New Local Plan: Spatial Options Document 2021

BASILDON BOROUGH COUNCIL’S RESPONSE TO THE ROCHFORD DISTRICT
COUNCIL REGULATION 18 NEW LOCAL PLAN: SPATIAL OPTIONS
DOCUMENT 2021

Thank you for inviting Basildon Borough Council to provide comments as part of Rochford District Council’s consultation on its Regulation 18 New Local Plan: Spatial Options Document 2021.

It is recognised that this current consultation will inform the preparation of a Preferred Options Document, which will be made available for consultation next Spring 2022.
Basildon Borough Council has considered the consultation document, and strategic and cross boundary matters which are covered by the Duty to Cooperate and wishes to make a series of observations in light of this.

Duty to Cooperate

At this stage in the plan-making process for the New Local Plan: Spatial Options Paper, there are no general concerns with the approach being taken in its preparation
with regard to the Duty to Cooperate. The aspiration to align the work of the Rochford New Local Plan with the preparation of the South Essex Plan is welcome.
Basildon

Borough Council will continue to engage with Rochford District through ASELA, and on the South Essex Plan and other related projects.

Overall Approach

Basildon Borough Council considers that the Draft Vision and Strategic Priorities and Objectives for the Rochford New Local Plan aligns with the requirements of national
policy and guidance. At this stage in the plan-making process, there are no general concerns with this approach which clearly embeds the principles of sustainable development.

Spatial Strategy Options

Basildon Borough Council has considered the four Strategy Options under consideration by Rochford District Council for inclusion in its New Local Plan and
understands that the identification of sites within the consultation document does not mean these sites will necessarily be allocated in the future. Having regard to the spatial opportunities facing Rochford District and as set out in the Spatial Options Document, it is recognised that Rochford is constrained, and that urban and other non-Green Belt land is unlikely to be sufficient to meet local development needs in full.

Figure 17: Map of Key Strategy Options which illustrates the relationship between these strategy options and those sites being promoted for development as part of the Rochford New Local Plan identifies land to the west of Rayleigh to accommodate more than 1,500 dwellings. The site is located adjacent to the border with Basildon Borough.

Given the potential impacts that growth in this location would have on Basildon Borough in terms of access and connectivity to the Wickford urban area, as well as
highway impacts and demand for infrastructure and services within Basildon Borough, Basildon Borough Council will object to any development in this location in the shortterm.

Basildon Borough Council has submitted the Basildon Borough Revised Publication Local Plan (2014 – 2034) to the Secretary of State for Examination in Public. The
Basildon Borough Revised Publication Local Plan identifies the area to the south of Wickford as a broad location for potential housing growth. The broad location covers the area of land between the settlement of Wickford to the north and the A127 to the south, and adjacent to the land west of Rayleigh. Whilst a large amount of land within this area had been promoted for development during the preparation of the Basildon
Borough Local Plan, there are a number of constraints affecting this area which prevents it from being identified as a specific development location within the plan,
including matters related to sustainable access to local services, highway access and ensuring that proposals for improving the A127 can be delivered unhindered.
However, the Council recognises that there may be opportunity to bring forward comprehensive schemes for this area if existing constraints can be addressed and
overcome. As a result, the Council has made a decision that it will reconsider these locations for housing growth in the next Local Plan review, allowing time for
sustainable development proposals to be identified and proposals for the A127 to be further developed.

Whilst the potential cross-boundary opportunity within land to the west of Rayleigh is recognised, this will need to be progressed alongside the work that Basildon Council intends to undertake to bring forward proposals for the south Wickford broad location, given that both sites are adjacent the joint borough boundary. In addition, land to the west of Rayleigh is more closely related to the Wickford urban area than it is to Rayleigh in terms of proximity to services and infrastructure. Consequently, it is essential for Rochford District Council to work more closely with Basildon Borough Council to determine the impacts future development proposals may have on infrastructure and services in the Basildon Borough; how development options of this nature may need to support the upgrade of services and facilities in Basildon Borough; and the extent to which development in this location would meet the needs arising from both local planning authorities should it continue to progress. However, until such a time that the Council can agree sustainable development proposals for the south
Wickford broad location, the Council will not support additional development on land to the west of Rayleigh as such an approach is likely to undermine Basildon Borough’s spatial strategy within its submitted Local Plan, with implications on the Local Plan’s soundness and delivery.

In light of the above, it is important that any future decisions on the Rochford New Local Plan spatial strategy and preferred sites reflect the relationship with Basildon Borough. It is recognised that this may need to occur as part of the process of preparing the South Essex Plan in order that the cumulative impacts of growth are captured. Basildon Borough Council welcomes further engagement with Rochford District Council to ensure that the points raised in this response are addressed and to continue working together on cross-boundary strategic priorities.

We trust this consultation response is of assistance to you in taking forward the Rochford New Local Plan. If you wish to discuss any of the matters raised further,
please do not hesitate to contact the Planning Strategy and Implementation team using the details provided at the top of this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Christine Lyons
Head of Planning

BASILDON BOROUGH COUNCIL’S RESPONSE TO THE ROCHFORD DISTRICT
COUNCIL REGULATION 18 NEW LOCAL PLAN: SPATIAL OPTIONS
DOCUMENT 2021

Thank you for inviting Basildon Borough Council to provide comments as part of Rochford District Council’s consultation on its Regulation 18 New Local Plan: Spatial Options Document 2021.

It is recognised that this current consultation will inform the preparation of a Preferred Options Document, which will be made available for consultation next Spring 2022.
Basildon Borough Council has considered the consultation document, and strategic and cross boundary matters which are covered by the Duty to Cooperate and wishes to make a series of observations in light of this.

Duty to Cooperate

At this stage in the plan-making process for the New Local Plan: Spatial Options Paper, there are no general concerns with the approach being taken in its preparation
with regard to the Duty to Cooperate. The aspiration to align the work of the Rochford New Local Plan with the preparation of the South Essex Plan is welcome.
Basildon

Borough Council will continue to engage with Rochford District through ASELA, and on the South Essex Plan and other related projects.

Overall Approach

Basildon Borough Council considers that the Draft Vision and Strategic Priorities and Objectives for the Rochford New Local Plan aligns with the requirements of national
policy and guidance. At this stage in the plan-making process, there are no general concerns with this approach which clearly embeds the principles of sustainable development.

Spatial Strategy Options

Basildon Borough Council has considered the four Strategy Options under consideration by Rochford District Council for inclusion in its New Local Plan and
understands that the identification of sites within the consultation document does not mean these sites will necessarily be allocated in the future. Having regard to the spatial opportunities facing Rochford District and as set out in the Spatial Options Document, it is recognised that Rochford is constrained, and that urban and other non-Green Belt land is unlikely to be sufficient to meet local development needs in full.

Figure 17: Map of Key Strategy Options which illustrates the relationship between these strategy options and those sites being promoted for development as part of the Rochford New Local Plan identifies land to the west of Rayleigh to accommodate more than 1,500 dwellings. The site is located adjacent to the border with Basildon Borough.

Given the potential impacts that growth in this location would have on Basildon Borough in terms of access and connectivity to the Wickford urban area, as well as
highway impacts and demand for infrastructure and services within Basildon Borough, Basildon Borough Council will object to any development in this location in the shortterm.

Basildon Borough Council has submitted the Basildon Borough Revised Publication Local Plan (2014 – 2034) to the Secretary of State for Examination in Public. The
Basildon Borough Revised Publication Local Plan identifies the area to the south of Wickford as a broad location for potential housing growth. The broad location covers the area of land between the settlement of Wickford to the north and the A127 to the south, and adjacent to the land west of Rayleigh. Whilst a large amount of land within this area had been promoted for development during the preparation of the Basildon
Borough Local Plan, there are a number of constraints affecting this area which prevents it from being identified as a specific development location within the plan,
including matters related to sustainable access to local services, highway access and ensuring that proposals for improving the A127 can be delivered unhindered.
However, the Council recognises that there may be opportunity to bring forward comprehensive schemes for this area if existing constraints can be addressed and
overcome. As a result, the Council has made a decision that it will reconsider these locations for housing growth in the next Local Plan review, allowing time for
sustainable development proposals to be identified and proposals for the A127 to be further developed.

Whilst the potential cross-boundary opportunity within land to the west of Rayleigh is recognised, this will need to be progressed alongside the work that Basildon Council intends to undertake to bring forward proposals for the south Wickford broad location, given that both sites are adjacent the joint borough boundary. In addition, land to the west of Rayleigh is more closely related to the Wickford urban area than it is to Rayleigh in terms of proximity to services and infrastructure. Consequently, it is essential for Rochford District Council to work more closely with Basildon Borough Council to determine the impacts future development proposals may have on infrastructure and services in the Basildon Borough; how development options of this nature may need to support the upgrade of services and facilities in Basildon Borough; and the extent to which development in this location would meet the needs arising from both local planning authorities should it continue to progress. However, until such a time that the Council can agree sustainable development proposals for the south
Wickford broad location, the Council will not support additional development on land to the west of Rayleigh as such an approach is likely to undermine Basildon Borough’s spatial strategy within its submitted Local Plan, with implications on the Local Plan’s soundness and delivery.

In light of the above, it is important that any future decisions on the Rochford New Local Plan spatial strategy and preferred sites reflect the relationship with Basildon Borough. It is recognised that this may need to occur as part of the process of preparing the South Essex Plan in order that the cumulative impacts of growth are captured. Basildon Borough Council welcomes further engagement with Rochford District Council to ensure that the points raised in this response are addressed and to continue working together on cross-boundary strategic priorities.

We trust this consultation response is of assistance to you in taking forward the Rochford New Local Plan. If you wish to discuss any of the matters raised further,
please do not hesitate to contact the Planning Strategy and Implementation team using the details provided at the top of this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Christine Lyons
Head of Planning

BASILDON BOROUGH COUNCIL’S RESPONSE TO THE ROCHFORD DISTRICT
COUNCIL REGULATION 18 NEW LOCAL PLAN: SPATIAL OPTIONS
DOCUMENT 2021

Thank you for inviting Basildon Borough Council to provide comments as part of Rochford District Council’s consultation on its Regulation 18 New Local Plan: Spatial Options Document 2021.

It is recognised that this current consultation will inform the preparation of a Preferred Options Document, which will be made available for consultation next Spring 2022.
Basildon Borough Council has considered the consultation document, and strategic and cross boundary matters which are covered by the Duty to Cooperate and wishes to make a series of observations in light of this.

Duty to Cooperate

At this stage in the plan-making process for the New Local Plan: Spatial Options Paper, there are no general concerns with the approach being taken in its preparation
with regard to the Duty to Cooperate. The aspiration to align the work of the Rochford New Local Plan with the preparation of the South Essex Plan is welcome.
Basildon

Borough Council will continue to engage with Rochford District through ASELA, and on the South Essex Plan and other related projects.

Overall Approach

Basildon Borough Council considers that the Draft Vision and Strategic Priorities and Objectives for the Rochford New Local Plan aligns with the requirements of national
policy and guidance. At this stage in the plan-making process, there are no general concerns with this approach which clearly embeds the principles of sustainable development.

Spatial Strategy Options

Basildon Borough Council has considered the four Strategy Options under consideration by Rochford District Council for inclusion in its New Local Plan and
understands that the identification of sites within the consultation document does not mean these sites will necessarily be allocated in the future. Having regard to the spatial opportunities facing Rochford District and as set out in the Spatial Options Document, it is recognised that Rochford is constrained, and that urban and other non-Green Belt land is unlikely to be sufficient to meet local development needs in full.

Figure 17: Map of Key Strategy Options which illustrates the relationship between these strategy options and those sites being promoted for development as part of the Rochford New Local Plan identifies land to the west of Rayleigh to accommodate more than 1,500 dwellings. The site is located adjacent to the border with Basildon Borough.

Given the potential impacts that growth in this location would have on Basildon Borough in terms of access and connectivity to the Wickford urban area, as well as
highway impacts and demand for infrastructure and services within Basildon Borough, Basildon Borough Council will object to any development in this location in the shortterm.

Basildon Borough Council has submitted the Basildon Borough Revised Publication Local Plan (2014 – 2034) to the Secretary of State for Examination in Public. The
Basildon Borough Revised Publication Local Plan identifies the area to the south of Wickford as a broad location for potential housing growth. The broad location covers the area of land between the settlement of Wickford to the north and the A127 to the south, and adjacent to the land west of Rayleigh. Whilst a large amount of land within this area had been promoted for development during the preparation of the Basildon
Borough Local Plan, there are a number of constraints affecting this area which prevents it from being identified as a specific development location within the plan,
including matters related to sustainable access to local services, highway access and ensuring that proposals for improving the A127 can be delivered unhindered.
However, the Council recognises that there may be opportunity to bring forward comprehensive schemes for this area if existing constraints can be addressed and
overcome. As a result, the Council has made a decision that it will reconsider these locations for housing growth in the next Local Plan review, allowing time for
sustainable development proposals to be identified and proposals for the A127 to be further developed.

Whilst the potential cross-boundary opportunity within land to the west of Rayleigh is recognised, this will need to be progressed alongside the work that Basildon Council intends to undertake to bring forward proposals for the south Wickford broad location, given that both sites are adjacent the joint borough boundary. In addition, land to the west of Rayleigh is more closely related to the Wickford urban area than it is to Rayleigh in terms of proximity to services and infrastructure. Consequently, it is essential for Rochford District Council to work more closely with Basildon Borough Council to determine the impacts future development proposals may have on infrastructure and services in the Basildon Borough; how development options of this nature may need to support the upgrade of services and facilities in Basildon Borough; and the extent to which development in this location would meet the needs arising from both local planning authorities should it continue to progress. However, until such a time that the Council can agree sustainable development proposals for the south
Wickford broad location, the Council will not support additional development on land to the west of Rayleigh as such an approach is likely to undermine Basildon Borough’s spatial strategy within its submitted Local Plan, with implications on the Local Plan’s soundness and delivery.

In light of the above, it is important that any future decisions on the Rochford New Local Plan spatial strategy and preferred sites reflect the relationship with Basildon Borough. It is recognised that this may need to occur as part of the process of preparing the South Essex Plan in order that the cumulative impacts of growth are captured. Basildon Borough Council welcomes further engagement with Rochford District Council to ensure that the points raised in this response are addressed and to continue working together on cross-boundary strategic priorities.

We trust this consultation response is of assistance to you in taking forward the Rochford New Local Plan. If you wish to discuss any of the matters raised further,
please do not hesitate to contact the Planning Strategy and Implementation team using the details provided at the top of this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Christine Lyons
Head of Planning

BASILDON BOROUGH COUNCIL’S RESPONSE TO THE ROCHFORD DISTRICT
COUNCIL REGULATION 18 NEW LOCAL PLAN: SPATIAL OPTIONS
DOCUMENT 2021

Thank you for inviting Basildon Borough Council to provide comments as part of Rochford District Council’s consultation on its Regulation 18 New Local Plan: Spatial Options Document 2021.

It is recognised that this current consultation will inform the preparation of a Preferred Options Document, which will be made available for consultation next Spring 2022.
Basildon Borough Council has considered the consultation document, and strategic and cross boundary matters which are covered by the Duty to Cooperate and wishes to make a series of observations in light of this.

Duty to Cooperate

At this stage in the plan-making process for the New Local Plan: Spatial Options Paper, there are no general concerns with the approach being taken in its preparation
with regard to the Duty to Cooperate. The aspiration to align the work of the Rochford New Local Plan with the preparation of the South Essex Plan is welcome.
Basildon

Borough Council will continue to engage with Rochford District through ASELA, and on the South Essex Plan and other related projects.

Overall Approach

Basildon Borough Council considers that the Draft Vision and Strategic Priorities and Objectives for the Rochford New Local Plan aligns with the requirements of national
policy and guidance. At this stage in the plan-making process, there are no general concerns with this approach which clearly embeds the principles of sustainable development.

Spatial Strategy Options

Basildon Borough Council has considered the four Strategy Options under consideration by Rochford District Council for inclusion in its New Local Plan and
understands that the identification of sites within the consultation document does not mean these sites will necessarily be allocated in the future. Having regard to the spatial opportunities facing Rochford District and as set out in the Spatial Options Document, it is recognised that Rochford is constrained, and that urban and other non-Green Belt land is unlikely to be sufficient to meet local development needs in full.

Figure 17: Map of Key Strategy Options which illustrates the relationship between these strategy options and those sites being promoted for development as part of the Rochford New Local Plan identifies land to the west of Rayleigh to accommodate more than 1,500 dwellings. The site is located adjacent to the border with Basildon Borough.

Given the potential impacts that growth in this location would have on Basildon Borough in terms of access and connectivity to the Wickford urban area, as well as
highway impacts and demand for infrastructure and services within Basildon Borough, Basildon Borough Council will object to any development in this location in the shortterm.

Basildon Borough Council has submitted the Basildon Borough Revised Publication Local Plan (2014 – 2034) to the Secretary of State for Examination in Public. The
Basildon Borough Revised Publication Local Plan identifies the area to the south of Wickford as a broad location for potential housing growth. The broad location covers the area of land between the settlement of Wickford to the north and the A127 to the south, and adjacent to the land west of Rayleigh. Whilst a large amount of land within this area had been promoted for development during the preparation of the Basildon
Borough Local Plan, there are a number of constraints affecting this area which prevents it from being identified as a specific development location within the plan,
including matters related to sustainable access to local services, highway access and ensuring that proposals for improving the A127 can be delivered unhindered.
However, the Council recognises that there may be opportunity to bring forward comprehensive schemes for this area if existing constraints can be addressed and
overcome. As a result, the Council has made a decision that it will reconsider these locations for housing growth in the next Local Plan review, allowing time for
sustainable development proposals to be identified and proposals for the A127 to be further developed.

Whilst the potential cross-boundary opportunity within land to the west of Rayleigh is recognised, this will need to be progressed alongside the work that Basildon Council intends to undertake to bring forward proposals for the south Wickford broad location, given that both sites are adjacent the joint borough boundary. In addition, land to the west of Rayleigh is more closely related to the Wickford urban area than it is to Rayleigh in terms of proximity to services and infrastructure. Consequently, it is essential for Rochford District Council to work more closely with Basildon Borough Council to determine the impacts future development proposals may have on infrastructure and services in the Basildon Borough; how development options of this nature may need to support the upgrade of services and facilities in Basildon Borough; and the extent to which development in this location would meet the needs arising from both local planning authorities should it continue to progress. However, until such a time that the Council can agree sustainable development proposals for the south
Wickford broad location, the Council will not support additional development on land to the west of Rayleigh as such an approach is likely to undermine Basildon Borough’s spatial strategy within its submitted Local Plan, with implications on the Local Plan’s soundness and delivery.

In light of the above, it is important that any future decisions on the Rochford New Local Plan spatial strategy and preferred sites reflect the relationship with Basildon Borough. It is recognised that this may need to occur as part of the process of preparing the South Essex Plan in order that the cumulative impacts of growth are captured. Basildon Borough Council welcomes further engagement with Rochford District Council to ensure that the points raised in this response are addressed and to continue working together on cross-boundary strategic priorities.

We trust this consultation response is of assistance to you in taking forward the Rochford New Local Plan. If you wish to discuss any of the matters raised further,
please do not hesitate to contact the Planning Strategy and Implementation team using the details provided at the top of this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Christine Lyons
Head of Planning