Development Management Policies DPD

1. Introduction

1.1 On 17 March 2010 Rochford District Council wrote to the East of England Regional Assembly to notify them of publication of its Development Management Development Plan Document (DPD) Discussion and Consultation Document under Regulation 25 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008.

1.2 The purpose of this DPD is to augment the Rochford Core Strategy by setting out a number of additional (preferred option) policies against which planning applications will be determined. These policies are grouped under six headings: Housing, Character of Place & Residential Amentity; The Green Belt and Countryside; Environmental Issues; Transport; Economic Development; and Retail & Town Centres. The Council anticipates that a final version of the document will be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval in early 2011.

1.3 With the enactment of the Local Government, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and the Consequential Amendments (SI 2010/602), local planning authorities outside London do not have to make a request seeking the opinion from the Regional Planning Body. Instead, the local planning authority must consult with the Responsible Regional Authority. When acting jointly with the Regional Development Agency (EEDA), The East of England Local Government Association is one of the Responsible Regional Authorities (RRAs) charged with keeping the regional strategy under review. Government guidance (CLG (2010) Policy Statement on Regional Strategies) also directs the RRAs to actively engage with local authorities to promote the implementation of the Regional Strategy.

1.4 The East of The East of England Regional Assembly was dissolved on 31 March 2010 and the requirement to seek its opinion was removed. With the transition to the new regulatory framework, consultations made to the Assembly are being taken forward by the East of England Local Government Association.

1.5 The closing date for commenting on this DPD is 30 April 2010. Further details can be found at:
http://www.rochford.gov.uk/planning/policy/local_development_framework/development_management_develop.aspx

2. Background

2.1 The district of Rochford covers an area of 168 sq. km's (65 sq. miles). Situated on a peninsula between the River Thames and River Crouch, it is bounded to the east by the North Sea, shares marine boundaries with Maldon and Chelmsford, and land boundaries with Basildon, Castle Point and Southend. The A127 and A130 provide road links to the M25, and rail services operate into London Liverpool Street. London Southend Airport is located along the southern boundary with the borough of Southend-on-Sea.

2.2 The district has a noticeable east-west divide, with the majority of its residents living in the west in the three main urban areas of Rochford, Rayleigh and Hockley. A significant proportion of the workforce, estimated at 68%, works beyond the district boundary, with Southend exerting a particularly strong influence. Approximately 75% of the district is designated as Metropolitan Green Belt.

3. Planning Guidance

3.1 Regional planning guidance for Rochford is set out in the East of England Plan (May 2008) and the remaining saved policies of the Essex & Southend-on-Sea Structure Plan. The former requires Rochford to deliver a minimum 4,600 new homes and contribute 3,000 new jobs (as part of a wider Essex Thames Gateway policy area target of 55,000 new jobs) during the plan period 2001 - 2021.

3.2 Rochford's Core Strategy was submitted to the Secretary of State for approval in January 2010. An Examination in Public is due to commence in May 2010. The Core Strategy, which sets out the strategic spatial planning framework for the district to 2025, was found to be in general conformity with the East of England Plan following discussion of a report presented to the Regional Assembly's Standing Committee in October 2009.

4. Comments

4.1 Rochford District Council's Development Management DPD Discussion and Consultation document provides detailed guidance on a range of specific policy issues. The Preferred Option is supported in all cases.

5. Recommendation

5.1 It is recommended that the comments in this report constitute the East of England LGA's formal response to this consultation.

Question - Does the area covered by this DPD lie within the East of England region?
Answer - Yes

Question - Are references to the East of England Plan correct?
Answer - Yes

Question - Does the area covered by this DPD include a Key Centre for Development and Change, or other location of strategic or regional significance?
Answer - Yes
Comments - London Southend Airport lies at the districts southern boundary and falls within the Essex Thames Gateway Policy Area.

Question - Is there a clear push for sustainable development?
Regional Policy Ref - SS1
DPD Policy Ref - All

Question - Does policy seek to maximise the use of previously developed (brownfield) land?
Regional Policy Ref - SS2
DPD Policy Ref - DM3

Question - Is there are clear pattern of development for Key Centres, urban or rural areas?
Regional Policy Ref - SS3, SS4, SS6
DPD Policy Ref - Various

Question - Are there any Green Belt policies?
Regional Policy Ref - SS7, ETG1
DPD Policy Ref - DM10 to DM23

Question - Does policy support wider regional employment objectives? Is employment land protected?
Regional Policy Ref - E2 - E34
DPD Policy Ref - DM10, DM27

Question - Does policy seek to change or influence travel behaviour?
Regional Policy Ref - T2, T9, T13, T14
DPD Policy Ref - DM25, DM26

Question - Does policy address tourism, cultural or leisure issues?
Regional Policy Ref - E6, C1 - C2
DPD Policy Ref - DM13 to DM15

Question - Do policies address green infrastructure, landscape, or other biodiversity issues?
Regional Policy Ref - ENV1 - 3, ENV5
DPD Policy Ref - DM1, DM13, DM23, DM24

Question - Does policy promote soil conservation? Are farm diversity issues addressed?
Regional Policy Ref - ENV4
DPD Policy Ref - DM11, DM13, DM21

Question - Is conservation/enhancement of the historic environment addressed?
Regional Policy Ref - ENV6
DPD Policy Ref - DM1, DM7 to DM9, DM12, DM22, DM32 - 33

Question - Does policy seek to deliver high quality/sustainability in the built environment?
Regional Policy Ref - ENV7
DPD Policy Ref - DM1 to DM6
Comment - Policy DM4 (Floorspace for new development) support the East of England Housing Statement 2010-2014.

Question - Have waste management issues been addressed?
Regional Policy Ref - WM1 - WM8
DPD Policy Ref - DM1

Question - Does the DPD support the implementation of policies in the East of England Plan?
Answer - Yes
Comments - Rochford District Council's Development Management DPD Discussion and Consultation document provides detailed guidance on a range of specific policy issues. The Preferred Option is supported in all cases.

1. Introduction

1.1 On 17 March 2010 Rochford District Council wrote to the East of England Regional Assembly to notify them of publication of its Development Management Development Plan Document (DPD) Discussion and Consultation Document under Regulation 25 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008.

1.2 The purpose of this DPD is to augment the Rochford Core Strategy by setting out a number of additional (preferred option) policies against which planning applications will be determined. These policies are grouped under six headings: Housing, Character of Place & Residential Amentity; The Green Belt and Countryside; Environmental Issues; Transport; Economic Development; and Retail & Town Centres. The Council anticipates that a final version of the document will be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval in early 2011.

1.3 With the enactment of the Local Government, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and the Consequential Amendments (SI 2010/602), local planning authorities outside London do not have to make a request seeking the opinion from the Regional Planning Body. Instead, the local planning authority must consult with the Responsible Regional Authority. When acting jointly with the Regional Development Agency (EEDA), The East of England Local Government Association is one of the Responsible Regional Authorities (RRAs) charged with keeping the regional strategy under review. Government guidance (CLG (2010) Policy Statement on Regional Strategies) also directs the RRAs to actively engage with local authorities to promote the implementation of the Regional Strategy.

1.4 The East of The East of England Regional Assembly was dissolved on 31 March 2010 and the requirement to seek its opinion was removed. With the transition to the new regulatory framework, consultations made to the Assembly are being taken forward by the East of England Local Government Association.

1.5 The closing date for commenting on this DPD is 30 April 2010. Further details can be found at:
http://www.rochford.gov.uk/planning/policy/local_development_framework/development_management_develop.aspx

2. Background

2.1 The district of Rochford covers an area of 168 sq. km's (65 sq. miles). Situated on a peninsula between the River Thames and River Crouch, it is bounded to the east by the North Sea, shares marine boundaries with Maldon and Chelmsford, and land boundaries with Basildon, Castle Point and Southend. The A127 and A130 provide road links to the M25, and rail services operate into London Liverpool Street. London Southend Airport is located along the southern boundary with the borough of Southend-on-Sea.

2.2 The district has a noticeable east-west divide, with the majority of its residents living in the west in the three main urban areas of Rochford, Rayleigh and Hockley. A significant proportion of the workforce, estimated at 68%, works beyond the district boundary, with Southend exerting a particularly strong influence. Approximately 75% of the district is designated as Metropolitan Green Belt.

3. Planning Guidance

3.1 Regional planning guidance for Rochford is set out in the East of England Plan (May 2008) and the remaining saved policies of the Essex & Southend-on-Sea Structure Plan. The former requires Rochford to deliver a minimum 4,600 new homes and contribute 3,000 new jobs (as part of a wider Essex Thames Gateway policy area target of 55,000 new jobs) during the plan period 2001 - 2021.

3.2 Rochford's Core Strategy was submitted to the Secretary of State for approval in January 2010. An Examination in Public is due to commence in May 2010. The Core Strategy, which sets out the strategic spatial planning framework for the district to 2025, was found to be in general conformity with the East of England Plan following discussion of a report presented to the Regional Assembly's Standing Committee in October 2009.

4. Comments

4.1 Rochford District Council's Development Management DPD Discussion and Consultation document provides detailed guidance on a range of specific policy issues. The Preferred Option is supported in all cases.

5. Recommendation

5.1 It is recommended that the comments in this report constitute the East of England LGA's formal response to this consultation.

Question - Does the area covered by this DPD lie within the East of England region?
Answer - Yes

Question - Are references to the East of England Plan correct?
Answer - Yes

Question - Does the area covered by this DPD include a Key Centre for Development and Change, or other location of strategic or regional significance?
Answer - Yes
Comments - London Southend Airport lies at the districts southern boundary and falls within the Essex Thames Gateway Policy Area.

Question - Is there a clear push for sustainable development?
Regional Policy Ref - SS1
DPD Policy Ref - All

Question - Does policy seek to maximise the use of previously developed (brownfield) land?
Regional Policy Ref - SS2
DPD Policy Ref - DM3

Question - Is there are clear pattern of development for Key Centres, urban or rural areas?
Regional Policy Ref - SS3, SS4, SS6
DPD Policy Ref - Various

Question - Are there any Green Belt policies?
Regional Policy Ref - SS7, ETG1
DPD Policy Ref - DM10 to DM23

Question - Does policy support wider regional employment objectives? Is employment land protected?
Regional Policy Ref - E2 - E34
DPD Policy Ref - DM10, DM27

Question - Does policy seek to change or influence travel behaviour?
Regional Policy Ref - T2, T9, T13, T14
DPD Policy Ref - DM25, DM26

Question - Does policy address tourism, cultural or leisure issues?
Regional Policy Ref - E6, C1 - C2
DPD Policy Ref - DM13 to DM15

Question - Do policies address green infrastructure, landscape, or other biodiversity issues?
Regional Policy Ref - ENV1 - 3, ENV5
DPD Policy Ref - DM1, DM13, DM23, DM24

Question - Does policy promote soil conservation? Are farm diversity issues addressed?
Regional Policy Ref - ENV4
DPD Policy Ref - DM11, DM13, DM21

Question - Is conservation/enhancement of the historic environment addressed?
Regional Policy Ref - ENV6
DPD Policy Ref - DM1, DM7 to DM9, DM12, DM22, DM32 - 33

Question - Does policy seek to deliver high quality/sustainability in the built environment?
Regional Policy Ref - ENV7
DPD Policy Ref - DM1 to DM6
Comment - Policy DM4 (Floorspace for new development) support the East of England Housing Statement 2010-2014.

Question - Have waste management issues been addressed?
Regional Policy Ref - WM1 - WM8
DPD Policy Ref - DM1

Question - Does the DPD support the implementation of policies in the East of England Plan?
Answer - Yes
Comments - Rochford District Council's Development Management DPD Discussion and Consultation document provides detailed guidance on a range of specific policy issues. The Preferred Option is supported in all cases.