Issues and Options Document

The Council notes the South Essex Strategic Housing Market Area, comprising the local authorities of Thurrock, Basildon, Castle Point, Southend-on-Sea, and Rochford. Brentwood Borough Council is in general support of this approach. It is acknowledged that Brentwood is a signatory to the ASELA memorandum of understanding but does not form part of the South Essex Strategic Housing Market Area.

The Council notes the commitment to meeting the District's housing needs and welcomes this approach. According to the South Essex Strategic Housing Market Assessment Addendum 2017, Rochford's objectively assessed housing need is between 331-361 homes per annum equating to 6,620-7,220 new dwellings over the Plan period (2017-2037). The Rochford Issues and Options Consultation is proposing to develop a plan which plans for 362 new dwellings per annum, however this is be dependent on the consultation responses received. Given the possible changes to calculating housing need, Brentwood is in support of Rochford's approach to planning for a slightly higher housing target.

It is also noted that one of the options for meeting the district's housing needs would be to distribute some of the need within the wider strategic housing market area. Brentwood is not currently part of the South Essex Strategic Housing Market Area. Brentwood is a Green Belt authority with a lack of identified available brownfield land. Brentwood Borough Council is proposing a spatial strategy in its own local plan that reluctantly accepts the need to allocate Green Belt sites after all available brownfield land is ultilised, making up just over 50% of total need. Therefore, it is unlikely that Brentwood will be in a position to accept any unmet housing need from the South Essex housing market area. It is noted that this matter will be discussed further through the duty to cooperate and the distribution of housing will be addressed through a Statement of Common Ground (SoCG).

Brentwood Borough Council welcomes the opportunity to continue to work with Rochford District Council in progressing the plan-making process of both local authority areas on an ongoing basis in line with the requirements of the duty to cooperate.