Core Strategy Submission Document

In PPS3 it states that the Local Planning Authorities should identify sufficient specific
deliverable sites to deliver housing in the first five years. To be considered deliverable, sites should, at the point of adoption of the relevant Local Development Document:
- Be Available - the site is available now.
- Be Suitable - the site offers a suitable location for development now and would contribute to the creation of sustainable, mixed communities.
- Be Achievable - there is a reasonable prospect that housing will be delivered on the site within five years.

The delivery of the sites in five years should be carefully considered and adhere to PPS3

PPS3 also provides guidance to encourage residential developments to take place with particular reference to transport. At paragraph 16 PPS3 makes particular reference to asserting that proposed development should be: - "easily accessible and well connected to public transport in the community, facilities and services."

The principle of prioritising the re-use of previously developed land is a well-established approach to maximising sustainable development. The Core Strategy acknowledges the strategic and local importance of the Green Belt. However Whilst accepting that most new development should be on brownfield land and limiting the amount of development in the green belt, recognition should be given to the need for some additional development on greenfield sites adjacent to existing settlements. This will particularly be the case where there is insufficient previously developed land to accommodate the need for growth within the district.

We support the four tiers of settlement hierarchy with the first tier comprising of Rayleigh, Rochford and Hockley. Hockley has already been identified as one of those settlements with a good range of services and facilities as well as access to public transport.

Policy H2 - Extensions to residential envelopes and phasing and Appendix H1

We acknowledge that this policy for the Core Strategy appropriately sets out the broad areas for extensions to residential envelopes and phasing. However it does not clearly identify the release of green field land and does not identify specific areas, although it is implied that this would involve redefining the Green Belt Boundary.

The identification to extend the existing settlement of Hockley is wholly supported. However the justification for the proposal to extend the envelope and phasing for only West Hockley is unclear. There is no objection to the principle of extending West Hockley; however the LDF should ensure that land allocations are evenly spread both throughout the plan period and throughout Hockley.

Whilst the plan recognises that there is a need to protect the Green Belt in Rochford, it is also acknowledged that the Green Belt boundaries will need to be amended in order to provide the amount of housing required within the plan period. At this stage of the LDF of course, the re-definition of Green Belt boundaries is not undertaken; it is however important that the policy Is drawn widely enough to permit a fair and open discussion of appropriate land releases at the next stage of the LDF.

We consider that policy GB1 provides sufficient scope for identifying land in Hockley for future development.