vibrancy and make us a more attractive place to live, work and start up a business”.
4.17. It identifies that there are some structural weaknesses that exist, such as the lack of a ‘stand out’
single attractions. A key conclusion that is drawn is that there is a number of exciting and attainable opportunities which can be the focus of future strategic action. This would help the area to bounce back from Covid-19 and reposition the area in the domestic visitor market.
4.18. There is a clear opportunity for the District to increase the value of the tourism economy over the
Local Plan period in the following ways:
ƒ increasing visitor spending by providing high-quality facilities and attractions and supporting infrastructure;
ƒ increasing the number of linked trips to Southend and other locations in South Essex;
ƒ converting a proportion of day trippers into overnight stays;
ƒ increasing the share of holiday makers as opposed to people visiting friends and relatives;
ƒ Capitalising on the ‘staycation’ market;
ƒ capturing the untapped potential of the district’s assets, including the historic environment, the countryside and coast; and
ƒ developing the business tourism offer and overseas visitors to capture this higher value market segment linked to London Southend Airport.
4.19. The Tourism, Leisure and Recreation Strategy for South Essex outlines objectives to provide a planning framework to facilitate development, including co-ordinating the development of appropriate Local Plans that support the development of tourism, leisure and recreation. The preparation of the Rochford Local Plan provides an appropriate basis for achieving this.

ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF OPTION 3B
4.20. Our economic analysis points to the following opportunities:
ƒ The local economy across Southend and Rochford is structured around the delivery of goods and services to local people and visitors. The economic strategy for the Option 3b will tie into this, and deliver job opportunities in everyday services, health and education on site, but also recognise and encourage spending from residents on shops and services in Rochford Town Centre.
ƒ Southend Airport is also an important local employment driver in the medium-to-long term,
with potential growth of both direct jobs on site and in the supply chain and aviation-related activities in the surrounding area. There is a good spatial relationship to this.
ƒ The scale of the development opportunity provides an opportunity for transformational change and can act as a major economic driver in its own right. The scheme will support sizeable population growth creating demand for goods and services within the local economy. It can
deliver employment in traditional employment space, support home-based working, and create/support employment opportunities in health, education and local services.
ƒ If the scale of development is comprehensively considered, there is a strategic opportunity to shift the skills and jobs profile towards higher value-added activities. Delivery of high-quality housing, with space to work, and better employment opportunities have the ability to attract higher paid/ earning individuals to avail of the benefits of coastal life.
ƒ Self-employment in the area is high and has been growing. There are many small business and self-employed enterprises in the area. The office market is focused on local SME occupiers.
Local centres within the scheme should be designed in a way in which they can accommodate flexible workspace in local work hubs which can cater for local micro-businesses, can provide workspaces for people that might commute into London less or who work principally at/ hear home. Provision of high-quality broadband and telecommunications infrastructure will also be key to supporting this and facilitating the growing trend in home working. As working patterns change as a result of Covid and technological improvements, there is a major opportunity to create an attractive residential environment with local workspace which responds to this.
ƒ There is a concentration of industrial space in the area with low current vacancy levels. There is a strong relationship between the site and existing key employment and industrial sites in the local area, including Purdeys Industrial Estate, Temple Farm, Stock Road, Rochford Business Park and the Airport Business Park. There are opportunities to deliver high quality connections to these.
ƒ The development offers potential to help diversify the area’s visitor / tourism offer and to increase tourism spend, including in exploring the potential of the River Roach, provision of a high-quality hotel and/or visitor resort offer.
ƒ There is a good opportunity to deliver different types of housing, including: family housing both market and affordable, specialist/ embryonic sectors, Build to Rent, third age living including a range of care products and the self-build sector. Diversity in the housing offer, and recognition of the relative role of growth here vis-à-vis what is delivered within the urban area (focused more on higher density / smaller units), is important to supporting overall housing delivery rates, a balanced population profile and attracting higher skilled/ earning households.

05. STRATEGIC MATTERS IN LOCAL PLAN MAKING.
5.1. The Framework at para 11 requires Plans to apply a presumption in favour of sustainable development.
For plan-making this means that all plans should promote a sustainable pattern of development that seeks to:
1. meet the development needs of their area;
2. align growth and infrastructure;
3. improve the environment;
4. mitigate climate change (including by making effective use of land in urban areas) and adapt to its effects.
5.2. This section of the representations considers these strategic matters in a Rochford context and considers how growth on land south east of Rochford and north of Southend will assist RDC in delivering a sustainable pattern of development.
MEETING THE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OF THEIR AREA
5.3. RDC propose to take a positive approach to growth locally, help to create a more inclusive housing market, avoiding the emergence of housing-related issues including homelessness and concealed households. A number of strategy options have been identified that could form the basis of the plan’s approach to housing growth over the next 20 years and beyond.
5.4. These representations wholly endorse Strategy Option 3: Concentrated growth » Option 3b: Focused north of Southend which lies within our client’s land interests. It is not purported however that this strategy will meet Rochford’s full housing need over the lifetime of the Plan, thus Strategy Option 4: Balanced Combination is the preferred approach. The Consultation states that
Option 4 could make best use of urban capacity (Option 1), building one or two large growth areas (Option 3) and a number of smaller urban extensions (Option 2).We support Option 4 which will provide a varied supply of sites to make the local housing market as diverse as possible delivering a range of choice and competition to the market, thus offering the greatest chance that housing will be consistently delivered over the whole plan period. Crucially the Plan needs to incorporate large scale strategic growth, as a Local Plan strategy that relies solely on smaller sites, or sites spread more evenly through the District will not have the potential to fund new infrastructure and provide betterment to the current challenges facing the District.
5.5. It is submitted that in order to deliver the ambitions of the Local Plan, large scale growth focused in one location as per Option 3b is required. Strategic growth at this location is embedded within the evidence base which supports this Local Plan including the South East Essex Strategic Growth Locations Assessment (2019) and the South Essex Strategic Growth Locations Study (2020).
5.6. Option 3 b is the only option which will:
ƒ Provide the “critical mass” needed to secure transformational new infrastructure to mitigate the impact of future development and critically to address the chronic congestion currently experienced within the District
ƒ improve affordability
ƒ address the decline in home ownership
ƒ support a sustainable shift towards higher wage/skilled jobs.
5.7. The Government have also been clear in their funding decisions that they will help fund infrastructure
where it is supporting their growth ambitions. Option 3b will make a substantive positive contribution to the Government’s ambitions for growth across the Thames Estuary Area. The Government’s Response to the Thames Estuary Growth Commission (HM Government, March 2019) states that it will support regeneration and growth within the area through a range of measures, including negotiating Housing and Infrastructure Deals with groups of ambitious local authorities. Option 3b provides the greatest potential to capture funding through such deals.
ALIGN GROWTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE
5.8. The Council’s previous engagement with local communities has identified the need for improvements to services and utilities, supporting local employment opportunities, development sustainable transport options, and improvements to strategic infrastructure as key community concerns alongside concerns regarding the number of homes. Strategic growth provides an
opportunity to address these issues. The vision for land south east of Rochford and north of Southend is that the development brings positive benefits to all residents including through the delivery of new infrastructure for sport, recreation and leisure; the provision of new high quality employment opportunities; and in supporting the delivery of strategic transport infrastructure which helps to improve accessibility across the area including addressing existing congestion bottlenecks in Southend and Rochford and delivering new high quality public transport links and opportunities for walking and cycling.
5.9. The Planning Practice Guidance requires Authorities in Plan-making to set out a positive vision for the area, but the plan should also be realistic about what can be achieved and when. This means paying careful attention to providing an adequate supply of land, identifying what infrastructure is required and how it can be funded and brought forward. A collaborative approach is expected to
be taken to identifying infrastructure deficits and requirements, and opportunities for addressing
them. In doing so they will need to:
assess the quality and capacity of infrastructure, and its ability to meet forecast demands.
Where deficiencies are identified, policies should set out how those deficiencies will be addressed; and
ƒ take account of the need for strategic infrastructure, including nationally significant infrastructure, within their areas.
5.10. The government recommends that when preparing a plan strategic policy-making authorities use available evidence of infrastructure requirements to prepare an Infrastructure Funding Statement. Where plans are looking to plan for longer term growth such as significant extensions to existing villages and towns, it is recognised that there may not be certainty and/or the funding secured for necessary strategic infrastructure at the time the plan is produced. In these circumstances strategic policy-making authorities will be expected to demonstrate that there is a reasonable prospect that the proposals can be developed within the timescales envisaged.
Our client is keen to work with the Council and their appointed consultants in respect of the infrastructure requirements for growth Option 3b to accommodate future growth, and crucially ensuring betterment for the existing residents in the district.
Genuine choice of transport modes
5.11. Rochford’s peninsula location creates issues for connectivity with relatively limited sustainable travel options available, particularly north-south, leading to notable congestion along key roads. Given the existing level of traffic within the District and how this affects the road network, future strategic highway decisions and plans must consider how changes in working habits and future technology can help promote innovative but realistic transport solutions.
5.12. It is essential that public transport connections to the stations and key employment locations in the sub-region are improved to provide realistic and viable option to residents from commuting and other journeys. This can help reduce congestion. In addition, whilst there are a number of existing cycle routes within the District, these routes are often found in isolation. Whilst there are routes along Ashingdon Road, Hall Road and Cherry Orchard Way, these are not continuous. Future investment should look to ensure integration and improvement of existing cycle routes where possible and ensure cycling is considered as a key mode of travel from the outset.
5.13. The District cannot however be considered in isolation and the continued expansion of development in the adjoining Southend Borough has led to an increased propensity for vehicles to find alternative routes to the A127 (A1159), often resulting in growing pressures on Rochford’s own network. The Authorities will need to work collaboratively to address these issues - ensuring
unnecessary trips on the network are removed and essential trips are accommodated along appropriate existing or new infrastructure.
5.14. The concept of ’15 minute neighbourhoods’ can help to achieve this. These are based on ensuring that residents to access the majority of their day-to-day needs – such as everyday shops, schools, medical facilities, pubs, cafes and leisure opportunities - within a 15-minute walk or cycle. This has been shown to build sustainable communities and reduce private car use throughout the world.
5.15. Future communities proposed on land south east of Rochford and north of Southend will be designed to encourage cycling and walking by promoting 15-minute neighbourhoods and ensuring high-quality cycle networks are provided to link up with both existing communities’ and other future communities. This integration is key to help promote active travel. For locations and routes where high levels of cycle use are expected, green corridors for example, we will look to promote segregated spaces for other cyclists and pedestrians to ensure safety and encourage active travel.
5.16. Consideration will also be given to how other forms of powered micro-mobility can be promoted such as, e-scooters or powered skateboards. The Council is keen to lead the way with new technological solutions and ensure developments have electric charging for not only for
vehicles, but the bicycle, moped and e-scooters. This might include a new e-scooter and e-bike hire scheme in Rochford and Rayleigh which could take the form of autonomous e-scooters, improving the efficiency of their operation.
A New Travel Corridor Network
5.17. A key constraint that is recognised in the transport evidence is that despite the sustainability imperative to reduce car use, local people continue to use their car for short journeys and tolerate the time lost in congestion. It appears there is a general resident’s desire locally to continue using their cars for most journeys and expected new infrastructure that supports it.
5.18. The local network is currently congested. Access by car is broadly restricted geographically to the west along the A13 and A127. Once these routes penetrate the borough boundary, they quickly become congested. This has resulted in rat-running, even for local journeys. Capacity improvements have taken place along the A127 which include improvements to Progress Road, Kent Elms, Tesco roundabout and Cuckoo Corner. Works are currently underway at the Bell House Junction. The distribution of employment zones in the area has contributed to congestion and created a poor environment for pedestrians and cyclists.
5.19. Rochford is formed of a number of towns, villages and standalone employment locations. Improving the east-west connections will not only help those leaving the District as part of their commute but will also ensure that existing businesses within the District are seen as viable
locations for employees.
5.20. It is also important to optimise the opportunities associated with London Southend Airport as an
economic driver and a rail station. It is essential that surface access and access to both the local and strategic highway network is improved. By doing this, the Airport can help support economic growth in both the district and the wider South Essex area. To help achieve this access to the station from the east will be required.
5.21. Strategy Option 3b will deliver strategic infrastructure improvements alongside growth including improved eastern access to London Southend Airport Rail Station, Temple Farm and Purdeys Industrial Estates, and address congestion pinch points including Bell House Junction, Priory Crescent and Warners Bridge. Strategic growth will enable the delivery of a new green, sustainable transport corridor providing a link between the two train lines Southend Airport and
Thorpe Bay.
5.22. If strategic growth is delivered between Southend and Rochford, changing the design characteristics of infrastructure from what has previously been provided is key to delivering a solution that fits both travel behaviours now and in the future. Through a forward-thinking
approach we ensure that any hard infrastructure provided in the District cannot only make use of new technologies as they become available but are also not held back by building solely for the problems at the time. For example, in the short term, a green corridor could be formed of a
two-lane dual carriageway. However, as working behaviours move towards a more home-based approach or as more local employment opportunities become available, the need for two-lanes will be reduced. As such, one lane in each direction could be converted to a bus lane.

IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT
5.23. In the recently updated Framework, the environmental objective wording has been strengthened
with a requirement to ‘protect and enhance’ the environment and ‘improve biodiversity’. The key issue for consideration is crucially how the proposals will protect and enhance the environment.
5.24. By way of context, over 70% of Rochford is designated Metropolitan Green Belt with over 15%
protected for its biodiversity value. The subject landholding south east of Rochford and north of Southend lies within the Green Belt but is not covered by any statutory environmental designations. The River Roach lies to the north and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Area of conservation and Special Protection Area; with land in this northern
part of the area falling within Flood Zones 2 and 3.
South Essex Estuary Park
5.25. The RDC Open Space Study 2020 revealed that the current quantity provision of all open spaces in the District is at 8ha per 1,000 people. This falls below the Fields in Trust benchmark. This provides a further opportunity for the new Local Plan to address this shortfall of which the proposals for the South Essex Estuary Park are integral to.
5.26. The South Essex Strategic Green and Blue Infrastructure Study (2020) was prepared on behalf of
ASELA and sets out a vision for green and blue infrastructure across South Essex and provides high-level objectives, strategic opportunities and policies driven by a co-ordinated approach.
The Study defines an integrated green and blue network, that will provide multiple benefits and which merits prioritisation and significant investment as well as defining a spatial arrangement to create the South Essex Estuary Park (SEE Park) - a network of green and blue assets across the
region. Growth Options 3 b have the potential to deliver the eastern extent of the SEE Park.
5.27. Figure 5.1 extracted from the Green and Blue Infrastructure Study shows indicative opportunities
which could help to deliver a regional green and blue infrastructure resource. Island Wetlands is identified as one of these landscapes, as shown below, which extends from Wallasea Island to Southend. Initiatives around Wallasea Island will create a large wetland nature park, with designated areas accessible to people. The southern part of the park shown - closer to Southend – indicates the potential for the creation of green corridors linking urban areas, the countryside and coast and
providing much needed green open space for existing and future residents. The proposal could contribute towards delivering these ambitions. The ambitions for the green and blue infrastructure need to be aligned with the growth options to maximise the benefits that can arise.
5.28. Figure 5.2 details our interpretation of the ambitions for the parkland and how the strategic blue and green infrastructure will influence the design of the growth option south east of Rochford and north of Southend.
Figure 5.1 Sub-Regional Green and Blue Infrastructure Study – Indicative Opportunities [SEE DOCUMENT FOR MAP]
Biodiversity Net Gain
5.29. The proposals will maximise opportunities to enhance and protect local ecosystems and green
infrastructure will be exploited to achieve a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain. This will ensure that biodiversity is improved across the District through new development, minimising incumbent losses and restoring ecological networks.
Figure 5.2 Indicative proposals for strategic green and blue infrastructure on land east of Rochford and north of Southend [SEE DOCUMENT FOR IMAGE]
MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADAPT TO ITS EFFECTS
Active Travel
5.30. It is no secret that the emissions generated by fossil fuel-based vehicles are contributing climate change. The Local Plan should guide development and investment in the District to supports the Government’s target of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, as well as the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA) aim to be carbon neutral by 2040. To help meet these targets, Rochford must show leadership in promoting the use of electric cars and buses to its
residents and encouraging growth of active travel.
5.31. We are also on the brink of a new transport revolution, with numerous technologies coming forward - in both the short, medium and long term - each having their own impact of personal travel options. It is therefore important to consider how travel will change over the plan period. In recent years, many residents have commuted to work 3-5 days a week using a fossil fuel burning vehicle, however, by the end of the plan period, residents might only commute to work twice a week (with a 60% reduction in capacity demand); use electric vehicles, which could in time be self-driving; or make use of a high-quality public transport option. It is clear that the technological and transport solutions to accommodate likely travel behaviours at the start of the plan will not match those at the end of the plan in 2040. Getting this aspect of future development wrong could lead to large roads being built that are far too big for the expected travel patterns at the end of the plan period and we are left with huge barriers, severing communities unnecessarily.
Building Design
5.32. The National Housing Federation states England’s homes produce more carbon emissions every year than all the country’s cars thus decarbonising housing is an urgent priority. At a building level, this means designing buildings with highly efficient building fabric to reduce demand for energy and associated energy bills. Bellway’s homes will aim to be fossil fuel free where possible, using
innovative and renewable forms of energy production and storage to make the most of the UK’s increasingly decarbonised electricity supply.
5.33. Building homes with a ‘fabric first’ approach means high levels of insulation, reduced air permeability and reduced cold bridging, and uses passive design to retain heat within buildings by minimising losses to the outside. This is the basis of the PassivHaus scheme, which has been shown to result in homes with very low levels of energy demand due to good passive design to minimise heat loss. The benefits of this approach to design include low heating bills, reduced risk of obsolescence, not
having to retrofit to improve insulation levels and homes that are futureproof.
5.34. Where appropriate, waste heat from industrial processes can provide heating for new and existing homes, making the most of our existing energy resources. Opportunities to partner with industry to generate renewable electricity at scale on suitable sites across the District will also be explored, meeting wider climate change objectives and providing an income to the Council.
Alternative Fuels
5.35. There are opportunities to make use of sustainable hydrogen, either for building heating or vehicle
transportation. Hydrogen has the potential to partially replace natural gas within our existing gas infrastructure. Although the majority of current hydrogen production methods are not sustainable, the growing levels of renewable electricity in the national grid mix will mean that sustainable hydrogen can be produced more widely in suitable locations throughout the country.
Lifestyle
5.36. New and innovative technology will play its part in helping to decarbonise Rochford. However we also need to help our residents to live more sustainably, by demonstrating that sustainable lifestyles lead to better quality of life. By encouraging people to participate in active travel, walking and cycling where possible, residents will see benefits to their health and wellbeing. Local air quality will be improved. Our roads will be safer. We will get to know our neighbours better.
5.37. Taking account of the District’s rural character, consideration can also be given to the use of land for sustainable food production. This could vary from the provision of allotments by residents to grow their own food to the use of new, innovative farming techniques, such as vertical farming which maximises food production on a smaller footprint.

06. LANDSCAPE & GREEN BELT EVIDENCE BASE.
6.1. In order to meeting minimum housing needs, RDC will need to release land from the Green Belt.
Rationale for Strategic Green Belt Release
The evidence base indicates that Strategic Green Belt release is required through the preparation of Rochford’s Local Plan as:
ƒ Meeting development needs is an important component of achieving sustainable development – the key aim of the planning system. The evidence shows that this cannot be achieved across the sub-region without reviewing Green Belt boundaries. The aim of Green Belt policy is not to restrict meeting development needs. It is to direct development to sustainable locations;
ƒ Green Belt release is required to meet the identified local need for market and affordable housing and improve housing affordability, a key feature of Government policy, as well as to deliver family housing – the need for which is not being met through urban sites in the sub-region;
ƒ Strategic growth is required to support economic recovery and sustainable economic growth – key policy ambitions at a national, sub-regional and local level. It will support growth in the workforce, attract skilled workers and attract higher paid employment
opportunities as identified in the ASELA Productivity Strategy.
ƒ The evidence base identifies key infrastructure deficiencies. Strategic growth will support the funding and delivery of strategic infrastructure including transport infrastructure to promote more sustainable travel and address existing congestion.
ƒ It is appropriate that consideration is given to meeting unmet need from Southend in locations which have a strong spatial and functional relationship to in a context in which there are strategic constraints to development at a sub-regional level.
6.2. The Joint Green Belt Study (February 2020), covering Rochford and Southend, assesses the
performance of Green Belt land in meeting the purposes of Green Belt. The strongest performing Green Belt is land within the Upper Roach Valley between Rayleigh, Thundersley and Southend. Only small areas of land on the urban fringe are identified as having a low performance against Green Belt purposes. These areas of land alone will not provide sufficient land to meet development needs;
indicating a need to consider land with one or two strong ratings against Green Belt purposes.
6.3. The south-eastern part of the Green Belt – adjoining the urban boundary with Southend - has two strong ratings, which is likely a reflection of its purpose to prevent urban spawl. It should not be assumed that a site that weakly contributes to the Green Belt is automatically a good candidate for development, nor that a site which strongly contributes to the Green Belt is automatically a poor candidate for development. In making decisions regarding Green Belt release, performance against
Green Belt purposes however needs to be considered alongside wider factors which influence what
constitutes sustainable development – including access to services and employment opportunities.
The purpose of Green Belt is to support sustainable patterns of development.
Figure 6.1: Green Belt Performance – Southend and Rochford
[see attached document for map]
6.4. The area south-east of Rochford which has been identified as a potential strategic growth location falls into parcels AA153-AA158 of Stage 2 of the Green Belt Study. In most scenarios, these parcels are considered to have a high harm if they were to be released from the Green Belt.
There are however some scenarios where if certain smaller parts of this wider area were released, the harm would be reduced to moderate-high. This would only be the case if these smaller parcels were released in isolation.
6.5. Whilst the ideal would be to minimise harm to the Green Belt, it may be that the most sustainable
locations for development will result in high harm to the Green Belt. Conversely, the release of Green Belt land likely to result in low harm may not be appropriate or sustainable. In each location where alterations to Green Belt boundaries are being considered, planning judgement will be required to establish whether the sustainability benefits of Green Belt release and the associated development outweigh the harm to the Green Belt designation.
ROCHFORD AND SOUTHEND LANDSCAPE CHARACTER, SENSITIVITY AND CAPACITY STUDY (2020)
6.6. The Landscape Character, Sensitivity and Capacity Study prepared for Rochford and Southend sets out the value and sensitivity of landscape character areas in the two LPAs and their potential capacity for development to inform strategies for the area.
6.7. The majority of the land at the strategic growth location Option 3b is within the Coastal Farmland Landscape Character Type, specifically parcel C5 (Stonebridge). The landscape value, sensitivity along with the landscape capacity and recommended development scale are detailed in the table below. The Study identifies that this land parcel had medium to high
capacity for development.
Figure 6.2 Landscape Capacity extracted from the RDC Landscape Character Study
[see attached document for map]

[SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT FOR TABLES DETAILING LANDSCAPE CHARACTER ATTRIBUTES]

07. THE VISION FOR LAND SOUTH EAST OF ROCHFORD / NORTH OF SOUTHEND.

CONTEXT
7.1. The RDC Spatial Option Consultation identifies a number of strategy options that could form the basis of the plan’s approach to growth over the next 20 years and beyond. These representations endorse Strategy Option 3: Concentrated growth » Option 3b: Focused north of Southend.
7.2. As detailed in these representations, Option 3b is required in order to deliver the ambitions of the Local Plan with large scale growth focused in one location which will provide a sufficient critical mass in order to deliver the required infrastructure for the District. Strategic growth at this location is embedded within the evidence base which supports this Local Plan including the South East Essex Strategic Growth Locations Assessment (2019) and the South Essex Strategic
Growth Locations Study (2020).
7.3. This location provides the opportunity to deliver strategic development at scale which includes new homes and employment land, new strategic transport infrastructure, local services and associated community facilities and additional open space and recreational facilities. The strategic rationale for growth is to:
ƒ Contribute to meeting the strategic housing need for market and affordable housing in Rochford and also potentially unmet needs from Southend in a location close to where the need arises;
ƒ Locate growth at a sustainable location close to the concentration of existing employment opportunities at and around London Southend Airport, Temple Farm and Purdeys Industrial Estates, Fossets Way and Gardon Park, to reduce the need to travel and achieve a high
proportion of travel by sustainable modes;
ƒ Provide strategic scale development where housing can be brought forward alongside local employment opportunities, schools, healthcare facilities, local shops and services in line with the principles of 15 minute neighbourhoods in order to reduce the need to travel;
ƒ Deliver concentrated strategic growth which reduces the scale of incremental growth of the District’s existing towns and villages which can place pressure on their local infrastructure and adversely affect their character;
ƒ Enable strategic infrastructure improvements alongside growth including improved eastern access to London Southend Airport Rail Station, Temple Farm and Purdeys Industrial Estates, and address congestion pinch points including Bell House Junction, Priory Crescent and
Warners Bridge.
Figure 7.1: Land South East of Rochford & North of Southend Broad Location for Growth
[SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT]
THE VISION
7.4. There are a number of themes which have informed the vision for the subject site -
ƒ A sequence of new neighbourhoods – the proposals include four individual, future facing neighbourhoods in Rochford, which contain mixed-use neighbourhood centres and the key community infrastructure and services required to support residents needs and reduce the need to travel, that can be brought forward alongside one another with a distinct identity and character. The character of these neighbourhoods can vary and respond to their location – with new hamlets and villages within Rochford which respond to the morphology of settlements in the area.
ƒ A Connected Place – the neighbourhoods will be physically connected by new green, sustainable transport corridors which also provides a link between the two train lines (Southend Airport and Thorpe Bay) and encourage sustainable transport choices. Proposed infrastructure will also help redress existing capacity constraints on the highways network.
Digital infrastructure is also at the forefront of the strategy to deliver connectivity. The proposals will help to deliver new strategic infrastructure which addresses existing congestion issues along the A127 and A1159 Eastern Avenue;
ƒ A Place with Identity – the proposals seek to identify and establish a character that draws from that of the surrounding context and is informed the existing site features. This involves drawing out local character and distinctive features associated with the area. .
ƒ A Working Place – the proposals are underpinned by an economic strategy to help transform the profile of the local economies, by attracting a more highly skilled demographic looking to locate here as a lifestyle choice, supported by employment floorspace provision.
7.5. This vision reflects the new requirement introduced through the Framework for larger scale developments ‘policies should be set within a vision that looks further ahead (at least 30 years),
to take into account the likely timescale for delivery’. The draft policy demonstrates the level of growth that is anticipated during this Local Plan (up to 2040) and also considers the longterm potential of this growth option up to 2050 and beyond. The emerging Masterplan has been
designed as such to allow for the delivery of individual villages which can all be connected in time but equally allowing for the villages to be independent in their own right with sufficient services and infrastructure to meet their needs without reliance on future growth to deliver infrastructure.
DRAFT POLICY: LAND SOUTH EAST OF ROCHFORD & NORTH OF SOUTHEND STRATEGIC
ALLOCATION
Land south east of Rochford, east of London Southend Airport and north of Eastern Avenue is allocated as a cross-boundary strategic growth location with potential to deliver around 10,000 homes on land in both Rochford District and Southend-on-Sea. Mixed-use development is
envisaged to deliver a minimum of 4,600 homes in Rochford District together with necessary community, employment, transport, green and blue infrastructure; of which approximately 1,850 dwellings are expected to be delivered in the plan period to 2040.
Development should include:
ƒ Housing - a minimum of 4,600 homes in Rochford District to including market and affordable housing, specialist housing for older persons, and self- and custom-build homes;
ƒ Employment – around 11 ha of employment land to include provision for flexible commercial floorspace or workspace hubs (Class E) within neighbourhood centres and industrial land located east of London Southend Airport; together with infrastructure to support home working;
ƒ Social and community infrastructure – including provision for local shops and services, multi-use community space, health and education infrastructure to be structured around 15 minute neighbourhood principles;
ƒ Enhanced transport infrastructure – including high quality bus services to key employment locations, town centres and rail stations, high quality infrastructure for walking and cycling and strategic highways infrastructure to enhance east-west connectivity and mitigate impacts.
Development should include a buffer to prevent coalescence with and maintain the separate identities of the settlements of Great Wakering, Little Wakering and Barling.
To guide development a Framework Masterplan SPD should be developed jointly with the Councils, local community, site promoters and infrastructure providers to ensure the comprehensive integrated development of land in both Rochford and Southend and to coordinate the delivery of infrastructure. This Masterplan should include:
ƒ A Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy providing a coordinated framework for provision of publicly-accessible formal and informal open space, play space and other sport and recreational facilities and provide new green corridors linking the Southend Urban Area to
the River Roach.
ƒ A Transport and Movement Strategy which should prioritise cycle and pedestrian movements and public transport through development of a comprehensive pedestrian and cycle network including green sustainable transport corridors providing links to major trip generators and London Southend Airport Rail Station and linking the two rail lines; and wider measures to promote sustainable travel. The Strategy should address the
phasing of development with highways improvements necessary to mitigate the impacts of development.
ƒ A site-wide Energy Strategy detailing how the range of land uses and associated infrastructure across the masterplan will combine to achieve a site-wide net-zero carbon target. The scale of development and variety of uses presents opportunities to coordinate energy generation, transference and consumption, together with carbon sequestration to achieve net-zero carbon.
ƒ Infrastructure Delivery Plan - to coordinate the funding and delivery of development and on- and off-site infrastructure and addressing long-term stewardship of community infrastructure
Planning applications for development should be accompanied by a Phasing Strategy addressing the phasing of development and infrastructure; and a Sustainability Strategy outlining measured to be taken to achieve a net zero carbon development, high quality
digital connectivity, biodiversity net gain and to future proof development to achieve long-term sustainability.
Figure 7.2: Concept Masterplan for Land South East of Rochford & North of Southend
[SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT]

CONCEPT MASTERPLAN
7.6. The ambition is to deliver a sequence of new ’15 minute walkable neighbourhoods’ with local services and a strong character and identity set within a high quality green network which connects Southend’s existing urban area and the new areas of growth through to the River Roach, whilst protecting important Estuary and wetland environments, historic environments and biodiversity. We want to deliver a vibrant place to live, work and visit which successfully integrates and improves coastal, rural and urban environments, delivers family housing in strong local communities and helps to deliver transformational change and growth in the local economy and new strategic infrastructure.
7.7. This approach embraces environmental, climatic, technological, social and economic resilience, aiming to futureproof the development and provide flexibility to accommodate design changes resulting from new ways of living, working and playing.
7.8. Considering the scale of the site and potential growth that can be accommodated in this location, it is anticipated that the scheme will be built out over many years. In order to provide a high-quality built environment that caters for the needs of people both now and in the future, it is necessary to develop a set of key framework principles that will underpin every masterplan
developed for the site.
7.9. Incorporated within this approach are a number of key factors that are certainties given current national policy objectives and personal lifestyle choices. Other factors are less clear, and a flexible approach will therefore have to be adopted to ensure the masterplan is capable of adapting to changing technology and trends as it is developed.
7.10. The certainties the masterplan will have to accommodate include;
ƒ Being digitally connected with high-speed internet access
ƒ Being ready for the net-zero carbon economy
ƒ Being socially connected
ƒ Being mobile

PHASING
7.11. The following section of these representations detail the key phases to the proposed growth option on land southeast of Rochford and north of Southend. It should be noted that these options are indicative only at this stage and we welcome the opportunity to develop these proposals in further detail with the Council, key stakeholders and the local community.
Figure 7.3 – Potential Phasing Sequence for Land at South East of Rochford and North of Southend [SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT]
Early phase : 1-5 years. (Phase 2b)
ƒ East of Southend Airport: 1050-1100 dwellings, a primary school, a local centre including health uses and 10.35Ha of flexible employment land.
Middle phase : 6-15 years. (Phase 3b)
ƒ North west of Garon Park: 710-770 dwellings, a local centre including a small employment hub and health uses.
Late phase : 16-30 years (Phase 6a, 6b & 8)
ƒ (6a and 6b) Southwest of Little Wakering: 2,000 – 2,100, a primary school and a local centre including a small employment hub and health uses.
ƒ (8) West of Little Wakering: 850– 900 dwellings, a primary school and a local centre including a small employment hub and health uses.
KEY DESIGN ATTRIBUTES - EARLY PHASE : 1-5 YEARS. (PHASE 2B)
East of Southend Airport: 1050-1100 dwellings, a primary school, a local centre including health uses and 10Ha of flexible employment land.
ƒ To provide a new east-west transport link in the location of Warners Bridge next to the Airport.
ƒ To provide a new junction to allow Temple Farm and Purdeys Indus¬trial Estate vehicles to pass
through the area without impacting residential areas
ƒ To allow the continuation of the east-west transport link as a green corridor public transport route eastwards
ƒ To provide easy walking and cycling access to support the vitality of Rochford Town Centre
(1.2miles convivial walk)
ƒ To provide a mixed-use village core with school, shops, health care and village square
ƒ To provide flexible expansion space for Temple Farm employment area and in close proximity to the new east-west transport link and railway bridge.
ƒ To provide the first phase of a wider community park that will in¬crease biodiversity along Prittle Brook to Sutton Road
Figure 7.4 – Early Phases of Strategic Growth with Rochford District Council
[SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT]

KEY DESIGN ATTRIBUTES - MIDDLE PHASE : 6-15 YEARS. (PHASE 3B)
North west of Garon Park: 710-770 dwellings, a local centre including a small employment hub and health uses.
ƒ To allow the continuation of the east-west transport link as a green corridor public transport route eastwards
ƒ To respond to the existing planning proposals for the Fossetts Farm area including the masterplan for Southend Football Stadium, the Homes England residential area of Prittlewell Camp and the Fossetts Way East residential area.
ƒ To provide highway connections from the east-west transport link to Fossetts Way and Eastern Avenue (A1159) allowing stadium traffic additional access opportunities.
ƒ To provide early access from Fossetts Way B&Q roundabout across Garons Park established access. This would allow the east-west transport link to be delivered as early infrastructure whist the opera¬tional needs of Garon Park and Golf Course continue without interruption through the development process.
ƒ To provide bus connection to Shopland Road, Stonebridge and The Wakerings.
ƒ To provide the second phase of a wider community park that will increase biodiversity along the brook to Shopland Road
Figure 7.5 – Middle Phase of Strategic Growth with Rochford District Council [SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT]
KEY DESIGN ATTRIBUTES - LATER PHASE : 16-30 YEARS (PHASE 6A & 6B)
(6a and 6b) Southwest of Little Wakering: 2,000 – 2,100, a primary school and a local centre including a small employment hub and health uses.
ƒ To allow the continuation of the east-west transport link as a green corridor public transport route westwards and southwards.
ƒ To reserve land for a future phase secondary / academy school (a separate 9.45Ha parcel of land).
ƒ Integrate the farms and small holdings of: Barrow Hall Farm, Abbotts Hall Farm, Oldbury Farm, Morley Nurseries.
ƒ Integrated the setting of Stonebridge village.
ƒ To provide the third phase of a wider community park that will in¬crease biodiversity along the brook to Shopland Road.
ƒ To allow for not less than 450m off-set distance to properties of Little Wakering.
ƒ To retain the existing water reservoir for agricultural use Figure 7.6 – Later Phases of Strategic Growth with Rochford District Council [SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT]

KEY DESIGN ATTRIBUTES - LATER PHASE : 16-30 YEARS (PHASE 8)
West of Little Wakering: 850– 900 dwellings, a primary school and a local centre including a small employment hub and health uses.
ƒ To allow the continuation of the east-west transport link as a green corridor public transport route westwards and southwards.
ƒ To integrate a reconfigured golf course that will sit within Rochford and Southend.
ƒ Integrate the farms and small holdings of Beauchamps.
ƒ Integrated the water bodies serving surrounding farmland.
ƒ To provide additional bus corridor south to allow access to Garons Park sports and leisure uses.
ƒ To provide extensive landscaped community parkland.
ƒ To ensure the setting of the village is not visually intrusive on the landscape
Figure 7.7 – Later Phases of Strategic Growth with Rochford District Council [SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT]

08. RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS RAISED IN THE CONSULTATION.

Q3. Do you agree that we should develop a range of separate visions for each of our settlements to help
guide decision-making? [Please state reasoning]
8.1. Yes, we agree that a range of separate visions for each of the settlements is a helpful guide to decision making. In any event a separate vision will be required for the growth areas as required in the recently updated Framework which stipulates that for larger scale developments ‘policies should be set within a vision that looks further ahead (at least 30 years), to take into account the likely timescale for delivery’. A draft vision for South East of Rochford and North of Southend is
detailed at Section 7 of these representations.

Q4. Do you agree with the strategic priorities and objectives we have identified? Is there anything missing
from the strategic priorities or objectives that you feel needs to be included? [Please state reasoning]
8.2. We support and endorse the five main strategic priorities set out in the Consultation, which are follows:
ƒ Meeting the need for homes and jobs in the area
ƒ Making suitable and sufficient provision for retail, leisure and other commercial development
ƒ Making suitable and sufficient provision of infrastructure for transport, telecommunications,
waste management, water supply, wastewater, flood risk and coastal change management, and the provision of minerals and energy (including heat)
ƒ Making suitable and sufficient provision of health, security, community and cultural infrastructure and other local facilities
ƒ Making suitable and sufficient provision for climate change mitigation and adaptation, conservation and enhancement of the natural and historic environment, including landscape
8.3. These form the foundation for the Local Plan in which all growth options should be tested against to ensure that future development will deliver the strategic priorities and objectives of RDC.

Q6. Which of the identified strategy options do you consider should be taken forward in the Plan? [Please
state reasoning]
8.4. These representations wholly endorse Strategy Option 3: Concentrated growth » Option 3b: Focused north of Southend which lies within our client’s land interests.
8.5. It is submitted that in order to deliver the ambitions of the Local Plan large scale growth focused in one location as per Option 3b is required. Strategic growth at this location is embedded within the evidence base which supports this Local Plan including the South East Essex Strategic Growth Locations Assessment (2019) and the South Essex Strategic Growth Locations Study (2020).
8.6. Option 3b is the only option which will:
ƒ Provide the “critical mass” needed to secure transformational new infrastructure to mitigate the impact of future development and critically to address the chronic congestion currently experienced within the District
ƒ improve affordability
ƒ address the decline in home ownership
ƒ support a sustainable shift towards higher wage/skilled jobs.
8.7. It is not purported however that this strategy will meet Rochford’s full housing need over the lifetime of the Plan, thus Strategy Option 4: Balanced Combination is the preferred approach. The Consultation states that Option 4 could make best use of urban capacity (Option 1), building one or two large growth areas (Option 3) and a number of smaller urban extensions (Option 2).We support Option 4 which will provided a varied supply of sites to make the local housing market as diverse as possible delivering a range of choice and competition to the market, thus offering the greatest chance that housing will be consistently delivery over the whole plan period. Crucially the Plan needs to incorporate large scale strategic growth as a Local Plan strategy that relies solely on smaller sites, or sites spread more evenly through the District will not have the potential to fund
new infrastructure and provide betterment to the current challenges facing the District.

Q11. Do you agree we should require development to source a percentage of their energy from low-carbon and
renewable sources? Are there other opportunities in the District to supply lowcarbon or renewable energy?
8.8. Bellway have committed that all new homes will be ‘zero carbon ready’ by 2025 and net zero by 2050 as part of the Future Homes Task Force road map published in July 2021 entitled The Future Homes Delivery Plan. The headline goals include:
ƒ homes that are zero carbon ready and sustainable by 2025
ƒ production and construction methods that are net zero and sustainable by 2050, with substantial progress by 2025 and 2030;
ƒ businesses operations that are net zero by 2050 with a 50% reduction by 2030.
8.9. The roadmap sets a series of goals and milestones that need to be met along the way, incorporating government policies such as the Future Homes Standard and Biodiversity Net Gain.
8.10. The proposals on the subject site afford the opportunity to provide an exemplar new community
which sets the benchmark for development in the region and for future generations in terms of the low carbon / renewable energy. Our client is keen to explore the potential to set up a Rochford Energy Supply Company and how this could be achieved.

Q14. Do you consider that the plan should include a place-making charter that informs relevant policies?
Should the same principles apply everywhere in the District, or should different principles apply to different
areas? [Please state reasoning]
8.11. Yes, a charter should be included to ensure relevant place-making principles are applied to
different areas. The land in the Roach peninsula is precious, unique and has great potential for combining new neighbourhoods within an important landscape setting. It is a land asset that will require careful decision making and one that will enhance the legacy opportunities for the Council.
8.12. Our intention is to develop a long-term vision and planning strategy for the site, rather than to identify immediate development opportunities. We therefore have the opportunity to lay down the foundations for future plans. A charter can help this. With such a long term project, it can allow for changing stakeholders over many years to ensure greater consistency to long term goals.
8.13. Our approach will necessarily be ambitious, complex and multi-faceted. It will be a collective
endeavour from many and over many years. The charter can inspire each and every one involved. It can serve as a benchmark and help guide decision-making, particularly at those moments when what appears urgent in the short term, threatens to overshadow what its truly important in the long term.

Q16a. Do you consider that new design guides, codes or masterplans should be created alongside the new
Local Plan? Q16b. If yes, do you think it is more appropriate to have a single design guide/code for the whole District, or to have design guides/codes/masterplans for individual settlements or growth areas? Q16c. What do you think should be included in design guides/codes/masterplans at the scale you are suggesting? [Please state reasoning]
8.14. We support the preparation of design codes. Design codes provide briefing for consistency, from
site wide to detailed design. As such, each phase will require its own design code and each time a phase is complete, a review of the completed phase will inform the production of the design code for the following phase.
8.15. Typical content of a design code shall include -
ƒ Movement strategy where appropriate
ƒ Access and street hierarchy where appropriate
ƒ Landscape and open space strategy
ƒ Land use and mix
ƒ Density
ƒ Heights
ƒ Number of homes
ƒ Identity and character of buildings and public spaces
ƒ Employment

Q25. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver new
employment facilities or improvements to existing employment facilities?
8.16. Development of Land at east of Rochford and North of Southend and Rochford provides major
opportunity to:
ƒ Support workforce growth in the area
ƒ Attracting new employers –who will come because there is a large labour force in the catchment area, and it has some capacity within it.
8.17. In the absence of such growth, there are structural challenges which will loom large: with a growing elderly population which creates costs for the public sector –including in health, social care, pensions etc –but a declining number of people and businesses which are contributing to this through taxation. With an ageing population, housing growth is going to be important to
supporting the local economy and ensuring that local businesses can find staff over the mediumand longer-term.
8.18. The scale of growth envisaged at Option 3b is a potential major economic driver in its own right. As with other development schemes, it will support growth in the population which supports employment in consumer-related sectors (as well as supporting the construction sector over a sustained period).
8.19. In addition, it also provides the opportunity to transform the area’s wider investment appeal by
improving the skills profile through diversifying the housing offer and delivering family housing with space to work in an attractive residential environment with access to the coast, countryside and local facilities together with local work hubs which offer facilities. A lifestyle offer which attracts higher skilled residents can over time improve Southend and Rochford’s skills profile and
investment offer to businesses.
8.20. In an environment in which we are seeing shifts in how people work –and will no doubt see shifts in the sectoral structure of the economy –the potential for a high quality lifestyle, at a location which is well connected (to London and other parts of Europe) is one of the important ways in which Rochford can stand out.
8.21. Self-employment is significant and has been growing in the district. There is potential for further
growth in this area, and a need for infrastructure to support this. With changes in how we work, some of those who currently commute out to higher paid jobs elsewhere may spend more time working at home or locally. The digital infrastructure (and potentially some local workspace) is needed to support this.
8.22. There will still be jobs in schools, education, local shops and services. Development on land at Southend and Rochford will support jobs in these areas. There will also still be jobs in offices, on industrial sites and at Southend Airport.
8.23. Mixed-use development is envisaged in all neighbourhoods, which includes provision of flexible
commercial space in neighbourhood centres as well as delivery of the technology infrastructure to support home-working and home-based businesses.
8.24. In addition to this, provision of over 10 ha of employment land is envisaged in on the western side
of the site, providing opportunities for both growth of SMEs and for grow-on space for existing
businesses in Southend and Rochford.
8.25. Equally, this large area of employment land could provide the right location for a Southend University Hospital Relocation subject to wide ranging consultation. This new location could serve Rochford and Southend as it is halfway between the two town centres. A&E Blue light routes would also be more rapid as they could rely on the new sustainable transport corridor and avoid congestion.

GREEN AND BLUE INFRASTRUCTURE
Q34. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to help deliver new strategic green and blue infrastructure? [Please state reasoning]
8.26. As detailed in these representations, the ambition is to deliver a sequence of new ’15 minute walkable neighbourhoods’ with local services and a strong character and identity set within a high quality green network which connects Southend’s existing urban area and the new areas of growth through to the River Roach, whilst protecting important Estuary and wetland
environments, historic environments and biodiversity. We want to deliver a vibrant place to live, work and visit which successfully integrates and improves coastal, rural and urban environments, delivers family housing in strong local communities and helps to deliver transformational change and growth in the local economy and new strategic infrastructure.
8.27. It is considered that that new strategic green and blue infrastructure is essential in order to create the community envisaged in this location. We support the delivery of the South Essex Estuary Park and The Island Wetlands. In order to ensure these landmark green and blue infrastructure projects can be delivered this will need to be balanced with the Council meeting their strategic needs. The provision of growth in southeast of Rochford and north of Southend will enable investment into strategic green and blue infrastructure projects in the location. We welcome the opportunity to work with the Council in terms of the extent and location of the green
and blue infrastructure.
OPEN SPACES AND RECREATION
Q41. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to help deliver
improvements to open space or sport facility accessibility or provision?
8.28. A critical aspect in delivering a new community such as that proposed at Option 3b will be the
delivery of high quality public open space. The initial design work has considered green fingers separating the series of neighbourhoods as illustrated at Figure 5.2. Our client is keen to work with the Council to explore how the proposed scheme can contribute towards and assist in the delivery of the South Essex Estuary Park. Moreover, the proposed is of such a scale and critical mass that
will ensure each neighbourhood provides generous public open space and sports facilities.

HERITAGE
Q43. With reference to the options listed in this section, or your own options, how do you feel we can best
address heritage issues through the plan? [Please state reasoning]
8.29. Rochford is identified as one of the top five local authorities in England as having heritage potential as defined by the Heritage Index 2020. This means that the District has untapped heritage potential and suggests that local heritage is a further asset for consideration to achieve the goal to grow the tourism economy. There is an opportunity through delivering growth in the district to celebrate the heritage assets of Rochford.
8.30. The Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission aims to utilise opportunities in existing sectors,
environmental assets and planned development to create a ‘tapestry of productive places’ along a global river. These assets present an opportunity to support the attractiveness of Rochford as a place to live, work and visit, and contribute to the potential for growth of the tourism economy in the District.
TRANSPORT AND CONNECTIVITY
Q53. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver new transport connections, such as link roads or rapid transit? What routes and modes should these take?
[walking, cycling, rail, bus, road etc.]

8.31. We are on the brink of a transport revolution as a result of both technological advances and changes to social behaviour. For example, new technologies such as autonomous vehicles can help improve traffic flow or reduce the need for car ownership and changes in working habits may allow more people to work from home or closer to home. Both of these, when added to numerous other changes, will reduce the need and size for large highways infrastructure projects which will
cost large sums of money and have ecological impacts and may be over designed for behaviours in 20-30 years.
8.32. The scale of Option 3b is such that development in this area will deliver significant enhancements to public transport which will not only serve future residents but crucially provide local services to the existing community.
8.33. We need to ensure that high-quality public transport options are available for those that need
it, for example, high-quality dedicated bus services linking major growth locations in the Plan to local train stations ensuring that a realistic low carbon option for travel. The availability of highquality options for travel by sustainable modes must be key to encouraging people to leave their cars behind.
8.34 A Transport and Movement Strategy will be prepared for the proposals which will prioritise cycle and pedestrian movements and public transport through development of a comprehensive pedestrian and cycle network including green sustainable transport corridors providing links to major trip generators and London Southend Airport Rail Station and linking the two rail lines; and wider measures to promote sustainable travel. The Strategy will address the phasing of development with highways improvements necessary to mitigate the impacts of development.

Q65b. With reference to Figure 53 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the promoted
sites should be made available for any of the following uses? How could that improve the completeness of
Sutton and Stonebridge?
i. Housing [market, affordable, specialist, traveller, other]
ii. Commercial [offices, industrial, retail, other]
iii. Community infrastructure [open space, education, healthcare, allotments, other]
iv. Other
8.35. As detailed in the submitted proposals it is envisaged that this area south east of Rochford and north of Southend could be developed for a new growth location which will deliver a range of services and community infrastructure to serve the future residents and also due to the close proximity to the existing settlements of Stonebridge and Sutton will serve the existing community. The Masterplan has been designed to ensure that the existing settlements retain their own identity as proposed in the Draft Vision, however residents of these places should have greater access to services close at hand, including by sustainable means.

09. ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO ROCHFORD
OF OPTION 3B

This infographic provides an overview of the economic benefits that could be delivered through the development of a minimum of 4,600 dwellings together with approximately 11ha of employment space, as well as education, community and healthcare uses within Rochford District. The proposed expansion is expected to deliver a range of economic benefits during both the construction and operational phases which will make a positive contribution to the local economy.
[see document for full infographic]
the construction phase benefits:
Injection of private sector investment
Supporting direct construction jobs
Supporting indirect jobs in the supply chain
Contribution to Economic Output (GVA)

the occupational benefits
First Occupation Expenditure up to £25.4m
Resident Expenditure c.£131.7m
Direct operational employment 5,900
Direct operational employment 6,700
Indirect operational employment 1,700

the fiscal benefits
Business Rates £4.2m
Council Tax £9.6m
New Homes Bonus £26.5m

Rochford District – Regulation 18 Local Plan Spatial Options Consultation
I refer to your consultation on Spatial Options for the ongoing preparation of the Rochford District Local
Plan.
I also refer to your letter of the 6th August 2021 enquiring as to whether Castle Point Borough Council can assist Rochford District Council in accommodating its development needs in locations outside the current
extent of the Green Belt pursuant to paragraph 141 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Unmet Development Needs
I will address your letter of the 6th August first. As you will be aware, Castle Point Borough Council submitted its draft Local Plan to the Secretary of State for examination in public on the 2nd October 2020.
That submitted plan, to accommodate the needs for development arising in Castle Point, includes several
allocations within the current extent of the Green Belt. The submitted Castle Point Local Plan is in the process of being examined, and hearing sessions into its soundness and legal compliance took place in May and June 2021.

The Castle Point Local Plan states that it is not possible for Castle Point to meet its own development needs without incursion into the Green Belt. The supply identified across the urban area in Castle Point is
sufficient to provide 3,148 homes which amounts to around 53.4% only of the borough’s own development
requirement. To this end, Castle Point Borough Council is not able to assist Rochford District Council in meeting its development needs to 2040 in non-Green Belt locations.

Spatial Options
With regard to the Spatial Option Consultation, I note that you currently have capacity for housing within the existing urban area and on existing allocations for around 4,500 homes. This is not sufficient to meet the requirement for housing in Rochford District as derived from the Standard Methodology set out in the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework and Planning Practice Guidance of 7,200 homes to 2040. You are therefore exploring spatial options for meeting this additional need within the extent of the Green Belt in Rochford District.

The Spatial Options Consultation sets out three broad options, numbers 2 to 4 which enable Rochford District Council to explore opportunities for development in Green Belt locations. All three options include the potential for development to the west of Rayleigh.
Under option 2 consideration is being given to sites which would form an extension to Rayleigh. It is noted
that combined sites CFS121, CFS146 and CFS147 which sit to the west of Rayleigh could deliver 2,838
homes.

Under option 3 consideration is being given to concentrating growth to the west of Rayleigh. This option
appears to include sites adjacent to Wickford with a combined capacity of over 5,000 homes.
Option 4 allows for the different spatial scenarios to be combined which means that there is scope for
Rochford District Council to bring forward both an extension to Rayleigh and concentrated growth to the
West of Rayleigh delivering close to 8,000 homes in this location.

Rochford District Council will be aware that Castle Point Borough Council are considering growth in the North West Thundersley area in a review of its local plan, which sits to the south of the A127 and the south of the sites being considered for development to the West of Rayleigh.

Delivery of any development in the North West Thundersley area will depend on access from the Fairglen Interchange.

Castle Point Borough Council has therefore been in early discussion with Essex County Council as the Highway Authority about joint working to bring this location forward alongside long-term proposals for the Fairglen Interchange.

If Rochford District Council are similarly considering the potential to concentrate growth near the Fairglen
Interchange, then there is scope for the authorities to work collaboratively to open up development
opportunities around this junction. Castle Point Borough Council would therefore ask Rochford District Council to work jointly with them on planning for this area if the decision is taken to concentrate all or some of the growth within the Rochford Local Plan to the west of Rayleigh. We recommend that Basildon Council also be part of the that discussion as their borough boundary also abuts and incorporates elements of the Fairglen junction.

Sustainable Travel
I notice from the consultation material that you are seeking to emphasise a shift towards more sustainable
modes of travel through the Rochford District Local Plan. The use of Walking Completeness scores for each of the settlements will enable Rochford District Council to identify which sites will contribute best towards the creation of more sustainable walkable communities, and it will therefore be interesting to see how these scores are used to select sites and plan for the provision of community infrastructure and services.

It is however noted that the majority of Rochford residents work outside the district, and many of your
residents live in smaller settlements where the range of services is more limited. There is therefore a need to improve public transport provision alongside the growth in the Local Plan. Castle Point has similarly come to this conclusion, and will need to see service improvements across the Borough as set out in our Infrastructure Delivery Plan.

With regard to the A129, Essex County Council is developing a route improvement strategy for the stretch
from Victoria House Corner in Hadleigh to the Rayleigh Weir with an emphasis on promoting more
sustainable modes of travel. However, journeys and especially sustainable travel journeys being made by
foot, bicycle or bus do not stop at the borough boundary but continue into Rayleigh from Castle Point and
vice versa. There is therefore a need for Castle Point and Rochford Council’s to work together with Essex
County Council to ensure that the route improvement strategy, especially in relation to sustainable travel
modes extends all the way into Rayleigh town centre and to Rayleigh station.

Duty to Cooperate
Based on the comments above Castle Point Borough Council believes that there are potential strategic
cross-boundary issues to be addressed through the preparation of the Rochford District Local Plan in
relation to:
a) Any development proposed to the west of Rayleigh
b) Sustainable travel on the A129
Castle Point Borough Council is willing to work cooperatively with Rochford District Council to ensure that any issues or opportunities arising from these matters are addressed.
To date, officers of both Councils have met on the respective local plans and worked closely on ASELA
projects, including strategic planning issues. The Council submitted to the Castle Point Local Plan Inspector a statement on Duty to Cooperate within South Essex which can be found at:
https://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n5855.pdf&ver=9609
Separately, I note that you have used evidence base jointly prepared across South Essex to inform the
Spatial Options consultation and the approach you are proposing to some matters. I welcome your use of this shared evidence base as it helps to improve the consistency of planning between the different
boroughs in South Essex.

I also note that your proposals incorporate the South Essex Regional Park, the potential for which was
identified through the South Essex Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy. Your incorporation of the
Regional Park within the proposals for the Rochford Local Plan is also welcomed as it will aid in the delivery
of Green and Blue Infrastructure across the wider South Essex area.

Castle Point Borough Council is willing to continue working with Rochford District Council and all other
South Essex partners as appropriate to prepare a joint evidence base, to bring forward a Strategic Planning
Framework for South Essex, and to deliver the priorities of the Association of South Essex Local Authorities.

I trust this response is of assistance to you in taking forward the preparation of your Local Plan. If you have
any queries, or if you wish to meet to discuss our comments please do not hesitate to contact the Planning
Policy Manager, Amanda Parrott – aparrott@castlepoint.gov.uk

Persimmon Homes is a FTSE 100 housebuilder with a national presence. In 2020 the Group delivered 13,575 new homes, down from 15,855 in 2019 (largely in part due to the impact from Covid-19 on operations), although the selling price increased by about seven per cent.
Persimmon Homes has a strong presence in Rochford, having an option to deliver site CFS087: Land between Western Road and Weir Farm Road Rayleigh, and are actively seeking additional sites in Rochford to deliver much needed housing and regeneration in the Borough. Persimmon Homes welcomes the opportunity to comment on the New Local Plan Spatial Options Consultation Paper 2021.

In the short term, Persimmon Homes is aware that Rochford’s existing Local Plan is now out of date, as per the tests of the NPPF. Ensuring that an adequate supply of housing is provided is a key policy requirement of the NPPF. The Rochford District Core Strategy, which was adopted in December 2011, fails to meet the requirements of the NPPF. Therefore, it is imperative that the draft Local Plan continue to be progressed to allow it to be adopted as soon as possible so that the District can continue to plan effectively to meet the District’s ongoing needs.

Q1. Are there any other technical evidence studies that you feel the Council needs to prepare to inform its new Local Plan, other than those listed in this section?

The technical evidence that Rochford is preparing is comprehensive, though we would suggest the following additional evidence (which may be included within the evidence base documents listed) will also be required to inform the new Local Plan:

Heritage

An ‘initial Heritage Assessment’ is listed, which is vague, which is not sufficiently detailed or robust to properly consider the relationship of heritage assets and emerging site allocations. Persimmon Homes is, in particular, concerned that it identifies site CFS087 as having a ‘moderate-adverse’ impact on the Grade II listed Weir Farmhouse, despite this asset being located some distance from site CFS087 and screened from view (as would have been evidence if Place Services had undertaken site visits) by existing mature vegetation and twentieth century housing developments. The heritage asset listed within Place Services report therefore has no relationship with our allocated site, and cannot be seen from the site.

It is recommended therefore that the Council’s Heritage Evidence Base will need to be properly updated to include, at a minimum, some or all of the following:

• A Heritage Asset Review, to assess the significance of heritage assets and the contribution they make to their environment;
• Lists of Buildings of Local Architectural or Historic Interest;
• Conservation Area Character Appraisals Programme – noting that these were last reviewed in 2008 and therefore these need updating so that the Council have up to date evidence and therefore able to properly consider applications affecting these assets;
• Historic Environment Characterisation Studies; and
• Heritage Impact Assessments, and Archaeological Evaluation Reports, where relevant, on each allocated site. We would strongly recommend that these are prepared in accordance with each site developer and will need to involve site visits, rather than relying on a simple mapping exercise.

Highways

An ‘initial Transport Assessment’ is listed as being provided, which is a vague description and does not specify the required level of detail to support the Plan. It is recommended that this will need to include, at a minimum, some or all of the following:

• Transport evidence for the new Local Plan;
• Transport evidence mitigation;
• Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy;
• Cycling Action Plan/Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan/Cycling Delivery Plan;
• Transport modelling of key strategic routes/junctions – the Spatial Options Document goes on to highlight the congestion affecting the road network, and identifies the improvements already planned for the A127 and Fairglen Interchange; and
• Infrastructure Delivery Plan.

Housing

Alongside the HELAA and SHMA, we would recommend the following:

• Self-Build Custom Build Housebuilding Register;
• Housing Implementation Strategy;
• Settlement Capacity Studies;
• Brownfield Land Registers;
• Schedule of Brownfield Sites and Extant Permissions; and
• Housing Trajectories.

Q2. Do you agree with our draft vision for Rochford District? Is there anything missing from the vision that you feel needs to be included?

The draft vision at present appears to be too vague and lacks a real vision. It is clear that the two big challenges facing the country in the next 20-30 years are a lack of homes, particularly for both young and elderly, along with the impending threat of climate change and its attendant impacts. Therefore, both of these need to be reflected in the vision. Rochford should strive, in its local plan, to not only meet its housing supply but to plan beyond, as well as to meet the threat of climate change by encouraging
all developments to be ‘green’, to exceed climate change targets and to seek alternatives to the private car to transform how Rochford residents travel.
For example, the ‘Our Society’ vision needs to have a greater vision for the delivery of new housing and
supporting infrastructure. Rochford should welcome the challenge of building at least 360 homes per year, by choosing to focus on high quality developments and the attendant benefits of planning for the delivery of these homes.
Similarly, the ‘Our Environment’ vision does not refer to climate change, which is a missed opportunity, given the pressing need facing the Country in addressing Climate Change impacts and its repeated messages within the NPPF, particularly as detailed within Chapter 14, and at paragraph 153 which states that, “Plans should take a proactive approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change…”.
Alongside this, the Covid-19 pandemic has transformed how people work, with more people now choosing to work from home, more often. This needs to be reflected in the ‘Our Economy’ vision – can Rochford provide the employment hubs and flexible working conditions to meet the new ‘normal’ for example.

Q3. Do you agree that we should develop a range of separate visions for each of our settlements to help guide decision-making?

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

Q4. Do you agree with the strategic priorities and objectives we have identified? Is there anything missing from the strategic priorities or objectives that you feel needs to be included?

The Spatial Options Paper lists 23 Strategic Options and Persimmon Homes broadly agrees with these, though we would have the following observations to make:
 Strategic Objective 1 – Persimmon Homes understands the Council’s reasons for looking to prioritise previously developed land first. However, the Paper goes onto confirm at page 29 that previously developed land will not be able to meet the Council’s housing targets in full; therefore there is no justification in prioritising previously developed land first. In many cases, greenfield sites are able to be brought forward quicker than previously developed land, particularly in the case of previously developed land having existing uses that need to be relocated first, or contaminated land that requires remediation. Accordingly, this objective could be reworded as follows:
“To facilitate the delivery of sufficient, high quality and sustainable homes to meet local community needs, through working with our neighbours in South Essex and encouraging the redevelopment of previously developed land alongside suitably located greenfield sites to ensure the plan requirements are met in full.”
 Strategic Objectives 4 and 5 – these objectives could usefully reference the change in remote working patterns and confirm that Rochford will promote the use of flexible working practices to meet the needs of the ‘new normal’ arising from Covid-19, as well as offering flexible work
spaces to meet the needs of the 21st Century Office;
 Strategic Objective 6 – we would disagree with the phrasing ‘highest attainable quality’ as this is vague and imprecise; design is, to a large degree, subjective (particularly moreso where Local Authorities lack design codes and guides to guide the design of built form). We would therefore recommend the following revised wording:
“To ensure that all new homes and commercial premises are built to a high quality design and sustainability standard with a good level of access to green space and the countryside.”
 Strategic Objective 13 – this objective could usefully highlight Governments’ requirement to direct development to Flood Zone 1 (i.e. areas at the lowest risk of flooding);
 Strategic Objective 23 – the sole objective relating to climate change could usefully reflect Governments’ Future Homes’ requirement (being introduced in 2025).

Q5. Do you agree with the settlement hierarchy presented? If not, what changes do you think
are required?
Persimmon Homes would agree with the settlement hierarchy presented, which demonstrates that growth should be predominantly located at Rayleigh, Hockley and Rochford. As Rayleigh is the sole ‘Tier 1’ settlement, it is logical that as the Plan progresses, that Rayleigh takes a larger proportion of development than other settlements.

Q6. Which of the identified strategy options do you consider should be taken forward in the Plan?

The NPPF makes it clear at para 61 that Local Planning Authorities should be looking to use the Standard Method to determine how many homes are required, stating, “To determine the minimum number of homes needed, strategic policies should be informed by a local housing need assessment, conducted using the standard method in national planning guidance…”.
Accordingly, it is confusing at Figure 15 that it includes a ‘current trajectory’ scenario of only 4,500 homes when this scenario will not deliver the Standard Method requirement of a minimum of 7,200 homes. The Council could, therefore, be clearer in this regard and confirm that this Scenario cannot be taken forward in isolation.
The Plan presents four options; Persimmon Homes would support a combination of Options 1 and 2.
Our comments of which are as follows:
 Strategic Option 1 – The Paper itself acknowledges that this Option will not be able to fully meet the Standard Method requirement, as well as acknowledging that it will not be able to deliver the brand new infrastructure that is required alongside new homes.
It is also identified within the Integrated Impact Assessment that the lower growth options will not deliver the required levels of growth, stating on page 25 that:
“The lower growth option will not meet the needs of all people in the district during the plan period. The medium and higher growth options will meet the needs of all people in the district and improve accessibility to housing, employment, training, health, and leisure opportunities.
The higher growth option is more likely to meet the needs of not only people in the district but beyond, as well and encourage the integration and interaction of cross-boundary communities through the delivery of large-scale developments. The medium and higher growth options are also considered for their overall potential to deliver a wider range of housing types, tenures and
sizes, particularly catering for the needs of groups with protected characteristics, such as specialist housing for the elderly and disabled.”
Furthermore, the Integrated Impact Assessment states that: “…smaller scale development proposals bring less opportunity for strategic infrastructure improvements, and may place increased pressure on local road networks.”
The Paper also identifies that said option to increase densities in urban areas are unlikely to be compatible with historic centres and local character, as confirmed within the Integrated Impact Assessment, which states:
“…it is recognised that the lower growth option will focus development in existing urban areas, with a higher potential in this respect to impact on historic centres.”
It also goes on to confirm
"Option 1 would not deliver sufficient housing to meet local needs over the Plan period, in this respect it is also likely to deliver less affordable housing and long-term negative effects can be anticipated.”
Again, we would request that the Council undertake updated Conservation Area Appraisals and Settlement Surveys so that the Council has the required evidence base to consider if increased densities, taller buildings etc. would be appropriate in the historic centres and urban areas, as this would help inform the actual number of dwellings available under this option.
We would also question that this Option uses sites that have retained site allocations from the 2011 Core Strategy, and would question why these sites have not been developed by now – are these sites developable and deliverable as per the tests of the NPPF. This is something that the District Council should review.
Accordingly, this option cannot be taken forward within the next stage of the Local Plan on its own, though it is acknowledged that some level of urban intensification on appropriate sites may be suitable to help meet the Standard Method.
 Strategic Option 2 – Option 2a proposes Urban Extensions focused in the main towns; as Rayleigh is the Districts sole Tier 1 settlement, it is logical and sensible that urban extensions should be focused in Rayleigh. Furthermore, it benefits from not being restricted by any flood zones, being sequentially preferable to many other settlements in the District.
The Spatial Options document identifies that this option would be able to deliver new infrastructure; meet local housing needs; and deliver quickly; all of which Persimmon Homes endorses.
This Option would also deliver the required level of growth required for employment needs, as confirmed within the Integrated Impact Assessment:
“The medium and higher growth options are more likely to have a significant positive effect on this IIA theme through the delivery of new employment land and retail floorspace. These options are also likely to deliver more new infrastructure upgrades and sustainable transport routes to attract further inward investment. Further to this, the higher growth options could contribute to the delivery of sub-regional improvements to green and blue infrastructure, which could have a positive effect on the tourism economy. Whilst positive effects are considered likely under all options, the lower growth option is considered less likely to lead to positive effects of
significance.”
It goes on to state:
“Urban extensions under Options 2a and 2b provide large scale development opportunities that can deliver new infrastructure provisions to support both existing (particularly those in edge of settlement locations) and future residents.”

It concludes:
“Significant positive effects are considered likely under Options 2a, 2b and 4.”
The delivery of sites under the medium and higher levels of growth would also allow for the delivery of climate change measures that are required and discussed later in the Spatial Options Document. The delivery of these measures may not be possible through reusing
existing buildings (Strategic Option 1) as confirmed within the Integrated Impact Assessment:
“…the delivery of large-scale growth that is more likely to come forward under the medium and high growth options present more opportunities for the delivery of low carbon infrastructure through economies of scale compared to the lower growth option.”
On the same theme, the medium and higher levels of growth options are much more likely to be able to deliver the biodiversity and green infrastructure improvements and contributions required, than on existing brownfield sites, as also confirmed within the Integrated Impact
Assessment:
“The medium and higher growth options are also noted for their potential to support the delivery of strategic green infrastructure provisions and associated biodiversity net gain. This includes improvements being explored in the green infrastructure network across the sub-region through the South Essex Green and Blue Infrastructure Study (2020), such as the Regional Parkland.
The Regional Parkland has the potential to act as alternative greenspace targeted at reducing recreational pressures at designated biodiversity sites. These options thus provide a greater contribution to the principles of the Essex Coast Recreational disturbance Avoidance &
Mitigation Strategy (RAMS).
The lower level of growth will mainly result in the delivery of new homes on urban and brownfield sites so has greater potential to avoid designated sites and support urban greening to some extent. The urban focus however is less likely to bring forward strategic mitigation, such as the Regional Parkland to mitigate the recreational pressures on designated biodiversity resulting from a growing population. As a result, the medium and higher growth options are considered more likely to perform better overall in relation to this IIA theme; however, the potential for a significant effect is uncertain as will be dependent on the location of growth.”
It continues:
“…the potential for larger-scale development under Options 2a and 2b is recognised for the potential for greater net gains in biodiversity.”
The site that Persimmon Homes is promoting – site CFS087 – would be capable of being delivered under this Option.
 Strategic Option 3 – The Spatial Options document identifies a number of significant ‘Cons’ which would impact upon the delivery of this option (and thus threaten the delivery of the plan as a whole), all of which we would agree with and would therefore recommend that this option is not progresses as:
o The plan identifies that this option involves complex land ownership issues which is likely to be difficult to resolve and address;
o Significant redrawing of the Green Belt boundaries, including proposing development in more sensitive Green Belt locations than other strategic options;
o Focussing development in a single location/settlement would deprive other settlements of being able to accommodate development, and thus potential infrastructure improvements.
On Environmental impacts, the Integrated Impact Assessment identifies that harm that this option would have on Environmental Quality, stating that:
“…extensive countryside development proposed through the concentrated growth options (Options 3a, 3b and 3c); which is considered highly likely to lead to negative effects of significance in this respect. Options 3a and 3b are also likely to intersect the flood plains of the Crouch and Roach tributaries, and development will need to ensure appropriate mitigation to avoid impacts on water quality…Negative effects of significance are considered more likely under Options 3a, 3b, 3c and 4 given the extent of concentrated growth development locations
in the countryside.”
 Strategic Option 4 – This option proposes a ‘balanced combination’ of all three; we would recommend a balanced combination of Options 1 and 2 represents the most suitable Spatial Strategy going forwards for the reasons given above and indeed as detailed within the Spatial Options document, and the Integrated Impact Assessment, which concludes:
“Option 4 is noted for its potential to perform better against a wider range of the IIA themes than the remaining options. This predominantly relates to the flexibility provided in a tailored approach, essentially combining the best performing aspects of each individual approach (urban intensification, urban extensions and concentrated growth).”

Q7. Are there any reasonable alternatives to these options that should be considered instead?

Southend are currently consulting on its ‘Local Plan - Refining the Plan Options’, with the Consultation running through until 26 October 2021. The NPPF is clear that Local Authorities should also plan to meet housing needs that cannot be met within neighbouring authority areas (para.61), stating that, “In addition to the local housing need figure, any needs that cannot be met within neighbouring areas should also be taken into account in establishing the amount of housing to be planned for”.
In this regard, it is noted that within their Plan proposes a ‘Development Opportunity D’ of c.10,000 homes, of which 4,900 homes lies within Rochford.
It is imperative, therefore, that Rochford works alongside Southend to understand if it needs to plan for these 4,900 new homes alongside its own minimum of 7,200 homes, which would need to be reflected within the next stage of the Rochford District Local Plan.

Q8. Are there any key spatial themes that you feel we have missed or that require greater emphasis?

Persimmon Homes would request that further spatial themes topic papers are required, or updated, for:
 Place Making and Urban Design – further questions within the Spatial Options paper deal with design (Q14 – Q16), but as yet a corresponding topic paper has not been published to consider this issue. The NPPF places an increasingly strong emphasis on design, with the recent 2021 revision further emphasising the Governments’ commitment to building ‘beautiful’ homes and places, to be underpinned by Design Codes and guidance. Understanding how Rochford District Council intends to interpret this requirement will be key for Developers as the plan progresses and beyond.
 Flood Risk and Drainage – Briefly discussed within the Climate Change topic paper, but this issue needs to be sufficiently evidenced as the plan progresses.
 Landscape and Visual Impacts – As above.
 Heritage – The Heritage Topic Paper confirms that existing Conservation Area Appraisals date back to 2007 (if they exist at all) and that these, along with the ‘Local List’ may be updated as the Local Plan progresses. Persimmon Homes would strongly support this evidence being undertaken as understanding heritage impacts is often key, which cannot be understood without up to date evidence.
 Duty to Co-Operate and Strategy Options – As identified at Q7, these topic papers do not address the potential for Rochford needing to meet Southend’s housing needs, as is currently presented as a potential option within their new Local Plan ‘Refining the Plan Options’ consultation.

Q9. Do you agree we should take a sequential approach to flood risk and coastal change in our plan, locating development away from areas at risk of flooding and coastal change wherever possible? How can we best protect current and future communities from flood risk and coastal change?

Persimmon Homes strongly recommends that Rochford take the sequential approach to Flood Risk as required by paragraphs 161-162, confirming that new development should be directed to areas with the
lowest risk of flooding from any source.
The flood map at Climate Change and Resilient Environments Topic Paper identifies that the four
settlements least impacted by Flood Zones are Rayleigh, Hullbridge, Hockley and Ashingdon, and therefore these settlements are sequentially preferable for residential development to meet the Local Plan needs than those settlements that lie within Flood Zones 2 or 3 (such as Great Wakering).
We would also take this opportunity to identify to the Council that the site that Persimmon Homes is
promoting (Site CFS087: Land between Western Road and Weir Farm Road, Rayleigh) lies within Flood Zone 1 and is therefore sequentially more preferable than those sites being promoted that lie within Flood Zones 2 and 3.

Q11. Do you agree we should require development to source a percentage of their energy from low-carbon and renewable sources? Are there other opportunities in the District to supply lowcarbon or renewable energy?

Climate change is a principal risk for Persimmon Homes and a significant issue, with more extreme weather events such as heatwaves, rising sea levels and flooding being experienced and resulting in impacts of both global and local significance. Society is more environmentally conscious with the international community and Government taking a leading role to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by setting and legislating ambitious targets for all to achieve.
As one of the UK’s leading house builders we acknowledge our role in supporting these common aims.
We understand the risks and challenges that climate change presents to our business and the wider industry. We are proactively working with all stakeholders to more effectively integrate climate change issues within our operations and ensure that sustainable improvements are managed in a pragmatic and robust manner.
We recognise that we have a key role to play in minimising our contribution to climate change, through
our own operations, our supply chain and by striving to ensure that the homes and communities we build are sustainable, inherently energy efficient and encourage our customers to live in a way that minimises any impact to climate change. We are committed to working alongside all stakeholders to achieve this.
Working with the Carbon Trust, a global climate change and sustainability consultancy providing specialist support to assist businesses to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, Persimmon has set ambitious targets to be net zero carbon in our homes in use by 2030 and in our operations by 2040.These targets are supported by interim science based carbon reduction targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our own operations by 46.2% (2019 baseline) and our indirect operations (i.e. those from our homes in use and our supply chain) by at least 22% per m2 completed floor area by 2030 (2019 baseline).
Referring back to the Spatial Strategy Options, the delivery of sites under the medium and higher levels
(Strategy Options 2 & 3) of growth would allow for the delivery of climate change measures that are required. The delivery of these measures may not be possible through reusing existing buildings (Strategic Option 1) as confirmed within the Integrated Impact Assessment:
“…the delivery of large-scale growth that is more likely to come forward under the medium and high growth options present more opportunities for the delivery of low carbon infrastructure through economies of scale compared to the lower growth option.”

Q12. Do you agree we should require new development to achieve energy efficiency standards higher than building regulations? What level should these be set at?

Persimmon Homes would support new homes being built to meet the new Future Homes Standard (being introduced from 2025), which proposes an ambitious uplift in the energy efficiency of new homes through changes to Part L (Conservation of fuel and power) of the Building Regulations. This will ensure that new homes produce 75-80% less carbon emissions than homes delivered under current regulations.

Q14. Do you consider that the plan should include a place-making charter that informs relevant policies?
Should the same principles apply everywhere in the District, or should different principles apply to different areas?

As the Spatial Options document identifies, Rayleigh is diverse area with a mix of character and vernacular. Accordingly, a ‘Place-Making Charter’ would be welcomed as an overarching theme to guide all new development in the area during the plan period. Persimmon Homes welcomes the Government’s increasingly strong emphasis on design and place making, noting and agreeing with the Government’s statement at paragraph 126 of the NPPF that, “high quality, beautiful and sustainable buildings and places is fundamental to what the planning and development process should achieve.”
Accordingly, the more guidance on this that Rochford can produce (noting that design is often, subjective and without suitable guidance, decisions can be delayed), would only assist developers in understanding the Council’s aspirations in this regard. This would be supported by paragraph 126 of the NPPF, which states that, “being clear about design expectations, and how these will be tested, is essential for achieving this.”
It would also assist decision making in local residents and members are involving in the creation of
place-making charters and other design guidance; to ensure that design is properly considered by members and local residents at an early stage in the process and to ensure their views on design and place making are heard early; rather than such views being made during the application process (such as at Committee) which will delay decision making.
This would also identify if the same principles should apply throughout the District, or if certain settlements have specific principles and design, requirements that only apply to their settlement for example. Such an approach would be supported by paragraph 127 of the NPPF (“Design policies should be developed with local communities so they reflect local aspirations, and are grounded in an understanding and evaluation of each area’s defining characteristics.”)
As above, the more guidance that can be produced, and the more involvement and agreement with local residents/members, can only guide and aid the decision making process.
Of the principles identified within Spatial Options paper, the majority of these would apply everywhere in the District, albeit on some sites certain principles may not apply (impacts on the historic environment for example).
On Design Codes, the NPPF confirms at paragraph 128 that, “all local planning authorities should prepare design guides or codes consistent with the principles set out in the National Design Guide and National Model Design Code, and which reflect local character and design preferences. Design guides and codes provide a local framework for creating beautiful and distinctive places with a consistent and high quality standard of design. Their geographic coverage, level of detail and degree of prescription should be tailored to the circumstances and scale of change in each place, and should allow a suitable degree of variety.” Persimmon Homes would support Rochford District Council in the preparation of
Design Codes in the District.

Q15. Are the principles set out in the draft place-making charter the right ones? Are there other principles that should be included?

Persimmon Homes would broadly support the draft Place-Making Principles, as they would provide a
broad framework for future Design guidance and policy produced by the Local Authority. We note however that there is not a principle relating to Biodiversity; given the Government’s commitment to ensure that development pursue opportunity for net gains to Biodiversity, it may be appropriate to reflect this within the place-making charter.

Q16a. Do you consider that new design guides, codes or masterplans should be created alongside the new Local Plan?

Persimmon would welcome the use of design guides, codes or masterplans, which would be supported by the NPPF:
“Being clear about design expectations, and how these will be tested, is essential…” (para. 126)
“Plans should, at the most appropriate level, set out a clear design vision and expectations, so that applicants have as much certainty as possible about what is likely to be acceptable.” (para. 127)
“To provide maximum clarity about design expectations at an early stage, all local planning authorities should prepare design guides or codes consistent with the principles set out in the National Design Guide and National Model Design Code, and which reflect local character and design preferences.” (para.128)

Q16b. If yes, do you think it is more appropriate to have a single design guide/code for the whole District, or to have design guides/codes/masterplans for individual settlements or growth areas?

Persimmon Homes would refer to paragraph 129 of the NPPF:
“Design guides and codes can be prepared at an area-wide, neighbourhood or site-specific scale, and to carry weight in decision-making should be produced either as part of a plan or as supplementary planning documents. Landowners and developers may contribute to these exercises, but may also choose to prepare design codes in support of a planning application for sites they wish to develop.
Whoever prepares them, all guides and codes should be based on effective community engagement and reflect local aspirations for the development of their area, taking into account the guidance contained in the National Design Guide and the National Model Design Code. These national documents should be used to guide decisions on applications in the absence of locally produced design guides or design codes.”
However, given the variety of settlements and styles within Rochford, we would suggest that separate
Design Codes be created for each settlement.

Q16c. What do you think should be included in design guides/codes/masterplans at the scale you are suggesting?

The National Model Design Code, published July 2021, confirms that the preparation of a Local Design Code should follow seven steps:
1. Analysis.
1A - Scoping: Agreeing on the geographical area to be covered by the code and the policy areas that it will address.
1B – Baseline: Bringing together the analysis that will underpin the code and inform its contents.
2. Vision.
2A – Design Vision: Dividing the area covered by the code into a set of typical ‘area types’ and deciding on a vision for each of these area types.
2B – Coding Plan: Preparing a plan that maps out each of the area types and also identifies large development sites from allocations in the local plan.
2C – Masterplanning: On larger sites working with land owners and developers to agree a masterplan for each of the development sites establishing the key parameters and area types.
3. Code.
3A – Guidance for Area Types: Developing guidance for each area type by adjusting a set of design parameters.
3B – Code Wide Guidance: Agree on a set of policies that will apply equally across all area types.
We would advise the District Council to use the Model Design Guide as the basis for the production of
all Design Codes in the District.

Q17. With reference to the options listed above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best plan to meet our need for different types, sizes and tenures of housing?

Of the options listed, Persimmon Homes would support:
 Option 2 – requiring a suitable or negotiable mix of housing that is response to the type or location of development;
 Option 5 – all homes to meet NDSS;
 Option 6 – all homes to meet M4(2); and
 Option 7 – a proportion of homes to meet M4 (3).
Option 1 listed proposes a non-negotiable mix to be provided on all housing developments. Clearly, this
option is unworkable in practice as certain sites are unable to deliver certain types of housing. For example, Brownfield sites in the urban areas are unlikely to be able to deliver suitable proportions of larger dwellings; likewise, heritage constraints in certain areas may influence the size of dwellings that a site could deliver to satisfy historic environment consultees. It is therefore more appropriate to require housing mix to be agreed during pre-application discussions, having regard to site and location characteristics, with the latest SHMA evidence used as a broad guide to inform those pre-application discussions.

Similarly, option 3, which proposes to allocation specific sites for certain types of housing, such as affordable homes, would have the potential to result in ‘ghettos’ and not created mixed inclusive communities (as required by paragraph 92 and 130 of the NPPF; good place-making would be achieved by requiring all developments to deliver policy compliant levels of affordable or specialist housing (subject to viability etc.) and to ensure that housing is of the same build quality/appearance as the
market housing.

Q31. Do you consider net gains for biodiversity are best delivered on-site or off-site? Are there specific locations or projects where net gain projects could be delivered?

Guidance confirms that net gains should normally be delivered on site. However, where achieving biodiversity net gain is not possible on site whilst still delivering a viable project; developers have the option to contribute at a local or regional scale to off-site Offsetting or Compensation. This approach can often successfully result in greater gains for biodiversity than could be provided within a constrained development site. It supports delivery of Local Nature Recovery Strategies and is consistent with the central conclusion of the 2010 report ‘Making space for nature’, that we need more, bigger, better and joined up habitats.
Referring back to the Spatial Strategy Options, the medium and higher levels of growth options are much more likely to be able to deliver the biodiversity and green infrastructure improvements and contributions required, than on existing brownfield sites, as confirmed within the Integrated Impact Assessment:
“The medium and higher growth options are also noted for their potential to support the delivery of strategic green infrastructure provisions and associated biodiversity net gain. This includes improvements being explored in the green infrastructure network across the sub-region through the South Essex Green and Blue Infrastructure Study (2020), such as the Regional Parkland. The Regional Parkland has the potential to act as alternative greenspace targeted at reducing recreational pressures at designated biodiversity sites. These options thus provide a greater contribution to the principles of the Essex Coast Recreational disturbance Avoidance & Mitigation Strategy (RAMS).
The lower level of growth will mainly result in the delivery of new homes on urban and brownfield sites so has greater potential to avoid designated sites and support urban greening to some extent. The urban focus however is less likely to bring forward strategic mitigation, such as the Regional Parkland to mitigate the recreational pressures on designated biodiversity resulting from a growing population.
As a result, the medium and higher growth options are considered more likely to perform better overall in relation to this IIA theme; however, the potential for a significant effect is uncertain as will be dependent on the location of growth.”
It continues:
“…the potential for larger-scale development under Options 2a and 2b is recognised for the potential
for greater net gains in biodiversity.”

Q32. With reference to the options above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best deliver a quality green and blue infrastructure network through the plan?

Persimmon Homes would support a combination of option 1 and 3 listed on page 55 of the Spatial Options document to address green and blue infrastructure through the Local Plan:
 Option 1 – Allocating specific areas of land for strategic infrastructure appears a sensible and logical strategic objective to deliver tangible green and blue infrastructure through the course of the Local Plan. Strategic policies to the enhancement and protection of these areas would
be required to provide a policy framework for these specific areas (the coastal path project and South Essex Estuary Park for example), and contributions towards funding these projects could be secured, where required/relevant etc., through S106 contributions or CIL;
 Option 3 – Development sites of a certain scale (particularly edge of settlement, greenfield sites) are typically capable of being able to deliver on-site green and blue infrastructure; of providing connections to green and blue infrastructure through their site; or of securing financial contributions to improving green and blue infrastructure in the local area. With reference to our
site at Western Road, Rayleigh, the site benefits from an existing public right of way running through the centre of the site, and informal footpaths running along the southern boundary along the woodland edge. These informal paths have to be managed yearly in order to maintain these paths for the use of existing residents; without this regular maintenance these footpaths
would not be usable. The development of the site therefore look to retain these links and provide permanent, sustainable connections and to enhance these where possible, providing improved footpaths and links to the surrounding area, including to Kingley Woods to the west of the site. Access to the wider countryside can also be promoted through the development as
existing footpaths can be improved and maintained. There is scope to enhance the Green Infrastructure Network in the locality by providing more formalised and accessible links through the green spaces.

Q35. With reference to the options above, or your own options, how can we address the need for sufficient and accessible community infrastructure through the plan?

With reference to the four options, we would comment as follows:
 Option 1 – support the protection of existing school and healthcare facilities through specific allocations.
 Option two – support the allocation of specific sites for the creation of new community infrastructure (providing that site is being allocated for that use or would not conflict with other site promotions).
 Option 3 – Broadly support requiring new developments to deliver new community infrastructure on site, though would caution that this would only apply to sites of a certain scale.
For example, the Essex County Council Developers’ Guide to Infrastructure Contributions highlights that developments with an individual or cumulative size of 1,400 homes are likely to be required to deliver a new two-form entry primary school, whilst developments with an individual or cumulative size of 4,500 homes or more will need to provide a new two-form entry secondary school. It would be simpler for the LPA to identify new sites for community infrastructure (new schools/extensions to existing schools, new surgeries/extension to existing surgeries etc.), and require developments to contribute towards those new facilities (with reference to para.34 of the NPPF requiring that Local Plans should clarify the level of contributions expected from new developments).
With reference to the Spatial Strategy Options, the Integrated Impact Assessment states:
“The medium and higher growth options are more likely to have a significant positive effect on this IIA theme through the delivery of new employment land and retail floorspace. These options are also likely to deliver more new infrastructure upgrades and sustainable transport routes to attract further inward investment. Further to this, the higher growth options could contribute to the delivery of sub-regional improvements to green and blue infrastructure, which could have a positive effect on the tourism economy. Whilst positive effects are considered likely under all options, the lower growth option is
considered less likely to lead to positive effects of significance.
We would also question whether the Council intends to progress with a Community Infrastructure Levy, to fund the development of new infrastructure in Rochford, as no reference is currently found on the Council’s website (and no reference is made to CiL within the Spatial Options Document). CIL is seen by many as creating a more transparent contributions system, whereby developer contributions can be calculated upfront (which assists developers with viability calculations, as well providing clarity to local residents/interests groups on the level of funding provided by new development and where that funding is directed towards).
Persimmon Homes would support Rochford District Council in the development of a Community Infrastructure Levy.

Q43. With reference to the options listed in this section, or your own options, how do you feel we can best address heritage issues through the plan?

Persimmon Homes would request that the Conservation Area Appraisals be updated as part of the emerging Local Plan process; these were last produced in 2007 so by the time the plan is adopted, these will be over 15 years old. The Local Authority are aware that settlements and areas change over time, and as such, it would assist greatly for these documents to be regularly reviewed.
Persimmon Homes are also concerned that our site at Western Road, Rayleigh (ref. CFS087) is marked poorly in the accompanying Site Appraisal Paper due to impacts on Built Heritage. This appears to have been assessed purely on the basis that there is a listed building – the Grade II listed Weir Farmhouse (List UID: 1322351) – but that this assessment has seemed to be have been undertaken purely as a mapping exercise and without any consideration to the sites relationship to this asset on the ground. The listed building is located a considerable distance from our site, and is screened from view not only by existing twentieth century development but also by considerable mature trees (which would be retained as part of any development proposals); therefore development of our site (ref. CFS087) would have no impacts on the setting of this listed building, as is fully confirmed within the Heritage Statement that accompanies these representations.
With reference to the Spatial Strategy Options, the Spatial Options Paper identifies that said option to
increase densities in urban areas are unlikely to be compatible with historic centres and local character,
as confirmed within the Integrated Impact Assessment, which states:
“…it is recognised that the lower growth option will focus development in existing urban areas, with a higher potential in this respect to impact on historic centres.”
We would therefore recommend that all assessments of built heritage impacts be fully assessed by up to date evidence, noting that the Council’s Conservation Area Appraisals haven’t been updated since 2007 and therefore may not accurately reflect existing site conditions.

Q51. With reference to the options above, or your own options, how do you feel we can best address our transport and connectivity needs through the plan?
Persimmon Homes would support the four options listed to address transport and connectivity through the plan.

Q53. With reference to your preferred Strategy Option, are there opportunities for growth to deliver new transport connections, such as link roads or rapid transit? What routes and modes should these take? [walking, cycling, rail, bus, road etc.]

With reference to, our site at Western Road, Rayleigh (ref. CFS087), and the site is within a very sustainable location being walking distance to local amenities including schools (0.6 miles) and a train station (1.1 miles). A main bus route also runs in very close proximity to the site. The wider main road network is also easily accessible.
The development will provide betterment to existing footpaths, creating enhanced foot and cycle links to services and employment areas for new and existing residents. The existing PROW could be upgraded into a cycle link and a formal path that can connect to an east/west foot/cycle link that runs from Western Road to Weir Farm Road. This will allow a good connection to High Road and therefore services/employment/further transport networks. As previously stated, existing footpaths running through the site are informal and could be upgraded as part of the redevelopment proposals for the site to provide permanent, sustainable connections for existing and new residents.
Access to the wider countryside can also be promoted through the development as existing footpaths can be improved and maintained.

Q56a. Do you agree with our vision for Rayleigh? Is there anything you feel is missing?
Persimmon Homes agrees with the vision for Rayleigh. As the District’s only Tier 1 settlement, it is correct that it should take large proportion of the District’s Plan Requirements during the Plan Period.

Q56b. With reference to Figure 44 and your preferred Strategy Option, do you think any of the promoted sites should be made available for any of the following uses? How could that improve the completeness of Rayleigh?
1. Housing [market, affordable, specialist, traveller, other]
2. Commercial [offices, industrial, retail, other]
3. Community infrastructure [open space, education, healthcare, allotments, other]
4. Other

Persimmon Homes is promoting site CFS087 for residential development. This 10-acre site is located
north of the A127 by Rayleigh Weir. The site is contained between the current residential area defined by the southernmost extent of Western Road and Eastern Road with the A127.
The majority of the site comprises rough grassland, which has no beneficial use. There is a Public Right
of Way (No25) running south from Eastern Road. The development offers the opportunity to formalise footpath links from Western Road. It would also offer the opportunity to create recreational routes through to Weir Farm Road. The allocation has the potential to enhance the Green Infrastructure Network in the local area.
The site benefits from being closely related to the existing built up area of Rayleigh, its town centre, train station, bus routes and key services. The Vision is that the site will add to the growth of Rayleigh, providing homes in a sustainable location close to existing services, transport links and accessible green space.
The site is located immediately south of the Main Settlement of Rayleigh and north of the A127.
Rayleigh Town Centre is within a 10-minute walking distance and the Train Station, with a direct link into London, is only 1.1 miles walking distance. A main bus route linking the town centre/train station, Southend, Basildon and Canvey Island runs through High Road. This is in close proximity of the site. The site has good access to the wider main road network.
The site is within walking distance to the nearest Primary and Secondary School (0.6 miles and 1.1 miles respectively).
The development of the site would provide beneficial enhancements to the public open space provisions
and improved walking/cycling links across the site to encourage new and existing residents to use
sustainable modes of transport.
The site does not serve the five purposes of Green Belt (as confirmed within the Council’s evidence base) and would benefit from housing development to allow for improved biodiversity creation and management. Development of the site would also provide an enhanced settlement boundary to the A127 and provide an improved setting for Ancient Woodland and Local Wildlife Site.
Development of the site will allow for delivery of required housing in a sustainable location.
Persimmon Homes are currently preparing an updated Promotional Document to support the allocation of the site for residential development, which will be submitted shortly.

Conclusion
The adoption of the new Local Plan (2023) remains, optimistically, 2 years away. The Council does not
have a published strategy for bolstering housing land supply in the period up to the adoption of the new Local Plan. The Council need to identify a strategy to boost significantly the supply of housing in the period up to the adoption of the development plan, such measures should include the early identification of suitable new sites and seeking to pro-actively work with landowners and developers to bring such sites forward.
The Council must ensure that a new development plan is taken forward without further delay. The continued lack of an up to date development plan is significantly hampering delivery and the regeneration imperative.
Persimmon Homes have an interest in site CFS087: Land between Western Road and Weir Farm Road
Rayleigh, which the Site Appraisal Paper confirms suitable, deliverable and available for residential
development, and are actively seeking additional sites in Rochford to deliver much needed housing and
regeneration in the Borough. Further details of this site, along with plans, are submitted as part of this submission to support its allocation within the Local Plan for development.

Dear RDC,

Re CFS043 land at Bolt Hall Farm which we will refer to as Lark Hill from now on.

We wish to persuade you to give this a higher site assessment score rather than proposing it for ‘exclusion as too remote’.
Canewdon is seen by many as only ‘the village’ but Canewdon is a big parish with a large percentage of parishioners living outside of ‘the village’, they are forgotten when it comes to amenities as only ‘the village’ is the focus of attention. A development at Lark Hill will help many of these forgotten parishioners.

Lark Hill is an ideal position, it does not as others do, fall in the Coastal Protection Belt which RDC designated as having the most stringent restrictions on development. The existing high hedge along Lark Hill Road which will be kept, screens the site from being seen from Lark Hill Road. All development proposals in Canewdon will by default bring extra traffic, but Lark Hill will not bring extra traffic through Canewdon Village, past Canewdon School and the pinch point in the high street opposite one of the school entrances and Rose Cottage which is really only wide enough for one car at a time, as is much of Anchor Lane especially during school time. There is not a even a complete pedestrian pavement through Canewdon high street leading to the park and village hall, residents of Canewdon Village do not want a development that brings extra traffic through their village making it more unsafe for pedestrians.

The 80 or so houses adjacent to the proposal at Lark Hill do not have access to mains sewage, a public bus stop, public bus service, walking infrastructure, green space/playing field. They have lost the bus route along Lark Hill/Canewdon Road where there used to be at least 4 bus stops including one on the proposed Lark Hill stretch of road; as youngsters this was our route to Rochford, Rayleigh and Southend. This bus route has been lost for the moment but a development at Lark Hill would stimulate demand for this route to be reinstated, this would be a benefit to so many especially as public transport is going to be so important in a future low carbon economy.
Canewdon Parish has lost so many facilities to development which have been turned into housing; Younnes Village shop, the Chequers Pub and Creaksea Ferry Inn; hairdresser, bakers, hardware shop and village garage; the village café along Lambourne Hall Road and of course the riding stables which was enjoyed by people far and wide and is now a housing development.

We would like to persuade RDC that Lark Hill is not remote, a recent case Braintree Council v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government found that a site for residential development in a rural area should not be considered to be isolated, ‘if there are other houses close by’, there are circa 80 dwellings close by along Lark Hill Road and Pudsey Hall Lane. All of these adjacent dwellings will benefit from a development at Lark Hill.
If developed, Lark Hill will aid/provide the following:
1: Sewage will need to be laid on for Lark Hill allowing a connection to mains sewage for nearby houses.
2: Public transport will once again become viable along Lark Hill/ Canewdon Road.
3: A green space/park will be built at Lark Hill.
4: Walking infrastructure will be improved alongside Lark Hill Rd.
5. The creation of up to 8km of bridleways.

We have picked some scores for Lark Hill that we would like to discuss from your site assessment proforma for CFS043..
Critical Drainage only 2: It is envisaged all surface water will be recycled on Lark Hill in 2 large ponds and a wildlife reed bed will be created.
Impact on Built Heritage and Archaeology only 2s: Is this because of the Pill Box? This will be protected and will not be demolished as so many have been, as a family we are proud to be caretakers of a piece of history.
Access to bus services is only 1: We agree with this and it highlights the need for the bus route to be reinstated for the existing residents along Lark Hill/Canewdon Road/Hyde Wood Lane and Pudsey Hall Lane.
Public rights of way only a 3: There is a public foot path through the site which links to a network of footpaths so why such a low score? There will be a public footpath created to the North of the site which will join with other parts of the local footpath network leading to the River Crouch.
Secondary Schools only a 1: Considering the catchment area for King Edmunds encompasses Wakering and Foulness we believe Lark Hill should be higher as Greensward is only 2.9 miles away and closer still King Edmunds 2.3 miles.
Impact on jobs only a 3: The land at Lark Hill only provides enough work for about 1/10th of a man year, developing Lark Hill will create many local jobs.
Access to train services only a 1: Train stations at Rochford and Hockley are nearby being only 3.6m and 3.2m away. When reading estate agents selling points for properties along Lark Hill Road, they extol the fact Greensward and King Edmunds schools and the train stations at Hockley and Rochford are so close.

Self Builds: Government encourages self- build housing and councils to make sites available, there is already a demand with over 80 people on the RDC self-build register. Self-builders would be actively encouraged at Lark Hill so fulfilling the duty RDC has to provide self-build plots.
The community benefits of a development at Lark Hill.
1: No extra traffic through Canewdon Village.
2: Access to mains sewage for existing adjacent residents.
3: Improved public footpath network.
4: Reinstated bus route.
5. Creation of bridleways.
Environmental benefits of a development at Lark Hill.
1: 2 wildlife ponds will be created on site.
2: A 22 acre reed bed will be created for wildlife.
3: During the building phase spoil will be used to help create the reed bed and for maintenance of the Upper Raypits seawall, so no muck away lorries will need to use the local road network.
4: With the transition away from gas and also hydrocarbons Lark Hill will be heated by a community heat network using the latest green renewable energy technology available.
5: Green renewable energy will be generated to produce as close to 100% availability as possible.
6: Houses to be built to Passive Haus standards.
Points 4, 5 and 6 will be a showcase for existing communities such as Canewdon village showing how to lower their carbon emissions. Government is banning the use of gas and oil in new build houses by 2025 which as we write this letter is only just over 3 years away. It`s unbelievable that new developments are still being built using gas and oil for heating and without electric car charging points infrastructure at the 11th hour!

In the 60`s Canewdon was at the forefront of housing development when the ` new model village` was created and could be at the forefront again. Lark Hill is ready to step up if given the go-ahead to showcase a new affordable low carbon emission community that we all need to adopt for the future.

I wish to submit comments with regard to the Spatial Options Consultation, specifically around the 20 sites resulting in a potential 3.5K houses across the villages of Barling, Little Wakering & Great Wakering.

I will endeavour to complete the online feedback for each site but to ensure clarity of my concerns I have also addressed them within this email for your reference. Whilst I understand numbers need to be met, and the person receiving correspondence associated with this project is not responsible, I have great concern for our future and that of younger generations.

Schools and education
• Limited nurseries in the village with many already unable to accept children without the added pressure of further housing and families.
• Primary education - Great Wakering is already at capacity, Barling Magna is close and currently has a class without a dedicated classroom – this is against the Department for Educations guidelines, we are already failing current pupils without increased pressure.
• Some secondary schools offer dedicated buses, however general connections and access is limited.
Connectivity i.e. public transport
Current public transport options are limited, schedules and availability worse. Consideration must be made into safe access for all residents across the village, road infrastructure and the impact that increased vehicles will have. Rail access is currently not viable on foot or cycling.

Traffic and pinch points/congestion
Already exist areas of concern due to traffic and congestion as well as safety due to blind bends, existing parking, pedestrians, horses, speed etc. There are limited roads in and out of the village, as many of us have experienced when road works are in place, problems very quickly arise. A great example was recent roadworks resulting in gridlock along Little Wakering Road at school pick up time when Barling Road was closed.

Parking
Roadside parking often leaves limited space i.e. single track traffic, often there are reports of access concerns for emergency services and safety risks as a result of limited spaces and increased vehicles within the village. The impact around schools result in tension and concerns for children’s safety. Consideration must also be taken for those with disabilities or wheelchair users who often find footpaths blocked by poor parking and few suitable access points/pathways.

Doctors and medical
The Doctors surgery is often a topic of discussion due to difficulties getting appointments, increased residents will simply impact this further. To my knowledge there is one medical centre for both villages and I would be interested to understand recommended capacity for care under the Department for health.
With regard to other medical services, I believe these are also limited, for example I don’t believe there is a dentist locally.

Wildlife and nature
There is great beauty in the local area, wildlife thrives, and some rare species have been observed. It is vital to protect green areas, to protect wildlife and insects as these all support human existence.

A127/A13 access
Access to the South East is widely limited to the A127 and A13, these roads are already congested and result in delays and pollution levels locally.

Parks and open spaces
Parks and public areas are also limited, living in Barling there isn’t a park in the village for local children. In fact the village only offers a church and a school, there are no shops, few pavements and a limited offering for new developments.

Drainage
Problems are already widely reported to exist in Little Wakering Road and Kimberly Road where recently human waste was washed into residents gardens due to increased rainwater and unsuitable drainage.

Flood risk
I believe the creek originally travelled to Barling pond, should water levels continue to rise as expected, considerations must be taken into future viability.

Complimentary Designs
It is vital that any developments are complimentary in their designs to any existing properties and the village feel. Sadly developments already completed are not in keeping with historic buildings.
The tip road which was argued against and supposedly temporary, remains in place. The mounds as a result are now visible from several areas across the village and pollution caused by large vehicles still travelling back and forth extremely unfortunate.

Fair local knowledge and consideration
I understand that of the group leading the consultation – none live within the villages potentially affected. It is therefore vital to share local views and impact that developments may cause. It is also key to understand if the owners of the identified land are in agreement.

Should further detail/research/evidence be required for any of the above claims or concerns please let me know, whilst this isn’t an immediate problem, it would be remiss to not consider long term impacts. Now is time to act responsibly, both for the environment and future generations.