Object
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) - Revised Proposed Submission 2016
Representation ID: 2886
Received: 16/12/2016
Respondent: Southend BID
Legally compliant? Not specified
Sound? No
Great emphasis has been placed in the NPPF on the 'golden thread' of sustainable development. The scaap should deliver a strategy that leads to the growth of a strong economy within the area, and the economic role is one of the key principles of sustainable development.
"an economic role -contributing to building a strong, responsive and competitive economy, by ensuring that sufficient land of the right type is available in the right places and at the right time to support growth and innovation; and by identifying and coordinating development requirements, including the provision of infrastructure"
A major concern held by the businesses in the BID is that policy DS5 will make access to the central area by car difficult and frustrating, driving it's customer base elsewhere. This will have a severe negative impact on economic growth and will threaten the viability of retail and tourism within the central area. This policy thus is inconsistent with the NPPF.
We attach representation form re the SCAAP. The enclosed form is submitted by us as members of Southend BID whose details and address are included in Part A of the form. However all communications should be with or sent to us at the telephone numbers and email addresses shown in Part A or by post to:
Paul Thompson, Alan Bacon
This representation is made on behalf of members of The Southend BID. The BID is comprised of 378 levy paying members which comprises a wide range of businesses in sectors including retail, tourism, education and office based professional services to name a few. The BID zone in broad terms is made up of businesses within the High Street and its surrounding side streets together with the main tourist part of the seafront. The BID zone falls within the Southend Central Area and thus its members make up the majority of businesses within the SCAAP area. The BID was established 4 years ago following a ballot of the 378 businesses that now comprise the levy payers.
Through the BID a number of representations have been made following the BID's own consultation on a range of issues. The BID appointed SK Architects Ltd to make a formal representation as part of an earlier consultation by Southend Council on its SCAAP. SK Architects attended the council's consultation workshop and as the 2 sessions were poorly advertised the attendance by businesses was low. SK Architects then undertook its own consultation on behalf of the BID and produced a consultation form based on the key themes and opportunity sites highlighted in the SCAAP. The consultation responses helped form the 35 page document that SK prepared and which the BID submitted to SBC in February as it's formal representation to the SCAAP. (submission document attached)
Following on from the publication of the final version of the SCAAP the BID board of directors decided that certain parts of it's representation had been ignored by SBC and feel that sections of the dpd would threaten the economic viability of businesses within the scaap area. It was agreed by the board to make this further formal representation to the public consultation process prior to the oral examination with the government inspector.