Rochford District Core Strategy Regulation 26 Draft

ROCHFORD DISTRICT COUNCIL
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK:
CORE STRATEGY PREFERRED OPTIONS DRAFT
COMMENTS ON BEHALF OF WM MORRISON SUPERMARKETS PLC

With reference to the above, and on behalf of our clients, Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc, we write to thank you for providing us with the opportunity to comment on the emerging joint Core Strategy for the Rochford District. Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc are a major food and grocery superstore retailer who would like to be kept informed and consulted on further stages of the preparation of this document.

Our clients would like to make comments on the above document. The reasons for this representation are explained in more detail below.

RETAIL

We note that the Core Strategy Preferred Options document does not identify any issues relating directly to town centres in the District or to provision for new retail development.

Paragraph 2.10 of Planning Policy Statement 12 clearly states that:

"It (the Core Strategy) should set out broad locations for delivering the housing and other strategic development needs such as employment, retail, leisure, community, essential public services and transport development."

At Paragraph 1.6, PPS6 states that:

"Through regional spatial strategies (in London the Spatial Development Strategy) and local development documents, regional planning bodies and local planning authorities respectively should implement the Government's objectives for town centres, by planning positively for their growth and development. They should therefore:
*develop a hierarchy and network of centres;
*assess the need for further main town centre uses and ensure there is the capacity to accommodate them;
*focus development in, and plan for the expansion of, existing centres as appropriate, and at the local level identify appropriate sites in development plan documents;
*promote town centre management, creating partnerships to develop, improve and maintain the town centre, and manage the evening and night-time economy; and
*regularly monitor and review the impact and effectiveness of their policies for promoting vital and viable town centres."

Clarification that this should be included within the Core Strategy document is provided at paragraph 2.15 of PPS6:

"Local Planning Authorities should, through the core strategy development plan document, set out a spatial vision and strategy for the network and hierarchy of centres, including local centres, within their area, setting out how the role of different centres will contribute to the overall spatial vision for their area."

In accordance with PPS6 and PPS12 we consider it to be essential that the Core Strategy document sets out a clear retail hierarchy for Rochford including identification of the function and role of each of the centres and how they contribute to the overall spatial strategy. The Core Strategy should also contain a realistic assessment of need for retail development, taking account of both quantitative and qualitative considerations, which should be informed by an up to date Retail Study.

The Core Strategy should also acknowledge the key tests set out Paragraph 2.44 of PPS6 states that a sequential approach should be applied in selecting appropriate sites for allocation for retail uses. All options in the centre should be thoroughly assessed before less central sites are considered for development for main town centre uses. This approach, however, does not presume against edge of centre and out of centre retail development, providing that the sequential test has been met and that the vitality and viability of existing centres is not compromised. It is important that the Core Strategy for the Rochford reflects this policy approach.

I trust that the above is helpful, and would be grateful if you could ensure that Peacock and Smith remain on the consultation database on behalf of Wm Morrisons to be informed of the outcome of this consultation stage.

If you have any queries or require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact Peacock and Smith at the address overleaf.