Core Strategy Submission Document

We object to the allocaiton of green field sites for employment when existing employment sites can be improved to meet the employment allocation.

Lubards Farm is an established employment area which also provides a variety of community based uses. The site extends to 3.5 hectares of existing employment land and it is considered that this area can be redeveloped to create a more sustainable employment area with further allocation on the adjacent land. The site has attractive farmland surroundings which will enhance a high quality office and business premises development.

The site is a similar distance from Rayleigh rail station as the proposed site at West of Rayleigh and has good public transport links with the rail station. The site is only a short distance from the A130 junction at Rettendon and from the A127 Junction. The site is also closer to the settlements of Rayleigh and Hullbridge and agina is already well linked by public transport. It is considered that this site would be preferable to sites on the very western edge of the District.

The site is closer to Rawreth Lane Industrial Estate so businesses will not be displaced any significant distance. The layout of the existing site at Lubards Lodge Farm, through allocation in this strategy, can be improved to consolidate and improve the wider range of employemnt and community uses.

It is considered that this site offers moree potential with less loss of greenfield Green Belt land than the proposed site at West of Rayleigh and therefore the allocation of land West of Rayleigh is unsound.

We would wish to see Land West of Rayleigh replaced by the site at Lubards Lodge Farm