London Southend Airport and Environs Joint Area Action Plan Preferred Options

LONDON SOUTHEND AIRPORT & ENVIRONS JAAP DEVELOPMENT PLAN DOCUMENT: PREFERRED OPTIONS

As with the recommendations made in 2008 for the Issues and Options consultation, the present document (Preferred Options) makes no mention of cultural heritage/historic environment issues and impacts and this should be addressed. The Rochford Historic Environment Characteristion (HEC) document commissioned by Rochford District Council provides an overall assessment of the District's historic environment including the study area for the JAAP Development plan and its relevance should be highlighted at this stage.
The HEC document was produced in order to provide planners with an overview of the historic environment for the LDF process and to be used at an early stage for identifying the possible choice of development sites, impact of potential development and the need for informed conservation, enhancement and mitigation. Within the Rochford HEC the relevant Historic Environment Character Zones (HECZ) are 17,18 and 22. The scoring table provided in the report and GIS project for each zone provides an assessment of seven specific criteria, diversity, survival, documentation, potential, group value association, sensitivity to change and amenity value.
The area outlined within the document is one which although partially disturbed through construction of the airport, golf course, quarrying and modern industrial buildings retains a significant archaeological and more general historic environment potential. In addition to specific known sites such as the medieval church of St. Lawrence and All Saints and a post-medieval brickworks and associated housing along Cherry Orchard Way, there are further finds, particularly in the west of the site whch indicate prehistoric activity, evidence of which is likely to survive. The airfield was established by the RFC during WWI and was later requisitioned to become RAF Rochford, part of Fighter Command during WWII. The airfield was heavily defended and the study area contains a large number of extant features relating to the security of the airfield.
It is important that the cultural heritage potential of the study area is taken into account at this early stage in order to ensure that opportunities for pro-active management and enhancement of the historic environment are considered at all stages of the development plan.
None of the comments given as response to the questions in our document dated 23/06/08 have been addressed in the Preferred Options consultation. The Cultural Heritage is a major omission in this document, with the proposals for the future of the most obvious Historic Environment assets, such as the Grade I Church of St Lawrence and All Saints, not addressed.

LONDON SOUTHEND AIRPORT & ENVIRONS JAAP DEVELOPMENT PLAN DOCUMENT: PREFERRED OPTIONS

As with the recommendations made in 2008 for the Issues and Options consultation, the present document (Preferred Options) makes no mention of cultural heritage/historic environment issues and impacts and this should be addressed. The Rochford Historic Environment Characteristion (HEC) document commissioned by Rochford District Council provides an overall assessment of the District's historic environment including the study area for the JAAP Development plan and its relevance should be highlighted at this stage.
The HEC document was produced in order to provide planners with an overview of the historic environment for the LDF process and to be used at an early stage for identifying the possible choice of development sites, impact of potential development and the need for informed conservation, enhancement and mitigation. Within the Rochford HEC the relevant Historic Environment Character Zones (HECZ) are 17,18 and 22. The scoring table provided in the report and GIS project for each zone provides an assessment of seven specific criteria, diversity, survival, documentation, potential, group value association, sensitivity to change and amenity value.
The area outlined within the document is one which although partially disturbed through construction of the airport, golf course, quarrying and modern industrial buildings retains a significant archaeological and more general historic environment potential. In addition to specific known sites such as the medieval church of St. Lawrence and All Saints and a post-medieval brickworks and associated housing along Cherry Orchard Way, there are further finds, particularly in the west of the site whch indicate prehistoric activity, evidence of which is likely to survive. The airfield was established by the RFC during WWI and was later requisitioned to become RAF Rochford, part of Fighter Command during WWII. The airfield was heavily defended and the study area contains a large number of extant features relating to the security of the airfield.
It is important that the cultural heritage potential of the study area is taken into account at this early stage in order to ensure that opportunities for pro-active management and enhancement of the historic environment are considered at all stages of the development plan.
None of the comments given as response to the questions in our document dated 23/06/08 have been addressed in the Preferred Options consultation. The Cultural Heritage is a major omission in this document, with the proposals for the future of the most obvious Historic Environment assets, such as the Grade I Church of St Lawrence and All Saints, not addressed.