Hockley Area Action Plan - Issues and Options

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed Hockley Area Action Plan.
EEDA receives a number of requests of this kind, as a statutory consultee, and our experience to date suggests a number of points on Development Plan documents which your authority may wish to consider.
EEDA's principal role is to improve the East of England region's economic performance. Our main concern with Area Action Plan is therefore that they will help deliver, and provide the spatial framework for:
• sustainable economic development and regeneration in the East of England, and in particular,
• the new Regional Economic Strategy (Inventing the Future - Collective Action for a sustainable economy, 2008).

Planning Policy Statement 1 'Delivering Sustainable Development', 2005 reminds local authorities that in preparing local development plans they should seek to provide a positive planning framework for sustainable growth in support of the Regional Economic Strategy (RES). The RES advocates a region that is internationally competitive with a global reputation for innovation and business growth that harnesses and develops the talents and creativity of all and is at the forefront of a low carbon and resource efficient economy.

In addition, Planning Policy Statement 12 'Creating Strong Safe and Prosperous Communities through Local Spatial Planning', 2008 recognises that spatial planning is a critical element in relation to economic growth and regeneration. The RES supports and complements the East of England Plan and EEDA supports the implementation of policies within that strategy.

Regional Economic Strategy
In September 2008, the region published a new RES which sets out the objectives and long term vision for the region's economy with high and growing levels of wealth, increasing levels of economic participation and inclusion and sustainable dynamic rural economies. The RES also aligns with the East of England Plan 2008. The 8 goals of the RES aim to deliver a leading economy, founded on a world class knowledge base and the creativity and enterprise of our people, in order to improve the quality of life of all who live and work here. The most relevant of these is the Spatial Economy Goal which states that in an increasingly competitive international economy, the nature and quality of places are becoming ever more significant. Sustainable built and natural environments are key factors in attracting investment, a well skilled labour force, business and visitors. The priority is for the region to have a balanced approach to provision of homes and jobs to support economic growth and regeneration.

Comments
The Area Action Plan vision statement refers to 'A reinvigorated town centre.....................providing opportunities for all in a place that is a pleasure to live and work.'
A main land use of the study area is also employment and industrial land to the north of Spa Road; however it is unclear in the document what the economic vision for the plan area is. It is important that the Objectives at Para 3.2 contain an economic vision so as the AAP can deliver an economically successful town centre that will deliver the regeneration benefits.

The RSS and the RES contain employment aspirations that are met through Local Development Plan documents, including AAP policies. It is not clear how this AAP relates to these documents to deliver the strategic ambitions for the area. The Core Strategy has as one of the over arching aims to encourage a thriving local economy, EEDA would suggest that this is incorporated within the AAP.

The Summary of Issues in Table 3 of the draft document references the employment land area, stating that there is potential for the release of employment uses allowing the reuse of the site to be explored. Before sites in established employment use are redeveloped for alternative uses, the District Council should be informed of the employment land supply situation within the district. An employment land review will examine the potential of the local economy and assess the quantity, quality and location of employment land and premesis.

EEDA, Go East and EERA have reviewed existing methodologies for Employment Land Reviews across the region have published a guidance manual on Employment Land Reviews. I would encourage your authority to consider this guidance note in finalising your Area Action Plan document of the LDF.

By addressing these key elements of the RES, the AAP will provide the context needed to maintain the prosperity of the East of England, enhancing its regional competitiveness and giving support to business growth.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed Hockley Area Action Plan.
EEDA receives a number of requests of this kind, as a statutory consultee, and our experience to date suggests a number of points on Development Plan documents which your authority may wish to consider.
EEDA's principal role is to improve the East of England region's economic performance. Our main concern with Area Action Plan is therefore that they will help deliver, and provide the spatial framework for:
• sustainable economic development and regeneration in the East of England, and in particular,
• the new Regional Economic Strategy (Inventing the Future - Collective Action for a sustainable economy, 2008).

Planning Policy Statement 1 'Delivering Sustainable Development', 2005 reminds local authorities that in preparing local development plans they should seek to provide a positive planning framework for sustainable growth in support of the Regional Economic Strategy (RES). The RES advocates a region that is internationally competitive with a global reputation for innovation and business growth that harnesses and develops the talents and creativity of all and is at the forefront of a low carbon and resource efficient economy.

In addition, Planning Policy Statement 12 'Creating Strong Safe and Prosperous Communities through Local Spatial Planning', 2008 recognises that spatial planning is a critical element in relation to economic growth and regeneration. The RES supports and complements the East of England Plan and EEDA supports the implementation of policies within that strategy.

Regional Economic Strategy
In September 2008, the region published a new RES which sets out the objectives and long term vision for the region's economy with high and growing levels of wealth, increasing levels of economic participation and inclusion and sustainable dynamic rural economies. The RES also aligns with the East of England Plan 2008. The 8 goals of the RES aim to deliver a leading economy, founded on a world class knowledge base and the creativity and enterprise of our people, in order to improve the quality of life of all who live and work here. The most relevant of these is the Spatial Economy Goal which states that in an increasingly competitive international economy, the nature and quality of places are becoming ever more significant. Sustainable built and natural environments are key factors in attracting investment, a well skilled labour force, business and visitors. The priority is for the region to have a balanced approach to provision of homes and jobs to support economic growth and regeneration.

Comments
The Area Action Plan vision statement refers to 'A reinvigorated town centre.....................providing opportunities for all in a place that is a pleasure to live and work.'
A main land use of the study area is also employment and industrial land to the north of Spa Road; however it is unclear in the document what the economic vision for the plan area is. It is important that the Objectives at Para 3.2 contain an economic vision so as the AAP can deliver an economically successful town centre that will deliver the regeneration benefits.

The RSS and the RES contain employment aspirations that are met through Local Development Plan documents, including AAP policies. It is not clear how this AAP relates to these documents to deliver the strategic ambitions for the area. The Core Strategy has as one of the over arching aims to encourage a thriving local economy, EEDA would suggest that this is incorporated within the AAP.

The Summary of Issues in Table 3 of the draft document references the employment land area, stating that there is potential for the release of employment uses allowing the reuse of the site to be explored. Before sites in established employment use are redeveloped for alternative uses, the District Council should be informed of the employment land supply situation within the district. An employment land review will examine the potential of the local economy and assess the quantity, quality and location of employment land and premesis.

EEDA, Go East and EERA have reviewed existing methodologies for Employment Land Reviews across the region have published a guidance manual on Employment Land Reviews. I would encourage your authority to consider this guidance note in finalising your Area Action Plan document of the LDF.

By addressing these key elements of the RES, the AAP will provide the context needed to maintain the prosperity of the East of England, enhancing its regional competitiveness and giving support to business growth.