Rochford District Core Strategy Regulation 26 Draft

One of the principal aims of National Policy is to encourage a thriving local economy, however, as with the Issues and Options version of the Core Strategy, there is no mention within the Preferred Options of the economy, and more specifically how it can be ensured that the district has a successful retail sector.

At present the Core Strategy does not cover future retail development within the district. PPS6 sets out the Government's key objectives for town centres and new retail development, seeking the continued vitality and viability of existing centres. This will be achieved by planning for the growth and development of theses centres through focusing development in them and encouraging a wide range of services in an environment, accessible to all.

PPS6 states that in order to promote social inclusion, policy should seek to ensure that communities have access to a range of uses and that deficiencies and provision in areas with poor access to facilities are remedied. PPS6 encourages local authorities to plan positively for growth and development including developing a hierarchy and network of centres.

For promoting growth and managing change in shopping centres, PPS6 states that a key aspect will be to plan for new centres, of an appropriate scale, in areas of significant growth where there are deficiencies within the existing network of centres.

Section 4.6 of the Preferred Options deals with the general location of development, specifically the location of new housing in sustainable locations Paragraph 4.6.3 refers to three tiers of settlement within the district, however there is no mention within the document of the hierarchy of the district's retail centres.

PPS6 encourages local planning authorities to adopt a positive and proactive approach to planning for the future of all types of centres within their areas. This must reflect the community strategy, setting out how the role of different centres will contribute to the overall spatial vision for their areas.

With specific regard to Rochford, the district is currently experiencing a significant level of trade leakage to dominant retail centres in the sub region, such as Southend on Sea. This current trend is unacceptable and unsustainable and in light of this background we consider that the Core Strategy should pay specific regard to the need to retain existing and future retail within the district to help secure a vibrant local economy.

We draw attention to the Park School site which is currently being built-out for a mixed use development. Currently the site is allocated for mixed use development within the latest Local Plan, however we consider that this should be taken forward within the LDF process to reflect the latest development on site and the latest Government guidance. The ceighbourhood centre element of the mixed use proposals was approved in December 2006 and is now under construction. We consider the Core Strategy should recognise such shopping centres and the role they will play in securing a vibrant local economy for the district. As such we propose that the approved Park School neighbourhood centre be hereon referred to as a district centre and allocated as such within the emerging LDF to reflect the latest guidance in PPS6.